�I know I�m in trouble when you call me that,� Harry replied with a smug smile on his face.

�You didn�t answer my question,� Diane said, unmoved.

�You need to lighten up, Diane. You�re much too serious,� Harry laughed.

�Denby, you better answer me,� Diane said, pulling her hand out of his and placing it on her hip.

Denby opened his mouth to speak, but froze in place, and his eyes glassed over as if he suddenly needed to concentrate on noises behind him. Diane�s horrified face registered his worst fear. Over his shoulder, the face of the enemy appeared, and the telltale click of a cocking pistol confirmed their destiny was about to become Harry�s Romeo and Juliet fantasy. Diane was speechless. The ocean breeze had knocked away any hint of the Kouros cologne that Bob Martinez always wore. Now that he was close, Diane could detect whiffs and hints of the once-erotic fragrance that now stalked her nightmares. Like a lion hunting its prey from a downwind position, Bob had easily crept up on them in the soft sand.

�Answer the lady, Mr. Denby. I�m very interested in your ill-gotten gains,� Bob snarled. In the moonlit darkness, Diane could see Bob�s face over Harry�s shoulder. After weeks, his eyes were still blackened from bruises her mighty bowling ball had inflicted from behind.

�There are none,� Harry replied, knowing that wasn�t going to cut it with this particular villain.

�C�mon, Mr. Denby. You know by now that I�m not a fool. I expect you to take me to the money right now. And bring my girlfriend with you. You certainly don�t think I�m going to let you have my money AND my girl, do you?�

�I turned in everything I could get my hands on during my suspension hearing. If you were still my lawyer, you�d know that.�

�I know, I know. I have my ways of learning things. I know you took some lame job as an armed courier, ostensibly to make a living until you can be back on the job. But I don�t buy that reasoning for a second.�

�What�s your theory?� Harry was intrigued with how Bob�s mind worked. If he weren�t such a psychopath, he�d make a very interesting friend.

�Access. You wanted access to the bank vaults. When you thought it was safe, you�d �find� the rest of your money and disappear. But I�ve been watching all of you. Waiting for this moment. I figure your stash is still in some part of your luggage.�

�Impressive,� Harry responded, forcing a relaxed smile.