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“I’ll try. We’ll work on it.” She made a face.

“But so far the only interesting new offer I’ve had is that Fallon death mask sculpture that he said would make me eternally famous and also make Michael proud of me.

I told him Michael and I were always proud of each other, and I wasn’t about to go trekking through the wilderness when I had the chance to see you and the rest of the family instead.

He was not pleased. But I didn’t give a damn at the time.

I owed Fallon a debt for helping me out with red tape several times in the past. But it wasn’t worth giving up even one day with you or the rest of the family. ”

He smiled. “And we’re all humbly grateful when anyone offers to give up eternal fame for us.”

“Stop it,” Eve said. “I just had to give you the background to let you know how difficult it’s going to be to get what we both want. All the opportunities seem to lie in the depths of the Nile River, in erupting volcanoes or ancient burial tombs.”

“Or trekking through the wilderness?” Joe asked gently. “And you’ve already given up one job from Fallon.”

She nodded. “Gladly.”

“And where do they want you to ‘trek’?”

She shrugged. “Somewhere in Africa. I didn’t get all the details. But he was persistent. When I turned him down, he must have called Catherine Ling and asked her to give me a call.”

“Catherine?” Joe’s eyes narrowed intently. “She tried to talk you into going on that trip? What’s the CIA got to do with that sculpture?”

“Nothing, evidently. She told me not to consider it. She said that there were bad people connected to the job, and I shouldn’t get involved.

She acted relieved when I told her that I had no intention of taking the job because I didn’t want to miss one minute with my family.

” She grinned. “And then we went on to more important matters. Like the photos of Cira. We both agreed they were much more interesting.”

“And so they are.” Joe was silent for an instant and then asked, “Did Catherine mention the name of the ‘bad people’ connected to the Fallon job?”

“No, and I didn’t ask since I had no intention of taking the offer.

” She smiled teasingly. “But since you’re a detective, naturally you’d be interested in knowing.

I’m sure that Catherine will be willing to give you all the information your heart desires when she comes for tea.

I invited her to come and see Cira in the flesh as soon as you all get here. Is that soon enough, Joe?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. I’ll have to think about it. But in the meantime, Michael just strolled into the room and wants to talk to his mother. Imagine that. So I’ll turn the videophone over to him while I make a few other calls. Bye, Eve. I’ll see you soon, love.” Then he was gone.

And Michael’s face was there before Eve on the screen.

He was grinning at her, and she took an instant just to look at him.

She spoke to him often on the phone, and yet he seemed to change every time.

He was almost twelve and he’d be a teenager soon, with Joe’s close-cut chestnut hair and brown eyes.

But that puckish smile and the intensity of the way he stared deep into her eyes was all Michael.

“Hi, Mom. I guess I’ll be seeing you soon, but I thought maybe we should talk for a little while now.” He smiled. “I’ve missed you.”

Was his voice lower than it had been a few months ago?

He was growing up and she was missing so many changes, she realized with a pang.

“I’ve missed you, too.” She tried to smile.

“But you’re doing very well in school, and you seem to have made a lot of new friends.

And it’s positively amazing how many sports teams you belong to now.

I’d like to have you home again, but you’ve been happy, haven’t you? ”

“Sure I am. And it’s not as if I don’t see you and Dad much.

We go back and forth a lot on vacations like this one coming up.

” He was silent a moment. “And it was better that I left that school at the lake. Sometimes it was getting kind of hard to be around my friends there. Most of them knew about me, you know.”

She stiffened, and her eyes narrowed on his face. “Michael?”

“It’s okay, Mom.” He was smiling gently.

“They just thought I was kind of weird. Let’s face it, psychic stuff can be kind of scary to kids, and I wasn’t old enough to realize I should keep that stuff to myself.

You knew about a couple of things that happened with them and even tried to help me out.

But I could see that it was hurting you. ”

“It wasn’t hurting me,” she said fiercely. “Nothing about you has ever hurt me. You’ve always been a wonderful son. And I’m certain that you were just as terrific to those students at the lake school.”

“Well, some of those kids didn’t think I was all that wonderful,” he said dryly.

“When I was trying to help a few of them, I made clumsy mistakes. But when you enrolled me here at my school in Scotland, I made sure I started fresh and I was very careful.” He grinned.

“Plus I kept myself busy here to keep out of the other students’ business. Most of the time that seemed to work.”

“But not all the time?” Eve was gazing searchingly at his face on the screen. “I know you, Michael. You can’t resist helping when someone is hurting or in trouble.”

“Neither can you, Mom.” He tilted his head as if considering before he added teasingly, “Gee, do you suppose I inherited it from you?” He shrugged. “You taught me that I have to give where I can. I still do that, but if possible I do it discreetly.”

“Discreetly?” She made a face. “That’s such a grown-up, sophisticated word. It makes me a little sad.”

He laughed. “It shouldn’t. I’ve been growing up for a long time on your watch, Mom. You do it very well.”

“Not such a long time. But every time I turn around, it seems as if you’re changing or thinking deeper or in a different way.

” She was staring thoughtfully at him. “And all this talk about your school and what you went through as a little boy. Where is it leading? Why did you really want to talk to me today, Michael?”

He chuckled. “Perhaps to tell you that you’re the wisest mother on the planet? It’s true, you know.”

“Why?” she asked again. “May I help?”

“I don’t know. But I thought I should make sure that you knew what I know about Cira.”

“Cira?” Eve was immediately alarmed. “Has something happened to Cira? Why didn’t Joe tell me?”

“Easy,” Michael said. “As far as I know, Cira is fine. It’s just that you should know.”

“Know what?” she asked in frustration.

“She knows things. I think she’s been trying to tell me about it for the last few times I’ve been playing with her.” He was frowning. “Only she hasn’t wanted to play. She’s been too worried.”

“Michael, she’s only eighteen months old.”

“But maybe that’s why she’s worried. I’ve been studying about psychic phenomena lately because I wanted to see if I could find out some answers about myself.

But I’m afraid most of those books are wrong.

They don’t make sense to me. But one thing that did make sense was that a lot of those doctors think infants have shown signs that they’ve had psychic experiences.

It shows up more clearly than in older children because their brains are much cleaner and better defined. ”

“And what is Cira supposed to be worried about?” Eve asked. “She looked very happy in those pictures.”

He shook his head “Well, she seems anxious when Jane isn’t in the room.”

Eve gave a sigh of relief. “Michael, I’m afraid that those books you read may be wrong, too. Though I applaud you for trying to pierce the veils of science on the subject. But most babies are uneasy when their mothers aren’t around.”

“But I felt it, Mom. Cira was worried.”

“Then we’ll all keep an eye on her and Jane and anyone else that you choose. But do me a favor? Skip relying on science and just use your own instincts. You have tried-and-true experience in that area that works just fine.”

Michael was still frowning. “It seemed like a good idea.”

“And it was. All of your ideas are good, and I’m happy you wanted to have this talk.” She smiled. “And I’m also glad you’re having your chats with Cira. Keep on doing it. I’m sure she probably does like being with you. Big brothers always make their sisters feel safe.”

“Don’t worry,” he said soberly. “I’ll take care of her.”

“I know you will.”

“And you too, Mom.” He shook his head. “You’re laughing but it’s not funny. I’m getting old enough to take care of you now. Dad says we all have to take care of each other, but you have to be special because that’s what you are to us.”

“I sincerely thank you,” she said solemnly.

“But don’t be so eager to grow up, young man.

I told you how I feel about that. And we both know how brilliant and knowledgeable your dad is about most things, but he can get a little sappy sometimes.

I like his idea about everyone taking care of each other much better.

Suppose we just make a pact about that?”

“Whatever you say, Mom.” Michael was grinning again.

“But that’s between you and Dad. He’s always pretty definite whenever he speaks about you.

I wouldn’t want to be disrespectful.” Then he winked.

“And I think I should tell you that I really agree with him on this particular subject. I don’t see anything at all sappy in his judgment in this case. ”

She tried not to let him see how touched she was. “What do you know? You’re just a kid.”

“But you just told me not to be in such a hurry to grow up,” he said softly. “You can’t have it both ways.”

“I can have anything, any way I want it. As long as I have you and your dad to back me up.” She had to change the subject.

She was getting too emotional. “But now tell me all about your friends in your classes at school. Do you have a special buddy that you hang out with? And how about the rowing team? Are you strong enough to hold your own with those older boys?”

“You sound very satisfied with yourself, Catherine,” Dominic said quietly when she finished reporting back to him. “Thank you for making the attempt. I’m sure you did the best you could.”

“No, you aren’t,” Catherine said. “You knew I’d do exactly what I told you I’d do.

As it happened, I didn’t have to even try to persuade Eve to change her mind about the Fallon offer.

She was intelligent enough to read me before I got the opportunity.

You’d appreciate that talent because you have it, too.

But this time you didn’t have a chance to get your way, did you?

Her family means too much to her, and they’ll be knocking on her door very soon. ”

“Then I’m glad for her,” Dominic said. “There was always that possibility. I guess I’ll just have to go down a different road.”

She stiffened. “You don’t appear to be very upset. Why?”

He shrugged. “Because, though I may not be able to follow Eve on a trip up to those mountains to see what Caldwell is up to, he had a reason why he particularly wanted Eve Duncan to create that mask. And since he doesn’t give up easily, maybe he’ll decide to stay close to the Lake Cottage to persuade her to do what he wants himself. ”

“‘Persuade’?”

“Don’t start spitting fire at me. Did I mention that I’ll send a team to watch over the house and the occupants?” He smiled. “And of course, you’re such a smart, savvy agent that I’m certain you’ve already planned to keep an eye on Eve and her family yourself. Isn’t that true?”

“Yes.” She was still frowning. “But between Joe Quinn and Seth Caleb, they’re not exactly lacking in powerhouse help.”

“I’ve heard rumors to that effect. But I believe we’ll both feel better with our own people in place. Right? Let me know if you need me for anything.”

“I will.” She added caustically, “But I believe we can survive. You’re off to Boston?”

“Why not?” he asked. “You’ve just robbed me of one of those very valuable names Caldwell had on his list. Maybe the most valuable.

Because if Eve was to make the death mask, she would have to be taken to the tomb, and I could follow her.

It might wrap this nasty business up a bit faster.

” He went on before she could speak. “Though I can see your reasoning. I realize how hard it might be to trust me, but it’s still a loss.

Because now I’ll have to see what I can find if I dig hard and deep enough in that revolutionary hotbed, that cradle of liberty, Boston town… ”