size of Julian’s check. That dagger wasn’t cheap. And Cardinal is obviously a man who
goes through a lot of money. Remember the yacht? The private island? The villa? Maybe Cardinal decided
he’d take Julian’s money and then take back the dagger, too. The best of both worlds.“
„I got the feeling that Cardinal, whatever else he might be, is a man of his word.“ Flynn looked
thoughtful.
„A man of his word! How could you trust him? He’s obviously made a fortune and no one, including
Julian, seems quite sure how. He’s charming, all right, but I wouldn’t trust him any farther than I could
throw him. What’s more, I’ll bet he’s got everyone in the vicinity in his pocket. It would be easy enough for
him to hire someone to break into my room.“
„Okay, settle down. I’m not going to argue with you about the guy. But if he’s on such good terms with
the hotel people, wouldn’t someone have told him that you put the dagger in the safe?“
Angie shifted uneasily, thinking about it. „Who knows? Maybe he didn’t bother to ask; just assumed I’d
have it in my room. Flynn, I don’t know what’s going on, but the fact remains that the thief didn’t bother
with my purse, and the only other thing of value that I have is that dagger. Cardinal is too powerful in this
part of Mexico. I want to leave.“
„Angie, it’s four in the morning.“
„I don’t care. I want to get the dagger and leave. Right now.“
„And go where?“ Flynn asked patiently.
„The airport. Maybe we can get an earlier flight.“
„We?“
Angie stilled. „I thought you were coming back to California with me?“
Flynn’s gaze softened. „I am. I’m just not sure it’s necessary to leave right this minute.“
„Flynn, you once said you believed in some forms of intuition….“
„Not feminine intuition,“ he drawled.
„Well, I do believe in it. And I have the strongest feeling that we should get away from here.“ Angie
looked at him pleadingly. „Please, Flynn. I’m scared. I’m responsible for getting that dagger safely back to
Julian. I don’t want to take any chances. As long as we hang around the resort we’re just too close to
Cardinal. He’s too powerful.“
„Angie, we don’t even know if he’s after the dagger,“ Flynn tried to say logically.
„Someone is!“
„We don’t know that. The guy might have been after your purse and just missed it.“ Flynn got up and
came across to her. „Or you might have dreamed the whole thing, honey,“ he added gently. „There’s no
sign of any forcible entry.“
„I did not dream it!“ She felt a rush of fury and hysteria begin to build in her. „I thought you of all people
would believe me, Flynn!“
He threaded his large fingers through her tangled hair and looked down at her for a long, considering
moment. „You’re scared, aren’t you?“
„Panicked.“
He gave her a half smile. „Not quite but I can see you’re getting there. Honey, I don’t even know if we
can get a car at this hour of the night. This is Mexico, remember? And a rather remote part of the country
to boot. People down here run on their own time, even the tourist-trade people. They’re not accustomed to
crazy gringos who want to rent a car at four o’clock in the morning.“
„We’ve got to try.“
Flynn studied her a moment longer, clearly attempting to think of further arguments, but in the end he
appeared to give up the effort. „Okay, Angie. I’ll go downstairs and see what I can do about renting a car.“
„I’ll come with you.“
„I had a feeling you were going to say that.“
She realized with a shock that he wasn’t certain yet whether he believed her tale of the intruder. His
lack of faith angered her. „You don’t have to humor me, Flynn. If you don’t want to get involved, just go on
back to your own room. I’ll handle this myself.“ Her fingers were digging into the leather purse. Angie felt
more determined than
goes through a lot of money. Remember the yacht? The private island? The villa? Maybe Cardinal decided
he’d take Julian’s money and then take back the dagger, too. The best of both worlds.“
„I got the feeling that Cardinal, whatever else he might be, is a man of his word.“ Flynn looked
thoughtful.
„A man of his word! How could you trust him? He’s obviously made a fortune and no one, including
Julian, seems quite sure how. He’s charming, all right, but I wouldn’t trust him any farther than I could
throw him. What’s more, I’ll bet he’s got everyone in the vicinity in his pocket. It would be easy enough for
him to hire someone to break into my room.“
„Okay, settle down. I’m not going to argue with you about the guy. But if he’s on such good terms with
the hotel people, wouldn’t someone have told him that you put the dagger in the safe?“
Angie shifted uneasily, thinking about it. „Who knows? Maybe he didn’t bother to ask; just assumed I’d
have it in my room. Flynn, I don’t know what’s going on, but the fact remains that the thief didn’t bother
with my purse, and the only other thing of value that I have is that dagger. Cardinal is too powerful in this
part of Mexico. I want to leave.“
„Angie, it’s four in the morning.“
„I don’t care. I want to get the dagger and leave. Right now.“
„And go where?“ Flynn asked patiently.
„The airport. Maybe we can get an earlier flight.“
„We?“
Angie stilled. „I thought you were coming back to California with me?“
Flynn’s gaze softened. „I am. I’m just not sure it’s necessary to leave right this minute.“
„Flynn, you once said you believed in some forms of intuition….“
„Not feminine intuition,“ he drawled.
„Well, I do believe in it. And I have the strongest feeling that we should get away from here.“ Angie
looked at him pleadingly. „Please, Flynn. I’m scared. I’m responsible for getting that dagger safely back to
Julian. I don’t want to take any chances. As long as we hang around the resort we’re just too close to
Cardinal. He’s too powerful.“
„Angie, we don’t even know if he’s after the dagger,“ Flynn tried to say logically.
„Someone is!“
„We don’t know that. The guy might have been after your purse and just missed it.“ Flynn got up and
came across to her. „Or you might have dreamed the whole thing, honey,“ he added gently. „There’s no
sign of any forcible entry.“
„I did not dream it!“ She felt a rush of fury and hysteria begin to build in her. „I thought you of all people
would believe me, Flynn!“
He threaded his large fingers through her tangled hair and looked down at her for a long, considering
moment. „You’re scared, aren’t you?“
„Panicked.“
He gave her a half smile. „Not quite but I can see you’re getting there. Honey, I don’t even know if we
can get a car at this hour of the night. This is Mexico, remember? And a rather remote part of the country
to boot. People down here run on their own time, even the tourist-trade people. They’re not accustomed to
crazy gringos who want to rent a car at four o’clock in the morning.“
„We’ve got to try.“
Flynn studied her a moment longer, clearly attempting to think of further arguments, but in the end he
appeared to give up the effort. „Okay, Angie. I’ll go downstairs and see what I can do about renting a car.“
„I’ll come with you.“
„I had a feeling you were going to say that.“
She realized with a shock that he wasn’t certain yet whether he believed her tale of the intruder. His
lack of faith angered her. „You don’t have to humor me, Flynn. If you don’t want to get involved, just go on
back to your own room. I’ll handle this myself.“ Her fingers were digging into the leather purse. Angie felt
more determined than
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