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

Across the back was the name of a nationally known exterminating company, and in the trunk of my car were magnetized commercial signs. I opened the trunk, tossed the bag in and took out the signs, then slapped them on the driver’s and passenger’s side doors.


I drove down Mann’s street slowly. Further down the block I could see the maid service truck just pulling away from his house, and I prided myself on my timing. I parked at the curb, made sure the package was concealed in the tool bag that was slung over my shoulder, and strode purposefully up the walk. It always paid to look as if you belonged.


With a finger on the bell, I gazed around, my expression bored. No yuppie mom wheeled her rug rat along the walk. No senior walked his yappy little pooch. No curtains fluttered, hinting of nosey neighbors.


Chapter 69