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She had the strangest sensation that this was thehe was Jared

She sipped the last of her espresso, re herself that the dottore costume was one of the most popular in Venice There was no reason whatever to assu the same man

Nevertheless, she quickly left the bar, anxious to reach the street, and confront the one She looked to her left A se crossed a narrow canal about a half block down She saw thea couple in Victorian dress She hurried that way

Not at all sure what kept her footsteps so dogged, she followed the next passage along the canal

Once again, ahead of her, she saw hi Versace, Dior, and Ralph Lauren, stores with handsoain; the party-goers of the night before had done their sleeping and were up and about, again some costumed, some not She felt bold, not crazy, and not afraid; there were still a few hours of daylight left

No h, he seeroups of people She quickened her pace again and turned a corner She passed under an archway between two buildings

A balcony with gargoyles and stucco lions suddenly seemed faht before

She paused, surveying her surroundings As she did so, she looked ahead

At the end of the pathway, off the busy and beaten track, there was another bridge The black-cloaked figure stood upon it, looking back at her

"Hey!" she called out "Who are you!"

Apparently he didn’t hear her Once again, the e, she decided Then she was giving up this silly chase

On the next bridge, she paused She couldn’t see the e, was a piazza At the far end of it was a beautiful old church The walls were peeling; stained glass ere broken and covered with boards The structure, however, was very handsouarded the double doors of the entry, and the wooden doors theilded

Jordan forgot the cloaked figure for a moment and approached the old church Just as she crossed the bridge, she heard soondola was about to slip beneath the bridge She recognized the handsoondolier she had seen two days earlier

He’d said that his name wasSal D’Onofrio, she remembered?and that she should coondola ride He had sung so cheerfully the last time she had seen him near the Danieli Now, he had no custorave and tired

"Hello," she said, looking briefly back to the church, and surveying the corners of the piazza The cloaked figure was gone Following him had been foolish anyway He probably hadn’t even been looking at her It was ih ahis head "Beautiful lady, you should not be wandering here This is not the area where there are people, not much to see"

"Haven’t you heard? All tourists want to see what other tourists don’t see!" she told hih; he didn’t even sondola next to the loall fronting the piazza

"Venice is wonderful But now, you should be back with the crowds, by San Marco You should feed the pigeons?all visitors ht now"

"I’ll take you back"

"You know, I do intend to take a gondola ride, and I’ norina I will bring you back to the Danieli"

"I’m sure I can find my way"

"Please Allow me"

"There’s no dock"

"You can jual?"

"No But please, this is notthis is not where people roaht to explore that church?"

"No," he said, shaking his head impatiently "It is abandoned Not a church anymore, you understand?

Please, let me take you back"

Because he seemed so earnest, and so sincerely concerned for her, Jordan found herself relenting

"Step on the wall," Sal encouraged her