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join George and watch the end of Teresa’s workout. “This place is really crawling with cops today,” George reported. “All types and all nationalities. Things are getting sticky.”
    “Tell me about it,” Nancy retorted glumly, thinking about the hit list.
    “If you ask me,” George said decidedly, “Roberto’s death was deliberate political murder.”
    “I agree,” said Nancy. “But by which side? We don’t even know for sure whether forces inside or outside San Carlos are responsible.”
    One thing was certain. Keeping everything hush-hush was rapidly becoming impossible.
    Nancy looked around casually. Two college security guards were talking together at the far end of the court. Another stood near Nancy. Three U.S. government men were wandering around, looking out of place in business suits. Several Latin men were also gathered nearby. They were leaning against the wire fence, watching Nancy and George. Those must be the guards Bess had spoken of.
    Nancy shuddered. She was beginning to wonder what fate Teresa’s government had in store for her. The papers that morning had been full of rumors about how cruel and totalitarian the dictatorship was.
    “ Buenos días , Nancy.” Teresa came toward Nancy and George, wiping her forehead with her wristband. She looked sad but composed. “How about hitting a few with me, George?” she invited.
    “I’ll get my tennis shoes,” George said gladly.
    Soon the two were exchanging rapid strokes.
    “Your friend’s in seventh heaven, isn’t she?” a voice said behind Nancy’s shoulder.
    Nancy spun around.
    Senator Kilpatrick stood there, elegant in a white linen dress and large brown straw hat. Beneath its shade her eyes were steely.
    “What’s wrong?” Nancy demanded, alarmed.
    “Plenty, in my opinion. Don’t worry, I don’t mean with you. Come have an early lunch with me.”
    Nancy followed the senator to a small tent, plastic-walled and air-conditioned, that opened off the main dining tent. Iced tea, salad, and dessert were waiting, but the tent was empty, and the senator’s own bodyguards stood outside.
    “Something’s going to happen, isn’t it?” Nancy asked.
    “I’m furious about what isn’t happening,” the senator corrected her. “I’m fully aware that this is a sensitive situation, but it’s difficult to have a straightforward meeting with the representatives of the San Carlos political factions—which I’m supposed to be doing right now—when I’m not allowed to mention Roberto’s name! Of course the people from San Carlos want to know what’s going on—and what can I say?
    “Especially when Roberto was known to be an opponent of the San Carlos regime and of U.S. foreign policy there,” Senator Kilpatrick continued. “That was the reason he was smuggling the list to me rather than the CIA. He met me when I was on a fact-finding mission in San Carlos a few months ago, and he trusted me. He suspected that people in authority in both our governments were, if not aiding and abetting government terrorists, at least closing their eyes to them. I don’t know if he was right, but it’s terrible not being able to investigate it!”
    “And the killings could start any time,” Nancy added gravely.
    The senator nodded. “I’ve just learned from a private source that a well-known hit man flew into Mexico from San Carlos yesterday. He’s already left Mexico, supposedly for the Bahamas. But the plane makes stops at some American territories on the way.”
    “You mean he could be on the mainland already?”
    “Right. Time’s running out.”
    “What do you want me to do?” Nancy asked.
    “I guess I’m hoping for a miracle,” Marilyn Kilpatrick said frankly. “Your father says you’ve produced those before. I’m hoping you’ll bring a fresh eye to this case, and a mind that’s not bogged down in politics and routine.”
    “There must be a way to stop the assassinations—there has to be!” Nancy hardly realized she was