"You must have seen them. They digitize photographs on a disc, and you can view them on your TV screen or computer terminal."

"What's it doing here?" she asked.

"It's not mine." Geoff handed the jewel case back to her. "That reminds me, I was meaning to ask you about that. Where did Phil keep his computer?"

"Computers cost money, even small P.C.'s. Phil would never waste money on one."

"He could have come into some money, or got it as a gift, like your fax machine."

"Even so. He doesn't have a computer, I'm telling you. He's a bit of a technophobe. I even had to set his VCR for him. Did you see one in his place?"

"That's what puzzled me when I saw the manuals."

"What manuals? What are you talking about?"

"Remember that mess in his studio? Well, one of the booklets I picked up was a user's manual for a Macintosh G3 PowerBook. So, I looked for it, but it wasn't in the room. It gave me an odd feeling like when you see a spot on the wall where a picture used to hang. Then, we went upstairs, and I forgot about it."

"So, if it's Phil's, what are we doing with it?"

Geoff shrugged. "Maybe it fell under the seat when we sped away from Shane's house."

"I put the bag in the back, hit the gas, the bag fell over, and it slid out. No. We didn't have it in the bag. All we had were videotapes. I packed them myself."

"That's right. How about when we got the tapes from his car?"

She frowned, and pulled at her lip. "When I slid off the seat, the nylon tape case slid off with me. It was open. Now, if only there was a way to see what was on it."

"Let me think. Who do I know? I've got it. I know exactly where we should be heading, and it's just off Rt. 40. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. It's perfect. If anybody has the equipment it's her."

"She? Where are we going?"

"Boonsboro."

"An old girlfriend?"

"Kinda." Geoff squeezed Glenn's leg. "Not mine. But, back in high school she and Bobby sure did get along."

Sadie barely glanced up when Pip entered the room. "Good, you're here."

Pip was wearing a salmon-colored polo shirt with the collar turned up. His slacks were olive khakis, and his shoes were tasseled loafers. He looked as if he'd just stepped out of a print ad for men's cologne, except for the holster on his belt.

"This had better be important."

She shot him a look. "I'll try not to take too much of your time." Then, she truly saw him. "I thought I was keeping you from grabbing forty winks. Looks like you had other plans."

"Just brunch. With a congressional aide."

"Business or pleasure?" Sadie asked.

"Get me out of here on time, and we'll find out."

"When do you plan to get to bed?"

"Hopefully, at brunch." He smiled. "What's the emergency?"

"We have to shut down operations."

"Right now?"

"There might not be a later, for either of us."

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's just say I don't always go through official channels."

"We didn't do anything without authorization. I double-checked all the memos as per protocol."

"On the hotter issues sometimes I circumvented the Chief. He's a brilliant strategist, you know. But, he just doesn't see the big picture like we do."

"Who authorized the sanctions?"

"You know Captain Shaugnessy?" Sadie asked.

"By reputation. Wasn't he busted after Contra?"

"They demoted him to mollify Congress, had to have a fall guy. Next thing you know Castro will be sitting in the oval office smoking cigars with the President."

"What is Shaugnessy doing approving?" Pip asked.

"Read your rule book. I have to get authorization froma superior in the agency. Captain Shaugnessy is my superior, and he's in the agency."

"But, he was stripped of that jurisdiction."

"If the agency chooses to thank a hero for a lifetime of service by moth-balling him, that's their mistake," Sadie said.

"But, what aboutyour years of service? You can lose your job, benefits, pension," Pip said.

"We're going to make sure that doesn't happen." She put her hands on her hips. "Unless you want to play it safe?"

Sadie folded her arms, the fingers of her right hand coming close to the handle of the revolver on her left hip.

"I just wished you told me about this."

"No need to know...before now."

Pip looked at her. Her hair was loose around the neck, tucked behind her ears. Her eyes shone fiercely. She never looked more beautiful, or more formidable. Maybe the two things were connected. A woman like Sadie, who felt cornered, was completely dangerous, and completely enticing. She took a deep breath. Her breasts rose and fell under her tight black turtleneck. Her elegant fingers moved nervously as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Are you on my side?" She took a step toward him.

"How can I be?" he said, taking a step toward her. "When you keep me in the dark?"

"This is your last chance to bail. I won't hold it against you if you do. What I'm doing could soil your lily white hands."

"We're partners. You know what my answer has to be."

She relaxed her stance, and turned her back to him. "After making some calls I've ascertained that our quarry stopped at a house on Colesville Road in Silver Spring. I sent someone to call on them. They have exchanged cars. I have an APB out. In the meantime, we have some tidying up to do."

"Is that the destroy pile?"

"Let's do it."

Sadie handed Pip the black-and-white of Glenn Prentiss, and he looked at it for a second before handing it back. The photograph disappeared into the teeth of the shredder.

"We're going to pick her up?"

"That's right." Sadie looked at Pip's enigmatic expression. "We have to wait before we hear something from the field. Want to do something to pass the time?"

"Like what?"

"I'm wound tighter than a spring." She came around the shredder, and put her hand on his chest. "This place used to be an apartment. I'm going in the back to lie down. You can join me, if you don't think it'll spoil your brunch."

"Is that an order?" he asked.

"That would be in violation of Criminal Code, Article 27, Section 464."

"Well, technically, it's not sexual harassment unless it's against my will. Would you consider it insubordination if I turned you down?"

She put her put her mouth to his ear. "I'd consider it stupid. I'd have to think twice about working with anyone that stupid."

"I'm right behind you."

Pip watched her move down the hall. As she turned into a room, he slipped his hand in his pocket, and pulled out a miniature tape recorder. He pressed his thumb on the 'off' button, and buried the recorder in the basket of shredded papers. Then, he pulled his gun from its holster, and went down the hall to do his duty.

16.

The sunrise was beautiful. Up ancient South Mountain they climbed, forking off to a rural route. The valley stretched out like a picnic beneath them.

"That's her house." Geoff pointed to the cedar-sided rancher at the bottom of a driveway. "I hope it's not too early for a visit from a ghost."

The car dipped into the drive, and stopped in front of a two-car garage. Glenn got out, and followed a brick walkway lined with rough-hewn railroad ties. Geoff rang the bell, then stepped back, and stuffed his hands in his pockets. A child with a wild mane of white hair threw the door.

Geoff opened the storm door. "Is your Mommy home?"

"Mom-mee!"

A voice called, "Brianna," and a pretty young woman sailed across the living room.

"Lois?"

Glenn was expecting a rural peasant with a bovine face. However, Lois was square-shouldered, and slender. Her honey brown hair was feathered back from her face. Her nose was upturned, and she didn't wear any makeup. It was a congenial face, except for the hazel eyes, which never seemed to blink. Nothing much gets past this girl . Those eyes widened as she turned from Brianna.

"Geoff?" Lois smiled with perfect teeth. "I don't believe it. Get in here."

The house smelled like home cooking. Glenn followed Geoff into a room with a lofted ceiling. A fireplace separated that room from one like it on the other side. There was the head of a deer mounted over the fireplace, with a Christmas tree light clamped to its nose.

Brianna said, "Dat's Wudolph. His nose lights up."

Geoff said, "Lois, let me introduce my friend Glenn."

"Glenn. That's an unusual name," Lois said.

"It's nice to meet you," Glenn said.

"I'm Lois, and Brianna you've already met. She's my middle child."

Glenn felt a tug on her hand, and looked down.

"See my tree," Brianna said.

Geoff said, "I'll explain things to Lois, you go on."

Glenn had never liked children. They were too unpredictable, and needy. And, so very small.

"You're in some kind of trouble?" Lois asked.

Glenn said, "I don't think it's wise to involve strangers in all this."

"She's not a stranger," Geoff said. "This is Lois, Superman's girlfriend."

Lois laughed. "I haven't heard that in years. Superman was Geoff's brother Bobby." Her hand came up to her mouth. "I'm sorry."

"That's okay," Geoff said. "We got the flower arrangement. It was very sweet of you to send it."

"Your mom wrote the nicest 'thank you' note. I have it around here somewhere. She's the dearest person. How is she holding up?" Lois asked. "I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a child."

"It's been hard, but you know my parents, solid as granite. Hey, I heard you got married, and had a baby," Geoff said.

"Three babies. Well, you know me, can't do anything halfway. My youngest, Charlayne, is at her Grammy's house, and my oldest, Danee is in school. In fact, I'm getting ready to take cupcakes to her class. They're having a Christmas party. I have to leave in a few minutes, but you're welcome to stay as long as you need."

Glenn said, "That's way too much trouble."

Lois frowned. "You must be from the city. Haven't you heard? All us Smallville hicks stick together." Lois put her arm around Geoff. "Now, tell me what you need."