His gaze narrowed on her face with sudden in-terest. Smart. Money is protection.

Your fees are exorbitant. You probably have enough in a bank in Switzerland to live like a king.

Im worth my fee.

Of course you are. Im just pointing out that you could have retired in safety a long time ago. So why are you risking your neck doing this?

Theres never too much money.

She shook her head. You like it. You like the risk. You like the game. It gives you immense satisfaction, and the harder the game, the greater the risk, the better you like it. You love the idea of doing some-thing no one else can do. She paused. The most dif-ficult thing on earth is getting away with murder, isnt it? Thats the supreme challenge, the most inter-esting game.

Christ. Maybe too smart. Perhaps.

Dont be so wary. We all have our own agendas. I find your philosophy perfectly reasonable, and it happens to coincide perfectly with my needs. Thats why I chose you.

You chose me? Timwick chose me.

Timwick gave me a number of dossiers and he thinks we chose you together. I chose you, Fiske. I knew you were the one I needed. She smiled. And I knew you were the man who needed me.

I dont need anyone.

Of course you do. Im the one who can increase the difficulty of the game. I can give you a challenge that youve never been faced with before. Dont you find that idea exciting?

He didnt answer.

She chuckled. You do. I knew you would. Youre probably sick of working under Timwick. You like bold strokesdecisive, clean thinking. You wont have any problem with waffling from me.

Hed bet he wouldnt. Youre cutting Timwick out of the picture?

Im saying that you go back to Atlanta and check on Kessler. You pay lip service to Timwick, but you obey my orders and answer directly to me.

It would help me decide if I knew what all this is about.

She studied him. No, it wouldnt. You dont care. You think all of our complicated machinations are stupid. Youre just trying for a power hold. You appre-ciate power. Its part of the game.

His lips twisted. You think you know me that well?

She shook her head. But I know you well enough to survive you.

Do you? He put his hands around her throat. Did you ever realize how difficult it would be to kill the first lady and get away with it? Think what a kick it would be for me to show those bastards how stupid they are.

I thought about it. She stared directly into his eyes. But then youd be on the run and the game would be over. What a disappointment. I can stretch out the game for a long time.

His hands tightened until he knew there would be bruising. Hurt her, make her back down.

She didnt flinch. I have a list for you. Her voice was hoarse. Or, rather, an addendum to the list you were given before.

His grasp didnt loosen.

I knew youd like lists. I told Timwick so. Thats why he gave you She drew a deep breath as his hands fell away from her. Thank you. She rubbed her throat. Timwick told you to check out Kessler?

Yes, but he didnt seem to think it was impor-tant. Hes more concerned with Sandra Duncan.

Shes also important. I may have to make a decision about her shortly, but I dont want Kessler overlooked. Unless you reach him immediately, Kessler will be making DNA tests, probably not at the university. Find him. Dont let him have time to get the results.

DNA?

On the skull. You know about the skull.

He smiled. No, you tell me about it. Whats so important about that skull?

You know all youre going to know. Except that I want the skull and youre going to get it for me.

Am I?

I hope you are. Im not Timwick, Ill never take you for granted.

He tilted his head. Now, I wonder who you killed? A lover? A blackmailer?

I need that skull.

Youre an amateur, or you wouldnt be in all this hot water. You should have let an expert handle it.

I realize my mistake. Thats why Im having an expert handle the matter now. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Here. My private digital phone number is on the back. Unless its an emergency, please try not to call me before seven in the evening.

He looked down at the folded paper in his hand. Youre taking a chance. Your fingerprints must be all over Gloves. She was wearing leather gloves. Then I assume its also not handwritten?

Computer, and you wont find any prints on that sheet but your own. My phone is under another name and the paperwork is buried so deep that it would take years to unearth it. She reached for the door handle. Im very efficient too, Fiske. Thats why you and I will work so well together.

Im not saying Im agreeing.

Think about it. She got out of the car. Read the list and think about it.

Wait.

I have to get back. You can understand how dif-ficult it is for me to get away unnoticed.

But you did it. How? he asked, curious.

I explored those possibilities the first week I moved in. I wasnt about to become a prisoner. Its not too difficult.

And youre not going to tell me. He thought about it. There was a rumor about a subterranean tunnel linking the White House to the Treasury De-partment. Supposedly Kennedy used it when he wanted to meet Marilyn Monroe. Is that how

Would I tell you? Youd regard getting into the White House as a plum in your list of accomplish-ments. The difficulty factor might just make killing me too tempting to resist, and I want you focused elsewhere.

Shake the bitch. He suddenly leaned forward. There are at least thirty-five secret agents and over a hundred uniformed guards at the White House at any given time. Its good to know there are ways to avoid them.

Her face was without expression. You have the numbers down pat.

As you say, its a challenging scenario. The possi-bilities have always intrigued me.

But you have to remember that I have Timwick schedule those Secret Service men at times and places that make it easy for me to avoid them. Timwicks not going to help you.

Not even if I tell him that you asked me to meet you tonight?

You wont do that. It would be against your interests.

He was silent a moment. You dont fool me. You were scared like all the rest. I could feel your heart jump under my thumbs. Youre scared now.

I am. Some things are worth being scared about. Call me. She walked away from him and down the street.

Tough woman. Tough and smart and gutsy. A hell of a lot more guts than Timwick.

But maybe she was too smart. She had come very close in her assessment of him, and it made him un-easy. He didnt like the idea of anyone predicting how he would react in any given situation. He wasnt sure he liked the idea of working with a woman.

Read the list.

She had guessed how a man of his temperament would appreciate a list. But why had she thought reading her list would make him favor her?

He unfolded the paper and bent closer to the lights of the dashboard.

He started to laugh.

The phone rang as Lisa was walking into her bedroom.

Okay, Fiske said. He hung up the phone.

A man of quick decision and few words, she thought dryly as she returned her phone to her handbag. Not to mention a certain lethal impulsive-ness for which she had not been prepared. She would have to hide the bruises from Kevin tonight and wear a scarf tomorrow.

Lisa? Kevin called from the bedroom. Where have you been?

Just for a walk in the garden. I needed some air. She hung her cape in the closet and grabbed a bathrobe with a cowl neck. Now I need a hot shower. Ill be in soon, Kevin.

Hurry. I want to talk.

Talk. God, she wished it was only sex. Listening to Kevin ramble and inserting the appropriate praise and encouragement was a strain she didnt need. For a moment, when Fiske had put his hands on her throat, she had thought she was going to die. Han-dling Fiske was going to be very difficult.