"The garden is clean and Judd is on watch, but that doesn't mean something unexpected might not happen."

"You forget I spent years with the guerrillas. I know that nothing is safe."

"This had better be pretty damn safe," Galen said grimly. "Or Elena will go for my jugular."

"Stop worrying and go do your job." Dominic opened the garden gate. "And let me do mine."

Dominic was inside the garden.

Judd's gaze focused the telescopic sight of his rifle as Dominic moved down the path toward the koi pond.

He was moving quickly, almost eagerly, as he saw Luis Kyler.

Judd suddenly caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye. He swung the rifle to the window on the sixth floor of the hotel.

Had the curtain moved?

Dear God, the boy looked terrible, Dominic thought as he drew closer to the bench. "Luis."

Luis's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to take you away."

Luis struggled to his feet. "You're not supposed to be here." His voice was shrill. "Elena is supposed to be the one. It has to be Elena."

"We're going to get you away from here. You'll see Elena soon." He stepped closer. "Come with me, Luis."

"Go away, Dominic. Tell Elena to come." His eyes were glittering feverishly. "It has to be Elena."

"You're hurt. You're not feeling well. Listen carefully. Elena is waiting for you. You have to come with me."

"I can't go. I have to do what they say. They won't give me anything unless I do what they say." His voice was shaking. "They haven't given me anything in two days. I have to have it."

"Coke?"

"Heroin."

Dominic felt sick. "We'll get you off it." He took Luis's arm. "Come on."

Luis pulled away from him. "That's what I'm afraid of. I can't take it. I'm. hurting. Send Elena."

"Why?"

He pulled a pistol from his jacket pocket. "I have to shoot her. I have to shoot Elena."

Dominic stiffened. "You don't mean that."

"They said I had to do it. They said they'd give me my injection if I did it. I have to do it--"

"She's your sister. She loves you."

Luis looked at him in wonder. "Doesn't matter. Why should it matter? I have to do it."

Dominic was filled with horror. "Give me the gun, Luis. This isn't you speaking. Give me the gun."

"You always interfered. You should have made her come. It has to be her."

He reached for the gun. "Don't let Chavez and his drugs do this to you. Let me help you."

Luis's lips twisted. "You should have made her come. You've ruined everything."

His finger pressed the trigger.

Pain ripped through Dominic's chest. Dear heaven, he was shot, he realized. He stared at Luis in disbelief.

"Don't look at me like that. It's your fault," Luis said shrilly. He pressed the trigger again and again. "You should have made her come."

Three shots.

Dammit. Galen jumped out of the truck and ran into the garden.

Another shot.

Dominic was on the ground and Luis was standing over him.

One more shot and Luis crumpled to the ground.

Where had it come from? No time to check. He had to get Dominic out of here.

He fell to his knees beside him. "Come on, Dominic. Let me help you up. We've got to-"

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Judd waddled slowly out of the hotel.

The street was humming with activity. Four police cars were parked outside the hotel, and guests were streaming out and being ushered down the block.

Galen was standing beside a truck parked at the curb. Emblazoned in green letters on the side of the white truck was ORLANDO BOMB DISPOSAL.

"Get in." Galen opened the door to the back of the truck. "We have to get out of here before the real bomb squad arrives."

"I'm going to get you for this." Judd scowled at him through his protective visor. "I look like someone from outer space."

"Someone had to be the bomb tech."

"And you nominated me." He threw his gun case in the truck. "Hell, I don't think I can even climb into this truck. You called in a bomb threat?"

"It was the only thing I could think of to make sure that the police cleared everyone from this area. It wasn't easy. I had to construct an entire scenario that would convince them to send a disposal unit. I thought the truck would protect Luis and Dominic." Galen helped him into the back of the truck. "You can get rid of the suit as soon as we get out of town."

"I hope so. It's hot as hell."

"Was there another gunman?"

"Yes, the window on the sixth floor. I took care of it." He paused. "Is Dominic dead?"

"Yes, he's dead." Galen slammed the truck door.

Galen parked the truck beside the hangar and stared blindly at the helicopter.

Move, damn you. Tell her. Get it over with.

He heard the truck door open behind him and Judd get out. A moment later Judd was standing beside the driver's window. "You stay here. I'll send her to you." He turned and sprinted toward the helicopter.

Yes, separate her from Barry. If he hadn't been so bummed, he would have thought of the boy himself.

Elena was coming toward him. She was walking slowly, warily, as if afraid of stepping on a land mine. She knew something was wrong. But, Jesus, she didn't know how wrong.

She stopped and looked at him. Maybe she did know. He had to say the words anyway.

He reached over and opened the truck door for her. "Get in. You won't want Barry to see you."

She couldn't cry. She mustn't cry. If she did, she might never stop.

"Both of them?" Elena asked dully. "Luis and Dominic."

"It all went bad."

"Why?"

"There was a second shooter."

"But you expected there might be. I should have been there. You shouldn't have let Dominic go. I would have been more cautious. I might have been able to turn it around."

"Okay, you're right. I made a mistake."

"For God's sake, stop being so noble." Judd was again standing outside the window. "I'm glad I decided to come back. Tell her the truth."

"The truth?" Elena repeated.

"Chavez threw in a monkey wrench neither you nor Dominic expected. He gave Luis a gun and evidently ordered him to take you out. He killed Dominic instead."

"Luis." Horror on top of horror. "Luis couldn't have done it."

"I was watching the entire time," Judd said. "He did it."

"And then the shooter took out Luis?" Her lips twisted with pain. "I suppose Chavez wasn't pleased at the substitution."

"Blast you, she didn't have to know," Galen told Judd.

"No, but I always opt for clarity. It's better that she realize it wasn't something you could have anticipated. Oh, and I've told Barry that Dominic had to stay over on business." Judd turned and walked back toward the helicopter.

"What happened to the shooter?"

"Judd took care of him. He thought there might be someone in that room." Galen glanced away from her. "I don't want to rush you, but we should get out of here. We weren't followed, but we need to get as far away as we can."

"Yes, of course." She had to get out of the truck and go back to the helicopter. She mustn't think of Dominic or Luis. She must do what was necessary and grieve later. She could do this. She had been a soldier. She had lost other people in the past.