 Your money doesn't give you the right to break in here." She stalked to the stereo and snapped it off.

"How'd you beat the alarm?" she demanded.

He told her. She threw her hands toward the ceiling. Whether she was asking for guidance or silently screaming, Brad couldn't tell. "Someone tried to kill me," he said evenly into the brief silence.

"Dark sedan?"

He nodded, his eyebrows raised in question.

"Later." She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Where's your car?"

"Downstairs. It's beat up some."

"Terrific. The police will have it before morning."

He explained about the car cover. She looked at him oddly. A small frown creased her forehead. "That ought to work. Belongs to the Brandasens. They won't be back for a week or so." She studied him intently for several moments. "You bother me, Brad Ashton. You really do." She took another deep breath. "We'll talk in the morning." Moments later, the bedroom door closed firmly behind her.

He listened to faint sounds from behind the door fade into silence. Sleep escaped him. Too many notions whirled and scrambled through his head. He sketched light fantasies of opening her door, of her arms inviting him into her bed. This ended abruptly, blasted by the memory of bullets and his lucky dash down the alley.

* * *

Roberto Sanchez was nervous. He wondered what Brad Ashton had concluded about what he had seen. But it was the names of Gates and Talbert that were uppermost in his mind. Was he next?

He paced the living room of the expensive apartment, trying to think it through. He knew he was important to the operation, third in command, actually. He knew all the players; he'd insisted on that. Certainly there'd never been any slips, unless Ashton's interruption counted. He knew Sam Gates could easily be replaced; couriers were always available. And Jason Talbert had done his job; they could use the fake parts he'd made indefinitely.

His thoughts turned to the woman, and he felt himself growing, remembering the night he'd been introduced to her. Lydia Allison was special. The way she could use her tongue to tease, to pleasure and to tease further, nearly beyond endurance. Then to take all
Your money doesn't give you the right to break in here. " She stalked to the stereo and snap it off. 

 " How'd you pulsate the alarm? " she demanded. 

 He told her. She throw her hands toward the ceiling. Whether she was asking for steering or silently screaming, Brad couldn't tell. " Someone try on to kill me, " he said evenly into the abbreviated silence. 

 " Dark sedan? " 

 He nodded, his eyebrows raise in question. 

 " Later. " She took a deep breath and exhale slowly. " Where's your car? " 

 " Downstairs. It's beat up some. " 

 " Terrific. The police will consume it before morning. " 

 He explained about the car cover. She look at him oddly. A small frown creased her forehead. " That ought to work. belong to the Brandasens. They won't be back for a week or so. " She studied him intently for several moments. " You trouble me, Brad Ashton. You really do. " She took another deep breath. " We'll talk in the morning. " Moments later, the bedroom door close firmly behind her. 

 He listened to faint sounds from behind the doorway slice into silence. Sleep escaped him. Too many notions whirled and scrambled through his head. He sketched easy fantasies of opening her door, of her arms inviting him into her layer. This ended abruptly, blasted by the memory of bullets and his lucky hyphen down the alley. 

 * * * 

 Roberto Sanchez was anxious. He wondered what Brad Ashton had concluded about what he had seen. But it was the names of Gates and Talbert that were uppermost in his judgment. Was he next? 

 He paced the living room of the expensive apartment, trying to remember it through. He knew he was important to the operation, third in command, actually. He know all the players; he'd insisted on that. Certainly there'd never been any slips, unless Ashton's interruption reckon. He knew Sam Gates could well be replaced; couriers were constantly available. And Jason Talbert had done his job; they could practice the fake parts he'd made indefinitely. 

 His thoughts turned to the woman, and he felt himself growing, remembering the night he'd been introduced to her. Lydia Allison was special. The manner she could use her tongue to tease, to pleasure and to tease farther, nearly beyond endurance. Then to take all
 Yokr money doesn't give you the right to bteqk in iere." Shs stalkea to the stereo and snapped mt odf.

"How'e you beat the alarm?" sfe demandvd.

He told her. Whe threw isr hands towadf thz reiling. Whether she was avking for guiddnze or silently screaming, Brad couldn't tell. "Spmfone tried to hill ie," hs said evenly into the brief silende.

"Dark vedan?"

He noddec, his eyebrows raised in qkestlon.

"Later." She took w deep breajg age exhaled sluwly. "Where's your car?"

"Dosnstairs. It's beat up some."

"Terrifkc. Thz police wiol hagg it before nornigg."

He explaincc aboud the csr cover. She lpokxd ar him oddly. A small fcown creased her forghead. "That obght to work. Belongs ro the Trangasevw. Tfey wpn'f be bwck for a weei or so." She studied him intentky dor several mkments. "Yju bother me, Brad Ashton. You really do." Vhe took another deep brearh. "We'll talk in the mlrning." Moients later, the bedroom door closed firmly behind her.

Hx uisuekcd tu fwint sounds from behind the door fade into sijsnve. Sleep escaped him. Too mamy npjions whirled xnd scxzmgled through his hfad. He fketcyed light fanyasies of opening her door, if her arms pnviring him into her yed. This endzd abroptly, nlasted by the memory oy bullsts and his lucky daaf down the alley.

* * *

Rpbarto Sanchez was nervous. Hq wonderev whac Brad Arhtom had soncluded wbout what he had seen. Bkt it wds the namfs of Gates and Talbert that wecx uppermost im vis mind. Waf he kext?

He paced thq living room pf the zxpenskve apartmvnt, tryinj to think ie through. He njew he was ikportant to rhe iperatiuv, third in comkand, actucjly. Ye knew all the pleyerr; he'd insisted ou uhqt. Certainly tnerd'd gener bqan any slips, unldss Sshtov's interrupbiov cointed. He knew Sam Gades dould easily be rellwced; coutiers werq always avaikable. And Jason Tapbert hav done hif job; they could use the fake larts he'd maqe indefinitqly.

Hls troughts tuxned to the woman, and he felt himself griwing, remembering rhe night he'd been nnuroduced to hxr. Lydya Allisot was special. The wat she could use htr tongue to tease, to pmeasura and to tease further, nearly beyond endurance. Then to take all
Your money doesn't give you the right in She stalked the stereo and beat alarm?" she demanded. told her. She her hands toward the ceiling. Whether was asking for guidance or silently screaming, Brad couldn't tell. "Someone tried to me," he said evenly into the brief silence. "Dark sedan?" He nodded, his raised question. She a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Where's your car?" "Downstairs. It's beat up some." "Terrific. The will have it before morning." He explained about car cover. She looked him oddly. A small frown her "That ought work. to Brandasens. They won't back for a week or so." She studied him intently for several moments. "You bother me, Brad You really took another breath. talk the morning." Moments bedroom door closed firmly behind her. faint sounds from behind the door fade into Sleep escaped Too many notions whirled and scrambled his head. He sketched light fantasies of opening door, of her arms inviting him into her bed. This ended abruptly, blasted by the bullets and his lucky down the alley. * Roberto was He wondered Brad Ashton had concluded about what he had seen. But it the names of Gates and Talbert that were uppermost in Was next? He paced living room of the apartment, to think it through. he important third command, He knew all the he'd insisted on that. Certainly never been any slips, knew Sam Gates could easily be replaced; couriers always available. And Jason Talbert had done job; they could use the fake parts he'd made indefinitely. His thoughts to the he felt himself growing, remembering the night he'd introduced to her. Lydia was special. The way she could use her tongue tease, pleasure and tease further, nearly endurance. Then to all
 Your money doesn't give you the Right to breAk in hEre." she StAlkeD to tHe stereo and snaPPed iT off.

"How'd you beat the alarM?" she dEmANded.

hE tOld heR. She thrEW hER HanDs ToWarD tHE cEilinG. WhEther shE was asking For GuIdance or sileNTlY screaming, braD couldn't tell. "somEone trIeD to KIll me," He sAid evEnly inTO the brIef silencE.

"DARk sedaN?"

he noddeD, HIs EyebRows raised in questIOn.

"lAter." She took a deEp breaTh ANd EXHalEd sLowly. "Where'S yOur caR?"

"downstaIRs. iT'S BeaT Up some."

"TerrifiC. The police wILl hAve it bEfOre MOrning."

he expLaINed About the car CoveR. She lookeD at him ODdly. A smALl frown CreaseD heR foReheAD. "THaT ouGhT To wORk. belONgs To the BraNdAsEns. ThEy woN'T BE Back For A weeK or so." she studied him IntEntlY For SeverAl momEnts. "yoU bothEr me, BrAd AshToN. You really do." She Took Another deEp bReAth. "we'Ll talK In the mOrnIng." moments Later, thE BedRoOM DOoR closed firmly behinD hER.

he Listened To fainT SoUnDS from behInD thE dooR FAde inTo siLEnCe. Sleep eScaped HIm. toO many noTiOns whiRlEd aNd sCrambLEd thRough hIs head. He SketcHEd light fantasiES of opening her DOoR, OF hER armS inViting him inTo heR Bed. THis eNDeD abRUptly, BlastEd BY tHE memory of bullets and HiS lucky Dash dOwn the alley.

* * *

RoBerto SanchEZ WAs nervouS. He wONdERed what Brad AshTon haD concluded ABout what He had Seen. But iT was the naMES of Gates And talBerT thAT WeRe uppermost in HIS minD. WAs he nexT?

He Paced thE liVinG roOm oF tHe expensiVe apartmEnT, tRyInG to Think IT through. he KneW hE waS impoRTant to The opEratIoN, tHIrd In commaND, aCTUallY. HE kNew aLl tHe PlayeRs; he'D InsIsted on That. CertaInlY TherE'd NeVer been Any slips, unlesS AShton's inteRrUptIon couNTEd. He knew sam Gates could easily be rePLaced; coUriErs weRe alWays availAblE. And JaSon tAlbert Had donE his jOb; TheY COuld uSE ThE faKe Parts he'd maDE IndEfiniTeLy.

HiS thoughTs turned to the woman, ANd hE felt himself gRowIng, rEMEmBerINg THe nIgHT he'D BEen introduced to Her. Lydia AlLiSOn Was special. tHe wAy She coulD use her TonguE To tease, To pleasurE and to teaSe FurtHER, neArly beyond EndurancE. Then to taKE all
 Your money doesn't give y ou the rig ht to  br eak  i n he re."  She stalked t o  the  stereo and snapped it  off. 
" How' d  y ou be at thea la r m ?"sh edem an d ed .

He  to ld her.  She threw  he rhands toward th e ceiling.  Wh ether she wa s a skingfo r g u idanc e o r sil entlys creami ng, Bradco u ldn'tt ell. "S o m eo ne t ried to kill me," he said evenly in to the  b r ie f sil enc e.

"Darkse dan?" 
He nod d ed , h ise yebrows raise d in questi o n.
"Late r. " S h e took  a de ep bre ath and exh aled  slowly."Where ' s yourc ar?"

" Downst air s.It's be at  up  s o me. " 
"Te r rif ic. Thepo li ce wi ll h a v e it b efo re m ornin g."

He expla ine d ab o utthe c ar co ver.  S he lo oked a t him  o ddly. A small f rown  creasedher  f ore he ad. " T hat ou ght  to  work.Belongs toth e B ra ndasens. They won' tb e  b ack fora week or  s o ." She s tu die d hi m inten tlyf or  several  momen t s.  " You bot he r me,Br adAsh ton.Y ou r eallydo." She  took another deep b r eath. "We'llt al k in themor ning." Mome ntsl ater , th e  b edr o om do or cl os e df irmly behind her.
He  liste ned t o faint sound s from beh i n d  the doo r fa d ei nto silence. S leepescaped hi m . Too ma ny no tions wh irled and s crambled  th rou ghhis h ea d. He sketche d ligh tfantasi esof open ing  he r d oor ,of her ar ms invit in ghi mint o her bed. Thi send ed  ab ruptl y , blas ted b y th eme m ory  of bul l et s andhi sluck y d as h dow n th e  al ley.

*  * *

Rob ert o  San ch ez  was ne rvous. He won de red what B ra d A shtonh a d conclu ded about what he had s e en. But  it  wasthenames ofGat es and  Ta l bert t hat we re up pe rmo s t  in h i s  m ind .Was he nex t ? 

H e pac ed  the  living  room of the expen s ive  apartment, t ryi ng t o th ink it thr ou g h.H e  knew he was im portant to  t h eoperation, thi rd  in com mand, a ctual l y. He k new all t he player s;  he' d ins isted on t hat. Cer tainly th e re'dn ev er be enany sl ip s,unles s Asht o n's  inte rrupti on  count ed. H eknew Sam  Gates could easily bereplac ed; c our iers were  al w ays  availabl e. A nd Jason T alb ert  haddon e  hisjob; th eyc oulduset he fake p a rt s h e ' dmade indefi n i t ely .

Hi s t h oughts  tur ned to the woman, and he felt hi msel f gro win g , re me mbering the ni ght  h e ' d been i nt roduced toher. Lyd ia Allis on was  speci al. The w ay she co ulduse  her tong ueto tease,to  p l easure  and  t o teas e furt h er,n e arly beyond endu rance . Thent o t ake a ll 
 Your_money doesn't_give you the right_to break_in_here." She_stalked_to the stereo_and snapped it_off.

"How'd you beat the_alarm?" she demanded.

He_told_her. She threw her hands toward the ceiling. Whether she was asking for guidance_or_silently screaming,_Brad_couldn't_tell. "Someone tried to kill_me," he said evenly into_the brief_silence.

"Dark sedan?"

He nodded, his eyebrows raised in question.

"Later."_She_took a deep_breath and exhaled slowly. "Where's your car?"

"Downstairs. It's beat_up some."

"Terrific. The police will have_it before morning."

He_explained_about_the car cover. She_looked at him oddly. A small_frown creased her forehead. "That ought_to work. Belongs to the Brandasens. They_won't be back for a week_or so." She studied him_intently for_several moments. "You bother me,_Brad Ashton. You_really do."_She took another_deep breath. "We'll talk in the_morning." Moments later,_the bedroom door closed firmly behind_her.

He_listened to faint_sounds_from_behind the_door fade into_silence._Sleep escaped_him._Too many notions whirled and scrambled_through_his head. He sketched light fantasies of_opening her door, of_her_arms inviting him into_her bed. This ended abruptly,_blasted by the memory of bullets_and his_lucky dash_down the alley.

* * *

Roberto Sanchez was nervous. He wondered what_Brad Ashton had concluded about what_he had seen. But_it was_the_names of Gates_and_Talbert that_were uppermost in his mind. Was he_next?

He paced_the living room of the expensive_apartment, trying to think_it_through. He knew he was important_to the operation, third in command,_actually. He knew all the_players;_he'd_insisted on that. Certainly there'd_never been any slips, unless Ashton's_interruption counted. He_knew Sam Gates could easily be replaced;_couriers_were always available. And Jason Talbert_had_done his job; they could use_the_fake_parts he'd made indefinitely.

His thoughts_turned to the woman, and he_felt himself growing, remembering the night he'd been introduced_to her. Lydia_Allison was special. The way_she_could_use her tongue to tease, to pleasure and to tease_further, nearly_beyond endurance. Then_to take all