Her skin goose-bumped despite the steam in the air.

“Still,” he continued, “funny that he would ask about the police.”

“We’re going to go to them.”

“Of course you’re not,” Bennett said. “You’re going to pay me and get on with your lives.”

“I don’t have the necklace.”

“Don’t try to tell me it went over the cliff with your cute little car. I know better.”

“No,” she admitted.

“So where is it, cupcake?”

“Listen,” she said. “I understand how this sounds. But it’s the truth. Daniel is . . .” She took a breath. “He’s having memory problems.”

“What, has he got amnesia?”

“Yes.”

There was a pause. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not.”

“Amnesia.”

“Yes. Or something like it. A blackout. His memories are coming back, but not . . . He won’t know where the necklace is.”

“Huh.” Bennett’s voice was oddly thoughtful. She’d expected mockery, incredulity, even threats. But quietly taking it in? Maybe even believing? She hadn’t dared to hope.

“So the thing is, we can’t pay you. I would, I really would. I just want this over. But I used most of our cash to buy that necklace. We can’t sell the house or anything, not right now, not while I’m—”

“Dead. Sure. I understand.”

“You—you do?”

“You know what else? I even believe you.”

Could this be? “I’m telling the truth.”

“I just don’t give a damn.”

The fragile hope collapsed. “But—”

“You’re going to pay me. I’ve still got your star performance, and I’m still happy to let it out there. Maybe I’ll make a Web site. WatchLaneyThayerGobbleCock.com. What do you think?”

“I—”

“But you know what? That’s not the real reason you’re going to pay, sister. It’s not for your career, or to avoid criminal charges, or even the way you’d humiliate your husband. Not anymore. Now you’re going to pay because you don’t want Daniel to find out the truth all over again.”

Her stomach twisted. “You evil—”

“Yeah, yeah, my karma’s rotten, I know. But Dan didn’t handle it well the first time, did he? I bet he was hugging the toilet and retching his guts out.”

It took all her effort, but she made herself speak. “I told you. I don’t know where it is.”

“Find it. Fast.”

And then he was gone, and she stood naked, shivering, holding a dead phone to her ear.

5

Dressed only in his underwear, Daniel leaned on the balcony railing. Below, Beverly Hills spread out in a dream of shiny affluence. Angelenos moved down the sidewalks, shopping bags in hand. A soft breeze tugged at the trees. Somewhere a horn honked.

He smiled and stretched. His body was warm with sunlight and sex. They’d made love again, slower this time, sweeter, their eyes locked, the whole experience filled with a glowing charge. He had lost everything, and then discovered that it wasn’t gone, only hidden. And now that he had found his way back to his life, he would never lose it again. His memory would return in time. His beautiful girl would stand with him, help him through. He wasn’t alone anymore.

Daniel wandered back into the suite, left the door open so the wind could tug at the curtain. Through the bathroom door he could hear the whir of the hair dryer. The room was gorgeous, tastefully modern and sumptuous in every detail. It beat the crap out of the Ambassador.

A soft knock at the door made him jump. “Yes?”

“Room service.”

He snagged a robe from the closet, tied the belt as he walked to the door. A glance through the peephole showed a server holding a heavy tray at shoulder height. Daniel opened the door, and the man walked in. “Good afternoon, sir.”

“You too. Just put it over there?”

The man nodded, carried the tray to the bed. When Daniel pulled out cash, the server shook his head. “The manager, Mr. River, took care of it, sir.”

After the man left, Daniel rapped on the bathroom door, told Laney the food had arrived. He lifted the heavy silver cover off her salad and his own meal, steak sandwich with blue cheese and caramelized onions. He used the bottle opener to pop one of the Sierra Nevadas and took a long, lovely swallow.

Laney walked out of the bathroom on a cloud of steam. Her robe was open, and her skin was bright pink. She caught him looking, smiled, and went to the tray. “Man, that sandwich looks great. Why did I order a salad?”

“I’ll share.”

“I love my husband.” She sat on the bed with one leg curled beneath her, and lifted half the sandwich, leaning over the tray to take a bite.

Daniel sat on the bed against the headboard. The steak was tender and bloody and dripping juice.

“So I got a call,” Laney said, “while I was in the bath.”

“You have your phone?”

“Even bought a car charger for it in case you called.”

He shook his head. “All this time.”

“Yeah. Anyway, it’s good news.” She took a bite, chewed a moment before continuing. “It was a girl I knew a little bit, back in Chicago. I’ve been trying to reach her all week. She knew Bennett too.” “Really?”

Laney nodded. “I saw her at one of those parties in the hills a couple of years ago. Back then neither of us wanted anything to do with the past, so we didn’t talk. But I got to thinking, maybe she knows something that could help us.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she has a picture. Or maybe he forced her to do something too, something that we could use.”

“Is it safe to talk to her? You’re supposed to be dead, and you said Bennett will be watching everyone.”

“I don’t think he knows she’s here.”

“Why don’t we just go to the police?”

“No,” she said.

“Why not?”

“They’ll arrest you.”

“For what? You’re alive.”

“But you ran from them.”

“Big deal. I don’t really care at this point.”

“Okay, but what happens if they arrest you? Bennett will still be out there. And I’ll be alone.”

The thought brought him up cold.

“Look,” she said. “I’m not saying let’s not go to the police. I’m just saying, let’s not go to them yet. Let’s keep our options open.”