"Well, he's definitely not pretty."

"No, but he has a way of moving, a way of looking at you. Sometimes there's a stillness about him that's very erotic. Because you know there's so much more going on underneath. And watch his hands. They're a real turn-on."

Hannah's brows lifted. "Are you sure you're not lovers?"

Eugenia chuckled. "As I said, I've been tempted to try to lure him into my web, but we're both too intense. We'd probably destroy each other. Besides, we both need friends we can trust. That's rare in our circle. Sex would get in the way. No, we're definitely not lovers." Her eyes narrowed on Hannah's face. "Are you?"

"You're not listening. I told you, we're just acquaintances."

"That's what you told me. But when I came out here tonight, I thought I caught a glimpse of something more."

"What?"

"You looked… close. As if you'd been together for years."

Hannah felt a ripple of shock. "I'm afraid you have a vivid imagination."

"Maybe. But I'm very good at reading nuances. It was part of my job once."

"Then you must be slipping." She frowned. "Is that why you wanted to speak to me alone?"

"Partly. I wanted to make sure that I'd warned you to treat my friend well. Kirov wouldn't have understood that protectiveness for him in me. But I think you do."

"Warned? What would you do if I didn't treat your pet tiger with gentleness?"

Eugenia made a cutting motion across her throat. "But only in an extreme case. I'd give you a chance to explain first."

Hannah laughed. Eugenia was truly an original. "Well, I'm safe. Kirov doesn't give a damn about me."

"You're wrong. There's something there. I could see it."

Yes, there was something between them, Hannah thought. In the last hours she'd been aware that the bond had strengthened. She had learned he had a wry sense of humor, and the outrageous stories he'd told her of his years at the academy had given her a new view of Kirov. He was intelligent and stimulating, and he listened. He watched her expressions, and she felt as if he was intently interested in every word she'd said.

For God's sake, but that didn't mean anything more than they'd spent a few pleasant hours together.

"Ah, you're thinking about it," Eugenia said. "That's good."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you to make a mistake."

"Because you'd hate to cut my throat?"

Eugenia nodded. "Absolutely."

Hannah laughed. "Did Kirov really save your life?"

"Oh, yes. And from a very unpleasant demise. I was dealing with an extremely nasty customer, and Kirov heard I was going to be chopped. He came in and saved the day."

"One of Pavski's people?"

"No, Kirov was on another job. He doesn't rely on the CIA for funds. It would compromise his freedom of choice. He takes assignments from other sources, and he's very much in demand."

"Doing what?"

"This and that."

"And his boat wasn't cheap. This and that must be very profitable."

"You're probing. Yes, Kirov doesn't always walk the straight and narrow. But he manages to stay out of the tar pits." Eugenia shook her head. "And that's all I'm going to say. I'm just grateful that he was there when I needed him. I'm more careful with whom I do business these days."

"Why do you run any risks at all? You're obviously smart and very talented."

"How clever of you to be that perceptive."

"You're dodging."

She shrugged. "I lived on the edge for many years. I got used to it. Every now and then I'm still tempted to dip my toe back in the mire." She glanced at the door through which Kirov had disappeared. "I sometimes wonder how he'll be when he manages to kill Pavski."

"He'll handle it."

She was silent a moment before she stirred. "Yes, of course." She looked at the coffee carafe. "Coffee with pizza? What are you thinking? I'll open a bottle of wine."

They were on their third bottle of wine when Eugenia received the call on her cell for which she was waiting.

She grabbed a pen from her bag and started writing on a napkin. "Got it. Many thanks." She hung up the phone and beamed at Kirov. "Am I not wonderful?"

"Are you?"

"Magnificent. Clever." She nodded. "And very well connected."

"And a tiny bit tipsy?" Hannah asked.

"On wine? Vodka was my mother's milk. I'm merely mellow. It was good drinking with friends. Usually, I have to be careful."

"Eugenia," Kirov said.

"I'm getting to it. I just wanted a bit of praise."

"You're fantastic. Now talk to me."

"There's an antiques dealer in Fairfield, Connecticut, who specializes in interesting imports. The type of imports that one obtains outside the twelve-mile territorial waters limit and brings in under the cover of night."

"Are we talking about narcotics?"

"No, nothing quite so distasteful. He buys jewelry, medallions, documents, and small trinkets with questionable ownership. Objects that may have been liberated from Eastern Bloc museums and government special collections in the past ten or fifteen years. His name is Boris Petrenko."

"Why would he interest me?"

"Because he also imports people. He arranges passage for Eastern Europeans who want to slip into the country undetected. He uses the same network that he does for his antiques. He picks them up and brings them in along with his purchases."

"Do you know him?"

"Not personally."

"Interesting. Why do you think he may be involved with Pavski?"

"According to my sources, he's been boasting about a very rich deal he made for himself. A last-minute job to bring in three very important visitors from Russia."

"Who?"

"I know I'm a miracle worker, but I'll need a bit more time for that one. I'll work on it. All I know is that he was boarded by the Coast Guard shortly before dawn Saturday, and the men slipped overboard several miles from shore."

"Did they make it?"

"Apparently. He received the balance of his payment Monday morning."

"How was he paid?"

"Can't help you." She poured herself another glass of wine. "Do your own work. His shop is at 1408 Post Road."

"The timing is certainly right," Hannah murmured.

"It's worth checking out."

"But not tonight," Eugenia said. "It's 2:00 A.M. Tomorrow morning is soon enough. His shop is closed, and unless you want to roust him from his bed… You don't even know that he's your man."

Kirov looked at Hannah. "Your choice."

She thought about it. "We'll be at his shop when it opens in the morning."

"Good," Eugenia said. "Because we have this perfectly wonderful bottle of wine to finish."

"It's good to see them doing so well." Congressman Preston stared out the sliding glass door of Cathy's kitchen at Ronnie and Donna playing in the backyard with an assortment of Star Wars toys. "They're amazing kids."

"I'm lucky. Ronnie is taking charge of Donna. He keeps her busy. Heck, he tries to take charge of me, too." Cathy poured coffee into George's cup. "It's worse at night. At bedtime they're alone with their thoughts, and there's nothing to distract them." She stared blindly out the door. "I thought I was so tough, but I'm not. How can I help them when I can't even help myself? How does anyone recover from something like this, George?"

"I don't know," he said quietly. "But they will heal. And so will you."

"I know we will. It's just difficult to see that time right now." She sat down across from him at the kitchen table. "So what brings you here?"

"I wanted to see how you're doing."

"Uh-huh. You could have picked up the phone. So why are you here?"

"You don't think I'm sincere?"

"You're very sincere. But you're an extremely busy man, and you just saw me at your office a few days ago. What's up, George?"