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And it had been a sad yet fascinating story, she thought.

But there had been no hint of self-pity in his words.

It had been told with casual acceptance and hard cynicism.

What a life he must have had. She found she wanted to hear more about those “endeavors” that had shaped him.

“But I haven’t heard anything about this so-called code you were telling me about.

I’m particularly interested in how it applies to those guards you supposedly put out here to protect Eve Duncan.

Were you lying to me?” Her gaze raked the lakefront property. “I don’t see any guards.”

“There’re two on the rear of the boathouse.

” He pointed at the woods. “One near that pine tree at the edge of the woods.” He added, “And there were two on guard right after we left the freeway. As for that code I mentioned, I keep it very simple. I tell the truth to those I know will tell it to me. And I do unto others as I would have them do unto me.” He paused.

“Naturally, there are exceptions. And I admit that my temper does explode on occasion, and then I say to hell with codes. But I work on it, and it’s much rarer now than it used to be. ”

He’d reached the Lake Cottage, and he parked near the staircase that led up to the covered sunporch.

“Here we are.” He turned off the engine.

“I had Catherine call Eve to introduce you. I would have called her myself, but I wanted you to have a chance to be welcomed by someone you admire and appreciate. She knows that I was behind Fallon and Catherine trying to persuade her to do the death mask. I’d be lucky if impatience is the worst thing she feels toward me at the moment.

So I’ll wait for you here. Take your time. I hope you get what you want.”

“That’s very generous of you considering you told me that you don’t stop until you get what you want,” she said dryly.

He smiled. “And that hasn’t changed. If I decide that you’ll turn out to be a hazard, I’ll just go in another direction. But there’s nothing wrong in hoping perhaps we can both get what we want.”

She was already climbing the flight of steps leading to the sunporch. “I’m not a hazard, dammit.” Then she added over her shoulder, “Though I admit I’m a little nervous right now.”

“Don’t be nervous,” he said. “If she attacks you, I’ll come running.”

“Don’t you dare. This is my battle.” She winked and was already knocking on the door. “If you try, I’ll knock you down and stomp on you.”

The door was opening… She drew a deep breath as she saw the woman standing there smiling at her. “Hello, Eve. You probably don’t remember me, but I attended one of your New York seminars. My name is Celine Kelly.”

And then Eve smiled warmly and held out her hand.

“Catherine already let me know you were coming. But I told her those seminars were such a crush, it was difficult for me to remember any of the students.” She pulled Celine into the room and tilted her head as she walked around her, examining every detail of Celine’s face and body.

“But I can’t believe that I didn’t remember you.

I make my living doing forensic sculptures, and I wouldn’t have forgotten you.

You’re quite incredible.” She wrinkled her nose.

“It makes me wonder if I’m losing my touch. ”

“Oh, no,” Celine said quickly. “You’re absolutely wonderful. There’s no one like you. I didn’t want to bother you, so I stayed out of your way and just listened and tried to learn.”

“You’re an artist?”

Celine shook her head. “Not like you. I just dabble when I’m not posing. I’m in med school. I was most interested in how you prepared the Helen mummy before you did your work on her. It must have been fascinating.”

Eve nodded. “And breathtaking and terrifying. One of the most exciting assignments I’ve ever undertaken.

” She frowned. “But it also led to having to ward off having artists and museums try to talk me into doing other similar projects.” She paused.

“What I couldn’t explain is that there aren’t any similar projects.

The closest I’ve come is the death mask that Professor Fallon wanted me to sign on for—but that has far too many questions that couldn’t be answered to my satisfaction.

” She gave a half shrug. “And now you show up out of the blue. I assume they all think I’ll be tempted by your spectacular face to use you as a model for the death mask?

Just in case they haven’t found the genuine mummy.

” She was shaking her head. “I admit you even look enough like the bust of Nefertiti in the Berlin museum to make that offer very alluring.” Her eyes narrowed on Celine’s features.

“And since you’re probably even more beautiful than that queen, I could show the world what this new discovery that Fallon told me about must have looked like when she ruled her world.

Do you know how rare it is to have a queen step out of the history pages and have a face right before me that I could use as an exact model?

It’s a sculptor’s dream.” She sighed and shook her head reluctantly.

“But the answer is still no. I have a life of my own; I don’t have to live vicariously just because it’s a career challenge.

So I’m afraid you’ve paid me a visit for no good reason, Celine. But good luck to you in the future.”

It sounded like a dismissal, but Celine couldn’t allow that to happen.

Not yet. Not until she said what she’d come to say.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “But it seems you’ve made a mistake about my intentions in coming to see you.

I’m surprised, because I know Catherine is your good friend.

She probably wanted to be sure I’d be allowed to talk to you myself, since that’s why I made this trip from Boston.

But I didn’t come here to persuade you to make that death mask.

I’m sure you could do it splendidly, but I think it’s too dangerous.

I came to talk you into turning down any opportunity you’re given to do that assignment.

My friend Barnaby was tortured and murdered because he went after a killer who attacked me on the street last week.

I have it from a very reliable source that you and I have both been targeted.

And I came here to tell you that you should be very careful.

I understand you’re married to Joe Quinn, a fine detective.

It might not be a bad idea to bring him into the picture.

” She didn’t know what else to say. “Every word I’m telling you is the truth.

” Her hands were clenching at her sides.

“I’ll leave now, but just tell me you believe me. And that you’ll do what I’m asking.”

“I think I do believe you,” Eve said slowly.

“I’ve been in trouble too many times before myself not to recognize the truth when I hear it, even when it’s packaged in such a bizarre story.

But I’m not going to let you go anywhere until I hear the entire tale from the beginning.

” She turned away. “Sit down on the couch while I put on a pot of coffee. You might have to be here awhile.”

TWO HOURS AND TEN MINUTES LATER

“Eve wants to talk to you,” Celine said curtly as she marched down the flight of steps and stopped beside Dominic’s car. “Right now.”

Dominic nodded as he got out of the car. “I was wondering why your little chat was taking you so long. I was hoping she wasn’t giving you a hard time.” His gaze was raking her expression. “Was I being too optimistic? You’re looking pretty grim.”

“Because I feel as if I’ve been picked up by a tornado and thrown into the Grand Canyon.

” Celine turned and was climbing back up toward the sunporch again.

“You’re damn right she was giving me a hard time.

She’s a cross between an army drill sergeant and that lieutenant who questioned me at the police precinct.

She only softened when she decided you might be partially or fully to blame for everything that’s been going on. ”

He grinned. “So you threw me to the wolves?”

“No, I tried to defend you. It was Joe Quinn who told Eve she should get the full story from you. I asked her to call him and tell him about the threat to her, and she thought it was a good idea.” She was already knocking on the door. “I suppose you can guess he didn’t like what was going on.”

“I can imagine. I expected it would set off fireworks if she decided to bring in Quinn. It was a chance I had to take if I let you come here.”

“Let me?” she repeated. “You couldn’t have stopped me.”

“That’s debatable. But we won’t discuss—”

Eve threw open the porch door. “You’re Alex Dominic?

” she demanded. “I have a few questions I need to ask you. And I’m afraid my husband, Joe, has a couple dozen more.

” She stepped aside and gestured for them to come in.

“Celine seemed to think you’d be willing to answer anything I threw at you.

Which one of us do you want to try to tackle first? ”

“Since Celine compared your tactics to a drill sergeant’s, I thought that Quinn might be gentler on my delicate psyche. I’ve heard many interesting things about him.”

“Don’t expect any gentleness from Joe at the moment.” Eve was already punching in Joe’s phone number as she spoke. “I’ve put you on speaker. I’m sure you won’t mind. It seems he’s heard quite a few interesting things about you, too.”

“I’m certain that’s true.” He spoke into the phone. “I’m happy to talk to you, Quinn. I was certain we’d get together soon.”

“Not soon enough,” Joe said. “Believe me.”

“I’m afraid he didn’t like the idea that you were involving me in your plans,” Eve said. “Neither do I.”