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***
8:40P.M.
Next Day
Fifth Street
“Can’t we go to the park, Kendra?” Tricia asked. “It’s not dark yet and I’d like to familiarize Harley with the other pups in the dog park. That’s got to be an important part of his training. Olivia said that she doesn’t usually take him there because he gets too excited. But I’d really like to do the training myself so that I can surprise her.”
“Maybe.” Kendra looked back over her shoulder and immediately spotted the two FBI agents halfway down the block. “But I’d rather you wait until we can prep Griffin’s men so they can check out the area before we go into unknown territory.”
“Unknown territory,” Tricia repeated. “It sounds like I’m going to take a trip into the frozen wastelands of Antarctica. That park is two blocks away and in one of San Diego’s most prestigious neighborhoods.”
“I know,” Kendra said quietly. She left it at that.
“But that doesn’t make any difference, does it?” Tricia said tightly. “Because you think he might be able to reach me anywhere.”
There was that fragility again that Olivia had mentioned, Kendra thought. It had come out of the blue because it never really left Tricia. She was always on guard, waiting.
“I just believe we should be careful,” she said gently. “I’m responsible for you and I don’t like to take chances. Could you wait until tomorrow evening? I’ll arrange to have Griffin’s men go explore the park while you’re at practice during the day.”
“Of course I can wait.” Tricia didn’t look at Kendra as she knelt on the pavement and stroked Harley. “We know how lucky we are, don’t we, boy? You live in a real cool neighborhood, Kendra. I like all the action going on in the streets. Everyone seems to be full of enthusiasm and doing interesting things. I think maybe I’d like to live in an area like this once I’ve done all I want to do and I’m ready to settle down.”
“Hmm…now, is that after you’ve started collecting Social Security?”
“Oops, did I do it again?” She shook her head. “Sorry. I guess it’s that I’m feeling a little vulnerable. That makes me very sensitive and aware of everything I want to do in case it’s taken away.” She lifted her chin. “Which it willnotbe. I won’t let it.” She gave Harley a final pat. “There’s no reason why you should feel responsible for me. I do great on my own. You’ve already saved my life once and that’s your quota.” She got to her feet. “After all, when Barrett tried to kill me when I was fourteen, no one hung around and worried about me like you’re doing. Oh, I’m not saying my parents didn’t care. They’re wonderful, but they knew the FBI was keeping an eye on me and left it up to them.” She paused. “And me. Just as they should have done. They didn’t give me a Lynch, or an Olivia, or a Harley.” She yanked her thumb at the agents who were still waiting down the street. “Or those guys who are afraid to follow me into the park.”
“They’ll be ready by tomorrow,” Kendra said.
“You’re not getting the point. I’m trying to say thank you. I realize I’ve been a pain in the ass. I just want you to shut me down when I ask too much.” Her hands clenched at her sides. “I want the whole world, you know. I want to be the best swimmer in Olympic history, I want to create a foolproof cyber system that will protect this country from hackers, I want to work with chemists and develop a dog food that will keep dogs like Harley here from dying so damn young.”
The faintest smile was curving Kendra’s lips. “Is that all?”
She shook her head. “It’s just a start. I didn’t want you to think I was too ambitious.”
“I don’t. At your age we all think we’re immortal and can shape the world to suit ourselves. I was worse than you because I started later since I was blind until I was twenty. But when I broke free, I was a wild child. In some ways I still am.”
“That’s good to know. Then I won’t feel bad when I add to my list?”
“Not even a little. You appear to be on your way to some of your goals right now, and you had Barrett to contend with.”
“Who knows? Maybe the thought of that bastard gave me a bit of a boost now and then.”
“Perhaps.” It would probably be a good idea to ease Tricia away from any memories of Barrett. “It’s getting dark, do you think we should take Harley back now?”
Tricia nodded and started back toward the condo. “I did forget to tell you one other thing that I wanted.” She added solemnly, “It’s very important.”
Kendra gave her a skeptical glance. “Then I suppose I’d better hear it.”
Tricia’s eyes were twinkling with pure mischief. “I want a really sexy lover who looks at me the way Lynch looks at you!” Then she burst into laughter as she saw Kendra’s expression and hurried into the building.
***
Why hadn’t he taken the shot? Milo wondered.
That moment when Tricia had been kneeling beside the dog would have been perfect. Those FBI goons had been a good distance from her. He would have been able to get out of this building and into his car before they would have even been able to reach the girl and find out she was dead.
And she would have been dead. He was as good at the basic skills as he was at the planning. Barrett had often been more careless because he liked the thrill of the kill. Milo had tolerated it at times because he’d learned that it kept the subject more firmly under his control. But when he staged a finale for himself, he made sure that there was no encore.
