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When the cab approached Dirk opened the door, tossed in her bags, and gave Riki a hug “See you soon”

“I hope so” She reached up and kissed him, then slipped into the cab As it pulled away, she looked back at Dirk as he waved

“Airport?” the driver asked

She waited until the boat and dock fell out of sight

“No,” she said in a sober tone “Take me to the Ramses Hotel”

27

Pitt stepped past his collection of antique cars and cliar The stairs led to a second-floor apart the apartantly set for dinner A pair of tall candles burned between the two place settings, next to an open bottle of red wine

Loren stepped out of the kitchen, carrying a stea pot to the table She removed a pair of ovenkiss

“You’re right on tilimmer in her eye

“What’s the special occasion?”

“I depart for Scotland to, as I’d expected you’d still be working in Detroit Plus, after your escapade in College Park, I thought you could use a relaxing meal”

“You get no argument from me What’s for dinner?”

“Bouillabaisse I used St Julian Perlmutter’s recipe”

“Then it ood” Pitt poured the wine, a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, as she dished up the Mediterranean seafood stew

“I don’t know if this trip is even a good idea,” Loren said as they started to eat “I felt obliged when Evanna McKee phoned to invite ed me to attend”