Part 25 (2/2)

They both sat there, filled with dread.

'Did Tanner Kingsley give you anything when you were in his office?' Diane asked.

Kelly shook her head. 'No. Did he give you anything?'

'No.'

They realized it at the same instant.

'His card!'

They opened their purses and took out the business cards Tanner Kingsley had given them.

Diane tried to break hers in half. It would not bend. 'There's some kind of chip inside,' she said, furious.

Kelly tried to bend her card. 'In mine, too. That's how the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds have been tracking us.'

Diane took Kelly's card and said angrily, 'Not anymore.'

Kelly watched as Diane stepped out onto the road and threw the cards down on the street. Within minutes, they had been run over by a dozen cars and trucks.

In the distance, the sounds of approaching sirens were filling the air.

Kelly stood up. 'We'd better get away from here, Diane. Now that they can't track us anymore, we'll be all right. I'm going back to Paris. What will you do?'

'Try to figure out why this is happening.'

'Be careful.'

'You, too.' Diane hesitated a moment. 'Kelly-thanks. You saved my life.'

Embarra.s.sed, Kelly said, 'I feel bad about something. I lied to you.

'You did?'

'You know what I said about your painting?'

'Yes.'

'I really liked it-a lot. You're good.'

Diane smiled. 'Thanks. I'm afraid I've been pretty rude to you.'

'Diane?'

'Yes?'

'I never grew up with maids.'

Diane laughed, and the two of them embraced.

'I'm glad we met,' Diane said warmly.

'So am I.'

They stood there, looking at each other, finding it difficult to say good-bye.

'I have an idea,' Diane said. 'If you need me, here's my cell phone number.' She wrote it on a piece of paper.

'Here's mine,' Kelly replied, and gave it to Diane.

'Well, good-bye again.'

Diane said haltingly, 'Yeah. I- Good-bye, Kelly.'

Diane watched Kelly walk away. At the corner, she turned and waved. Diane waved back. As Kelly disappeared, Diane looked up at the blackened hole that was to have been their tomb, and she felt a chill.

CHAPTER 29.

Kathy Ordonez walked into Tanner Kingsley's office with the morning newspapers and said, 'It's happening again.' She handed him the newspapers. They all had banner headlines: FOG DISRUPTS MAJOR GERMAN CITIES.

ALL GERMAN AIRPORTS CLOSED BY FOG.

DEATH TOLL RISES FROM FOG IN GERMANY.

Kathy said, 'Shall I send these to Senator Van Luven?'

'Yes. Right away,' Tanner said grimly. Kathy hurried out of his office.

Tanner looked at his wrist.w.a.tch and smiled, thinking. The bomb must have gone off by now. The two b.i.t.c.hes have finally been disposed of.

His secretary's voice came over the intercom. 'Mr. Kingsley, Senator Van Luven is on the line for you. Do you wish to take it?'

'Yes.' Tanner picked up the phone. 'Tanner Kingsley.'

'h.e.l.lo, Mr. Kingsley. This is Senator Van Luven.'

'Good afternoon, Senator.'

'My a.s.sistants and I happen to be near your headquarters, and I wondered if it would be convenient for you if we dropped in for a visit.'

'Absolutely,' Tanner said enthusiastically. 'I would be very happy to show you around, Senator.'

'Fine. We'll be there shortly.'

Tanner pressed the intercom b.u.t.ton. 'I'm expecting some visitors in a few minutes. Hold all my calls.'

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