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to take out to the islands with me, and Charlotte set it up for me to meet her niece while I was on assignment in Italy. Said she thought we'd suit.”
    “I see.”
    “Hell, there I was looking for a wife and Ariel was just sort of conveniently dropped into my lap. It all seemed to go together into a nice, neat package.”
    “I know, I know. Let's just forget about it, Hugh.”
    “I'm willing to forget Ariel,” Hugh said. “But not you. I want another chance, Mattie.”
    “Why? Because you're still looking for a wife, and you think I'll be more amenable to moving out to the edge of the world than Ariel was?”
    He frowned. “A year ago you said you'd follow me anywhere.”
    “That,” said Mattie with a bright little smile, “was a year ago. Now, let's stop rehashing the past and start discussing our immediate future. How, exactly, do you plan to find us a boat, and where will we go if we get hold of one?”
    Hugh considered her bright smile for a long while. Then he shrugged and smiled back. “Finding the boat is my problem. Don't worry about it. As to where we'll go, that depends on what kind of boat I find and how much fuel I can steal. Don't you worry your pretty little head about such petty details, Miss Mattie.”
    She folded her arms beneath her breasts and glowered at him. “Wonderful. I'll leave it all up to you.”
    “You do that. Us Neanderthals have our uses.”
    Mattie realized he was not going to be forthcoming on the subject of the impending plans for engaging in boat theft. She sighed and looked bleakly around the cavern. Then she glanced down at the bloodstains on her silk shirt and trousers.
    “I'd give anything for a hot shower and a change of clothes,” she muttered.
    “No hot showers, but you're welcome to take a bath. You can use one of those dish towels I found in Cormier's kitchen. Won't take long to dry off in this heat.” Hugh strolled over to the opening in the rock wall and pulled the gun from his belt. He idly checked the cartridge.
    “You mean take a bath here in the cavern?” Mattie eyed the saltwater lapping at the edges of the natural basin.
    “Why not? I took one this morning. Felt good. You'll be a little sticky afterward because of the salt, but it wears off.”
    Mattie looked down into the water. “I can't see the bottom.”
    “So don't go diving for pearls.” He thrust the gun back into his belt and pulled a couple of metal packs out of his pocket. “Whoever collected Cormier's body must have picked up that fancy little Beretta he always carried. I found some spare clips but not the pistol. He would have died with that thing in his hand.”
    Mattie remembered the gun in her purse. “A big ugly pistol? Kind of a yucky blue color?”
    Hugh turned his head, one brow cocked. “Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. Paul loved that gun. You saw it?”
    Mattie nodded and went over to where her shoulder bag lay. “I picked it up. I didn't know who or what I might run into on the way back to the airport.” She picked up the purse, opened it, and removed the heavy blue metal gun. “Here. Is this what you're looking for?”
    Hugh came toward her and took the weapon from her fingers. “Well, I'll be damned.” He looked genuinely approving. “Nice going, babe. You've just doubled our firepower.”
    Mattie gritted her teeth. “That does it. I've had it. Never, under any circumstances, call me babe again. Understand?”
    “You really are touchy today, aren't you, babe? I imagine all the recent stress has made you a little high strung.”
    “Damn it, Hugh.”
    “Going to take that swim?”
    “I'm thinking about it.” She glanced at the dark water, torn between wanting to wash off yesterday's blood and sweat and a fear of swimming in that bottomless pool. “Where will you go while I do it?”
    “Nowhere.” He shoved a fresh clip into Cormier's pistol. “I'll just sit right here and watch.”
    She shot him a disgusted glance. “Then I guess I'll forget the