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

My intercom came to life. “Mr. Vincent,” my secretary said, her voice terse. “I have Mr. Wallace’s secretary on line 1.”


“Thank you, Ms. Parker.” I picked up the phone. “Yes?”


“Mr. Wallace wants to see you in his office. Right away.”


“That’s one of the many things Mr. Wallace appreciates about you, Mr. Vincent. The fact that when you say you’ll do something, you invariably do.”


“Uh…thanks.” But I was talking to dead air.


Well, I didn’t have time to wonder what the fuck that was about. I saved and closed the program, and this time, I slid the disk into my pocket. Aside from the usual firewalls, all the files in my computer were password protected. I also made sure all the drawers in my desk were locked, not that that had helped much when Shaw had decided to do his version of I Spy.


I paused at my secretary’s desk. “Ms. Parker, remain in this office until I return.” I wasn’t taking any more chances.


Chapter 71