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Sincerely； Mr。 Slim
Yes； I think； as I read the message； Slim and pany are probably close by； the Swiss number notwithstanding。 I figure the message went to Europe and was then sent back here…nearby。 I type in my return message。
Dear Mr。 Slim；
Meet me at the end of Water Cove Pier in one hour。 e alone。 Agreed？
Again； ten minutes later。
Dear Alisa； Agreed。
6
The pier is a half hour from my house； in the town of Water Cove； twenty miles south of Mayfair。 I arm myself before I leave the house： a snub…nosed forty…five in the pocket of my black leather coat； another smaller pistol in my right boot； a razor…sharp knife strapped inside my left boot。 I am handy with a knife； I can hit a moving target a hundred yards away with a flick of my wrist。 I do not believe Slim will e alone； knowing how dangerous I am。 Yet he will have to bring a small army to contend with me。
I leave immediately。 I want to arrive before Slim does。 And I do。 The pier is deserted as I cruise by in my black Ferrari。 I park two blocks down from the pier and climb out。 My hearing is alert。 I can hear the bolt of a rifle being pulled back from over a mile away。 Slim would have to e at least that close to try to assassinate me outright； and that is a possibility I consider。 But all is calm； all is quiet。 I walk briskly toward the end of the pier。 I have chosen the meeting place for two reasons。 Slim will only be able to approach me from one direction。 Also； if he does arrive with overwhelming odds； then I should be able to escape by diving into the water。 I can swim out a mile along the bottom of the ocean before having to surface。 My confidence is high。 And why shouldn't it be？ In five thousand years I have never met my match。
Almost to the hour of our agreement to meet； a long white limousine pulls up to the entrance to the pier。 A man and a woman climb out of the back。 The man wears a black leather coat； a dark tie； a white shirt； smart black trousers。 He is approximately forty…five and has the look of a hardened Navy Seal or CIA agent： the short crew cut； the bulging muscles； the quick shifting eyes。 I see that his eyes are green even from two hundred yards away。 His face is tan； deeply lined from the sun。 There is at least one gun in his coat； possibly two。
The woman is ten years younger； an attractive brunette。 She is dressed entirely in black。 Her coat is bulky； as are her hidden guns。 She has at least one fully automatic weapon on her。 Her skin is creamy white； the line of her mouth set and hard。 Her legs are long； her muscles toned。 She may be an expert in karate or some such discipline。 Her mind is easy to read。 She has a nasty job to do and she is going to do it right。 Her promised reward is great。
Yet it is clear the man is the leader。 His smile is straight and thin lipped； more chilling than the girl's frown。 This is Slim； I know。
Four blocks down the street I can hear another limousine parked； its engine idling。 I cannot see the second car…it is hidden behind a building…but I am able to match the sound of the engines。 The cars could hold maybe ten people each； I estimate。 In all the odds might be twenty to one against me。
The man and the woman walk toward me without speaking。 I consider escaping over the side of the pier。 But I hesitate because I am a predator first and foremost； I hate to run。 Also； my curiosity is high。 Who are these characters and what do they want with me？ Yet if they reach for their weapons； I will jump。 I will be gone in the flick of an eye。 It is clear to me that neither of these approaching creatures is anything but mortal。
The woman stops walking thirty yards from me。 The man approaches to within ten yards but es no closer。 They do not reach for their weapons but they keep their hands ready。 Down the street I hear three people get out of the second limousine。 They spread out in three different directions。 They carry weapons： I hear the metal brush their clothes。 They take up positions…I am finally able to see them out of the corner of my eye…one behind a car； another next to a tree； the last crouched behind a sign。 Simultaneously three people inside the limousine at the pier level high…powered rifles at me。
My hesitation has cost me already。
I stand in the sights of six sets of cross hairs。
My fear is still manageable。 I figure I can take a bullet or two and still escape over the side。 As long as they don't get me directly in the head or heart。 Still； I do not want to run。 I want to talk to Slim。 He is the first to speak。
〃You must be Alisa。〃
I nod。 〃Slim？〃
〃In the flesh。〃
〃You agreed to e alone。〃
〃I wanted to e alone。 But my associates didn't think it would be wise。〃
〃Your associates are all about。 Why so many soldiers for one girl？〃
〃Your reputation precedes you； Alisa。〃
〃What reputation is that？〃
He shrugs。 〃That you are a resourceful young woman。〃
Interesting； I think。 He is almost embarrassed by the precautions that have been taken to abduct me。 He has been told to take them…ordered。 He doesn't know that I am a vampire； and if he doesn't know； then probably no one with him knows since he is clearly in mand of the operation。 That gives me a huge advantage。 But the person above him knows。 I must meet this person； I decide。
〃What do you want？〃 I ask。
〃Just that you e with us for a little ride。〃
〃To where？〃
〃To a place not far from here；〃 he says。
That is a lie。 We will drive a long distance if I get in his limousine。 〃Who sent you？〃
〃You will meet him if you e with me。〃
Him。 〃What is his name？〃
〃I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss that at this time。〃
〃What if I don't want to e？〃 I ask。
Slim sighs。 〃That would not be good。 In fact； it would be very bad。〃
They will shoot me if I resist； without question。 It is good to know。
〃Did you know Detective Michael Riley？〃 I ask。
〃Yes。 I worked with him。 I assume you met him？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How is he？〃
I smile； my eyes cold。 〃I don't know。〃
〃I'm sure you don't。〃 He gestures with his hand。 〃Please e with us。 A police car might be along at any moment。 I'm sure neither of us wants to plicate matters。〃
〃If I do e with you； do I have your word I will not be harmed？〃 I ask。
He keeps his face straight。 〃You have my word； Alisa。〃
Another lie。 This man is a killer。 I can smell the blood on him。 I shift slightly on my feet。 The rifles aimed at me all have telescopic sights。 They move as I move。 I estimate at least one of the shooters will hit me before I can get over the pier rail。 I don't like being shot； although I have a few times。 I have no choice but to go along； I decide； for the moment。
〃Very well； Mr。 Slim；〃 I say。 〃I will e with you。〃
We walk toward the limousine； Slim on my right； the woman on my left。 As we are almost at the entrance to the pier； the limousine down the street suddenly appears。 Without picking up the men it deposited； it drives until it is parked behind the first limousine。 Four men jump out。 Their clothes are all similar…black sweatsuits。 They point automatic weapons at me。 My fear escalates。 Their precautions are extraordinary。 If they decide to open fire now； I will die。 I think of Krishna； I don't know why。 But he did tell me I would have his grace if I listened to him。 And in my own way I have not disobeyed him。 Slim turns in my direction。
〃Alisa；〃 he says。 〃I would like it if you would slowly reach in your coat and remove your gun and toss it on the ground。〃
I do as he asks。
〃Thank you；〃 Slim says。 〃Do you have any other weapons on you？〃
〃You will have to search me to find out。〃
〃I prefer not to search you。 I'm asking you if you have any other weapons； and that you surrender them now。〃
These are dangerous people； highly trained。 I have to go on the offensive； I think； quickly。 I stare at Slim； my eyes boring into him。 He tries to glance away but is unable to。 I speak softly； knowing he hears my words as if they were whispered between his ears。
〃You do not have to be afraid of me； Mr。 Slim；〃 I say。 〃It does not matter what you have been told。 Your fear is unnecessary。 I am nothing more than I appear。〃
I am planting a suggestion deep in his psyche； pushing buttons he already feels。 But the woman takes a sudden step forward。 She speaks。 〃Don't listen to her。 Remember。〃
Slim shakes his head as if trying to clear it He gestures to the woman。 〃Search her；〃 he orders。
I stand perfectly still while the woman works her way down into my boots and discovers my remaining pistol and knife。 I consider grabbing her and holding her as a hostage。 But a study of the eyes of the men assembled tells me that they will kill her to get to me； and lose no sleep over the act。 The woman disarms me and jumps back from me as if afraid she will catch something from me。 All of them； without exception； are confused about why I have to be treated with such caution。 Yet all of them are determined to follow orders。 Slim removes two pairs of handcuffs from inside his coat。 They are gold colored； and don't smell like steel…probably some special alloy。 They are three times thicker than normal cuffs。 Slim tosses them toward me and they land at my feet。
〃Alisa；〃 he says patiently。 〃I would like you to put one pair of the