Quinton Mann is CIA through and through. Mark Vincent is WBIS for life. There is no way they could end up as anything other than adversaries -- and yet, Quinn takes Mark out to dinner on his birthday -- the one no one is supposed to know about -- and gives him one hell of a present in the restaurant's restroom. Mark, not to be outdone, has decided to escalate this game, because it has to be a game, right? There's no way it can be anything else.<br><br>But as the game continues, as Quinn shows up to a WBIS funeral, as a friend of Mark’s penetrates the CIA computer network to get information on Quinn, as Mark breaks into Quinn's house and gives Quinn a very interesting encounter, both Quinn and Mark realize that this is becoming the most real thing in their lives.<br><br>Can they find a way to do their jobs and keep this surprising, intriguing connection?

Houseboat on the Nile

Flanking her was a man a little below average height, also dressed in black down to his own pair of glasses. In spite of how innocuous this pair appeared, I had a strong feeling they were anything but.


“No one is supposed to speak with this man,” Giuliani said, tension evident in his voice.


“And of course, no one will.” Her accent was faintly exotic. Russian? “I shall simply converse with my associate.” She smiled.


Giuliani actually went pale, and Babineaux gave a barely audible whimper.


Fascinating place, the Division. My interest was definitely piqued.


The doors slid shut, and we all faced the front of the elevator. As it continued in its upward journey, the woman began speaking.


“Mark Vincent is someone who once did me a kindness. I…care about him.”


The man beside her stiffened, and she looked up at him. A silent message seemed to pass between the two of them, and the man relaxed.


Chapter 38