"Annie, I have to check the computer, and then I think we both need some rest. How about it? Bedtime?"

Annie nodded. "Whew, I'm beat. It's that stupid pill. You're right.

Time for bed."

v Hamel stood in the woods, watching the FBI around the reporter's house. He had timed the walks. About every twenty to thirty minutes.

The car was there, and he was certain the two women were inside.

This time he couldn't miss. He turned to start the long walk back to his own car, cursing at his hurting leg. If he didn't get Jack Keegan's photographs, Amer's contact here was going to kill him. This time he wouldn't miss, and the reporter would give him the evidence. Then she'd pay the price for coming back to Iraq. Arrogant Western women.

Even his sister knew enough to fear him.

a 208 a

ChAPTER TWENTy-ThREE.

Annie's voice in the darkness woke her, and Sarah grabbed her gun off the nightstand as she ran to the hallway, all senses trying to wake up. Holding the gun in front of her, Sarah poked her head into Annie's bedroom, inching inside. She turned in a slow circle looking at the entire room. Moonlight lay across the floor and part of the bed.

Annie was sitting up with her arms around her knees. Sarah let the gun drop and sat on the bed.

"Annie," Sarah said. "Wake up. You're dreaming." Annie dropped her head onto her knees, crying. Sarah crawled across the bed, pulled her down, and held her.

"It's okay. It's a nightmare. I've got you now." She tucked Annie's head under her chin and pulled her body into her own, rubbing her back and shoulders until she quieted. Annie whispered something, threw her arm around Sarah's waist, and then was still.

Except for Annie's breathing, the room was quiet again, but Sarah's noisy mind, fully on guard, kept her awake. She thought about the prince and his little group, then the Majers. She was angry, almost too furious to lie still. She pulled Annie closer, breathing in her warm scent.

v Bright sunlight and the smell of coffee woke Sarah next. She rolled over, wondering how she'd gotten into Annie's bed, than she remembered the nightmare. Sitting, she could hear the shower in a 209 a Annie's bathroom, and she went across the hallway to her own room, anticipating the trip to Green Bay today. She dressed in navy cargo pants and a white button-down shirt with heavy socks and boots. Tucking her shirt in, she pulled a heavy blue sweater over it and began to brush her damp hair. She thought about holding Annie last night, her soft body against her own, and she knew the next time, if there was a next time, she would want more. The last woman she'd actually fallen asleep with had been Patricia in another city and another time. She tossed her bags on the bed.

Turning her phone on, Sarah walked down the hallway but stopped at the office, staring. Annie had headphones on and was barefoot, in a dark green long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans with a book in front of her face, dancing to whatever she was listening to. Sarah grinned, enjoying the body moving to the rhythm. Annie turned and caught sight of her, ripping the headphones off.

"Morning," she said, "want to dance?"

"What's this?" Sarah asked, touching the glasses Annie was wearing.

"Vanity, thy name is Annie." She laughed, setting the glasses on the desk. "Ready for coffee...or dancing?" She ran her hands through Sarah's hair and snuggled close with her arms around her neck.

Sarah breathed Annie's rainy scent and closed her eyes. "We'd better stick with coffee," she said and took Annie's hand, leading her to the kitchen on shaky legs.

Annie chattered as she bustled around the kitchen, making thin pancakes with peaches on top. Sarah watched, heart beating rapidly, replaying last night in Annie's bed. How did it get to this? She has the sexiest voice I've ever heard, and all she has to do is speak or look at me and I almost have heart failure. Intentions, she thought, looking down at the table.

"Why did I wake up with you in my bed this morning?" Annie asked, cutting up her pancake.

"You had a nightmare last night. It got me out of bed in a hurry, and I just never went back."

"The pain pills make me a little stupid. That's too bad. Or maybe Rebecca's right. I'm slowing down." She poured more syrup on the pancake. "By the way, are you going home to your apartment for clothes or anything before we leave today?"

a 210 a "I need clean clothes?" Sarah said, reaching for another pancake and more peaches.

"No, I'm asking if I can go along, see your place where you live."

Annie's smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Absolutely, but what's up, Booker?"

"It was so wonderful this morning, waking up with you. Like crawling out of a deep fog. I'd like to keep that feeling for just a bit longer."

Sarah got caught in Annie's eyes, feeling her entire body shift toward her, but her phone rang and she reached for it.

"Well," she said finally, "thanks for the call. I appreciate it, Don."

She hung up and looked at Annie. "Now I can tell you what I wouldn't say last night. Our DNA just confirmed that the man and woman are your friend's oldest kids. That would be Majer's niece and nephew."

Annie's eyes swung up. "Nyalia's kids?"

"I wanted to make sure before I told you, Annie."

"No, Nyalia wouldn't do that to me."

"Annie," Sarah said, putting the phone down and reaching for her hand. "She may not know."

Annie jumped up from the table. "Wrong, you're wrong! Damned straight she knows. She knows it all." Annie started out of the room, then turned, coming back, angry energy crackling around her. Sarah sat very still, engulfed in the sight, watching the green eyes turn electric.

"Sarah, I've been talking with her for well over two years. Been in her home, helped her with her two youngest daughters." Annie slammed into the chair next to her. "Damn and damn again! That's where I've seen them, now I remember him. She had pictures of them in her house, in Baghdad. They were younger, of course,, but still, it's them." She laid her head on the table. "I can't believe this."

"Don is going out there right now to pick up Dr. Majer and his sister. I need to sign this trip off at the office. Let me get Scott in here, and he'll stay with you while I'm gone. You finish packing and I'll just swing back for you. Remember, we've got the walk-by every half hour, so don't be alarmed when you see someone outside."

"Okay, gumshoe. I'll be here."

v a 211 a The office was busy as Sarah walked toward Don's office. He was sitting at his desk, suit coat thrown over a chair. He looked up when she came in.

"How was last night?" he asked.

"It was quiet, had a nice meal, went to bed early. We're getting out of town, at last. Did you pick up the Majers?"

"They're downstairs, talking to their lawyer. As I told you on the phone, the man and woman that have been around Annie are Majer's niece and nephew. Her sister's oldest children."

"Do you think she knew what they were going to do at the party?"

"She wouldn't talk because her brother, Dr. Majer, wouldn't let her. From what little conversation that did occur, I have the feeling that she was aware of some of this, but certainly didn't have all the facts.

And, Sarah, as you said, she went into that bathroom just before Ms.

Booker."

Sarah asked about the prince and the information from Dr.

Hatawabe that she'd given the lab yesterday.

"Still nothing on your new information. Good notes, by the way.

We'll have something today, I'm sure. Surveillance says the prince's little group is packing up, getting ready to leave. They've checked out at the desk. I've got Customs ready at the airport, just in case Majer's nephew Hamel is with them. We'll detain him if he is. The men from the Chicago State Department are on their way up, so we'll be able to talk with them legally, but not for long. Whenever he wants to leave, the prince can go."

"I told Annie about Majer's sister and she exploded. She considered the woman a friend."

"It's going to be a long day. We'll formally arrest Dr. Majer today.

I've already informed his lawyer. As a matter of fact, I have some photos we picked up at the Majers', and Annie might be able to give us some information. What I'm trying to connect is the female, Majer's niece. Why would she be working with her brother to harm Annie?

Unless they're a team, working together for the prince."

"That's what Annie said last night. Maybe she's right. Well, we'll be gone today, and that'll give you time to work on this without worrying about her." Sarah reached for her coat, anxious to get going.

"All right, I'm gone."

a 212 a "Sarah, just a minute. Remember, we may have their mother, but we don't know where these two people are, especially the woman. We got an ID from the hospital. I've got people on their way out there now, to her apartment. Be careful."

Sarah nodded as she put her coat back on. She left and checked the clock in the hall. It was almost noon. As the elevator doors opened, Scott Frazier walked out, taking his gloves off.

"Scott." Sarah reached for his arm. "Who's at the house?"

"What?" He stopped. "I thought we had them here."

"Who?"

"I was monitoring Don on the computer as he picked up the Majers. He said they picked up the man, the woman, and their mother."

He looked unsure. "I told Ms. Booker we were leaving and why. She asked why you hadn't called."

"Oh, Scott, no." Sarah ran the few steps back to Don's office, leaning into his door. "Scott misunderstood and pulled the surveillance from Annie's house. He's here, with the other car as well. Call the locals and see if they can get someone out there. I'll take Scott with me." Don stood immediately, grabbing his phone.

Scott apologized all the way up to the parking ramp in the elevator, but Sarah barely heard him. She ran toward the car, listening to Annie's message on her phone. Sarah dialed but could only get Annie's voicemail. It'd been well over an hour since she'd left. As she tried to get the car keys out of her pocket, her phone rang and she hoped it was Annie, but it was Don. He'd called the state police for an escort out to the Booker house.

Sarah had a moment of pure panic and her hand shook so badly that she couldn't get the key in the ignition. Exhaling, she got a firm hold on her mind, got the key in, and drove down the parking ramp, praying the local police were on their way.

a 213 a a 214 a

ChAPTER TWENTy-FOuR.

Annie cleaned up in the kitchen after Sarah left for her office.

She thought about waking up with Sarah that morning.

Sarah's warm skin and breath on her face had surprised her, then flooded her with hunger. God, had she ever been this empty? In the last three years her body had betrayed her constantly. "Damn," she said and stood. Desire had to count for something. Sarah quieted her, gave her room to think. It was something she'd never found with Mary.

She went to the office, thinking of the trip today, and opened the loft door for her heavy boots. She put her phone in her pocket, added the charger to the bag, and slid her laptop into its case. She put her glasses into a metal case and tossed them into the other bag. A book on the desk caught her eye, and she slid it and another into the bag, wondering if Sarah was going to stay in Green Bay with her. She had forgotten to ask. Maybe Scott would know. She walked to the living room, and he looked up, smiling.

"Guess what? They've got them all downtown." He stood, shutting down the laptop. "That means we can all go home. It's over, Ms. Booker."

"I haven't heard from Sarah," she said. "Wouldn't she have called?"

"She may not know, but I was listening to the transmission between Don and the office when he picked up the Majers and the whole group." He disconnected the wires, wrapping them into the case.

"Majer's niece and nephew too? His sister's kids?"

a 215 a "Yes, and I'm heading back to the office. It's over." He pulled his suit coat on, smiling at her.

Annie stood at the front windows and watched the cars leave. It didn't feel right. Sarah would have called. She dialed Sarah's phone but got her voicemail again and left a message, asking about the information Scott had given her. She checked the alarm system and walked back to her bedroom. Perhaps Sarah was on her way home.

Taking dark green slacks out of the closet, she selected a sweater to match and hung them in the bathroom. Looking back at her bedroom, she felt like she was leaving on assignment, everything strewn between here and her office. Annie reached over for a towel. Her life was changing, again.

A soft but distinct thud sounded above her, and Annie looked up at the bathroom ceiling. She thought it was snow falling off the roof, but then knew she was wrong. There was a straight pane of glass right above her head, a studio window. The floor creaked softly, and Annie realized there was someone in the studio, in the house. She moved quickly to the drawer with the gun and then the two clips. Annie knew every creak in that floor and remembered she had left the loft door unlocked.

Instincts honed by years in hollowed-out buildings, ditches, and unknown terrain kicked in, and Annie stepped into the hallway. The air was very still.

The most secluded place would be the back bedroom, but Sarah's room had the best view of the hallway. Annie moved quickly to the closet that faced the doorway. Ducking under hanging clothing, she pushed herself against the back wall, then looked down at herself, at her dark jeans and long-sleeved T-shirt. She straightened her head behind the clothing, face covered in the shadows. Her hands shook as she put the clip into the gun, and she forced herself to think of everything she could remember from the day Will had given her the gun. Clip in first, check safety, hold still, and pull firmly but lightly. It would be fast.

Annie put the gun between her legs, holding it with both her knees and her hands, checking the safety again, waiting. Annie had a perfect memory of her grandfather, standing in the woods with her and Molly.

"Don't shut your eyes. Look where you're shooting."

There was a sudden noise in the office, and Annie strained her ears.

The telephone rang like a warning, and she could feel sweat trickling down her back as she tightened her knees and her hands.

a 216 a A click sounded in the kitchen as the French doors opened and closed, then soft voices, male and female. Annie remembered Sarah had her car. They probably didn't know she was here. A woman passed in front of the room. Annie recognized her. Nyalia's daughter. Within seconds Annie could hear her in the room next to her and then in her own bedroom across the hall. What irony, she thought, take fire in the Middle East, and get shot in my own home, by a woman.

The telephone began to ring again in the quiet house, and she reached into her pocket, turning her phone off. Annie waited, barely breathing. She could hear someone in her office, drawers opening, things falling on the floor. The woman appeared in her doorway, gun in front of her, turning slowly, eyes passing the closet where Annie was hiding. As she started into the room, sirens sounded from outside, and she stopped, stepping back out into the hallway, saying something to the other person. They were quiet for a moment and then a male spoke.

The woman stepped back into the room in front of Annie. She pressed her back against the wall. Her head was turned toward the doorway, looking away from Annie's hiding spot. For a moment even the air felt sharp, as the garage door opener started to grind and the sirens screamed loudly. Thank God, Annie thought, Sarah's here. I won't have to shoot. The woman pushed straighter against the wall with her head still turned toward the hallway, listening.

Everything happened at once. Sarah called out her name, and the woman stepped out into the hallway, gun pointed at Sarah's voice.