"I disagree. We have a good deal to discuss. You didn't tell me that you no longer have my son."

"I do have Barry."

"I've had talks with a man who says that he has custody and is willing to give him to me for a price."

"He's lying. You'd be a fool to deal with him."

"I never act the fool. He sent me a picture of Barry and demanded thirty million dollars."

She didn't respond.

"That's a lot of money. Naturally, I told him that I wouldn't pay it. Do you know what he said? He told me the next picture he sent me would he of a dead boy."

She inhaled sharply as pain knifed through her.

"Oh, that got you. I hoped it would. So, you see, it's up to me whether the boy lives or dies. I'm really tempted to let Morgan kill him just to see you suffer."

"Morgan won't kill him."

"Wishful thinking. He's capable of anything. He's killed countless times. I researched him thoroughly, and his background is very nasty indeed."

"He won't. do it."

"Oh, he will, if I don't pay the money. Should I do it? Is it worth it to me? You'll have to wonder, won't you?"

"You want my son. It will be worth it to you."

"Your voice is shaking. I feel quite stimulated by this conversation. It's almost as satisfactory as having you here with me. If I do decide to ransom my son, I'll be in total control of his life or death. If I decide that you've spoiled any potential he might have, then I'll get rid of him."

"To hurt me."

"Oh, yes, that's my prime goal."

"I don't believe you. You're bluffing. It would be stupid of you to kill him. That would be a defeat for you."

"But you have to have the tiniest doubt. In the meantime, I'll leave you to wonder whether I'll really pay Morgan. Maybe I'll have him send that next picture to you." He hung up.

"I told you I should talk to him. What is it?" Galen asked as he took the phone from her lifeless hand.

"Thirty million dollars or Judd threatened to kill Barry."

Galen swore. "Chavez could be lying."

"I don't think so. He was getting too much satisfaction out of hurting me."

"Is he going to pay?"

"He wouldn't tell me."

"He'll pay."

"I. think so." She compressed her lips to keep them from trembling. "I have to think so."

"Even if he doesn't, Judd could be bluffing."

"Judd never impressed me as a man who bluffs." She got out of bed. "We have to find him."

"He'll call today. Where are you going? We can't do anything right now."

"I can't stay in this bed. I have to do something, anything."

He studied her for a moment and then slowly nodded. "You're right. You have to do something." He got out of the bed and headed for the bathroom. "Get dressed. I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes."

"Where are we going?"

"Outside. It's not the barn, but it will have to do."

"No holds barred." Galen threw his shirt beneath a tree. "Come and get me."

"I don't want to fight you."

"You won't hurt me. I'm probably as good as you are."

"What is this? Some kind of therapy? This is useless."

He made a lightning step forward and swept her legs from under her. She crumpled to the ground.

He ran toward her and she automatically rolled over, grabbed his ankle, and twisted it. She jumped to her feet and gave him a roundhouse kick to the abdomen as he got up.

He grunted before grabbing her foot and yanking it, bringing her down.

She felt a surge of anger mixed with sheer adrenaline as she dodged to the side and attacked again.

It was not like sparring with Judd. Galen was better, quicker, and he seemed not to feel the punishment she was inflicting.

"Is that all you can do? Maybe you'd better pretend I'm Judd. It might give you more incentive. Or maybe Chavez."

"I don't need an incentive." She ducked and attacked again.

Fifteen minutes passed, and she was breathless and no longer sure whom she was fighting. Judd. Chavez. Galen. They were all whirling before her as she attacked and attacked and attacked again.

"Okay. Okay." Galen was breathless as he finally backed away from her. "I give up. I don't need any more damage."

She stood there, her breasts rising and falling with every breath. "You're. done?"

"We're done." He wiped his sweaty face on his shirt. "Let's hit the shower. I have some bruises I need to take care of."

"I hurt you?"

"No more than I expected. I imagine you'll find a few bruises too." He held the screen door open for her. "If you don't, I'll feel more of a failure than I do now."

The haze of adrenaline was gradually ebbing and she was able to think again. "You didn't want to beat me. You were acting as a punching bag."

"The hell I was." He winced as he flexed his arm. "That was purely a side effect. Come on. Shower."

She didn't move. "Why?"

"Because I stink?"

"Why did you do it?"

"What else can you do at four in the morning? Don't answer that. I'm trying not to think of the alternatives."

"So you decided to knock me around."

"That's right. I needed to release my inner hostility."

"Bullshit."

He smiled. "How do you feel?"

She thought about it. "Strong. Very strong."

"Not defenseless?"

"Noway."

"Then I'll postpone the shower and make some coffee while we decide what you want for breakfast." He moved toward the kitchen. "Or maybe not. Caffeine may rouse the tiger in you again."

I saw lions and tigers.

The memory brought pain but not the terrible feeling of helplessness.

"You have an unusual way of handling depression, Galen. You see a woman who is down and out and try to pound her into the ground."

"Whatever works. Tender loving care wasn't doing the job." He flipped on the kitchen lights. "You can function now. Lord, can you function."

Yes, she could function. She could feel the blood flowing through her veins, and her mind was alert. Galen had given her release and confidence. God, what enormous gifts in this time of need.

She tore her gaze away from him. "You weren't so bad yourself." She went to the cabinet and took down two cups. "Okay, now we have to decide whether to stake out Chavez or continue to go after Judd."

"I'll pay it, Morgan," Chavez said. "But I want a little something extra."

"You're getting what you pay for. Nothing else."

"Thirty million is an exorbitant fee for one little boy. I think I deserve more. It won't be anything you're not accustomed to doing."

"And what is that?"

"I want Elena Kyler. Alive preferably, but I'll accept her dead if it proves impossible."

Judd was silent a moment. "Why should I give you anything?"

"I'm reluctant to give you this much money. I can stretch our negotiations out for a long time, and you want them over. You're probably tap dancing to keep ahead of Galen and Elena right now. All you have to do is give me Elena and it's a done deal."

"I'll think about it."

"I'll add another five million dollars to the pot if you bring her to me alive. I'll also put pressure on a few senators I have in my pocket to take the heat off you."