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Elizabeth had been sipping coffee in the shopping centre's open-air roof-top bar when the airport bus, which had obviously obeyed the speed linored, pulled into the marina She anxiously watched several of her fellow air-travellers escorted to a launch carrying the hotel logo, ready to spring into action if JJ Haood n of hih watching the launch leave had left her with a panicky feeling of being abandoned

She filled in soiven her, thinking that the photograph of Haas a very poor one His face was turned slightly off-centre, angled lighting throwing up shadows and lines on his face that hadn’t been ap­parent in the even lighting on board the plane His face also looked fleshier, less aesthetic, and his right ear sported a discreet gold stud rather than the flashy ring The shot of his alleged paramour, on the other hand, was excellent Serena Corvell was a cool, beautiful blonde, and frohtily complacent expression on her face she knew it!

Elizabeth had assumed that the hotel launch would be back and forth all day, but when she had finally got fed up atching the empty balcony on the top floor and made her way down to the harbour-master's office she discovered to her diser than she had assuain until after the New Caledonian 'siesta' that closed all the shops fro to wait one more minute, let alone an hour was more than Elizabeth could bear There must be a boat-owner somewhere in the ht price

The answer, according to the three she had tried so far, was that the right price was beyond her pocket Elizabeth was too prudent a businesswoman to look upon Uncle Siance, and who kne ht have to embark on to keep tabs on the elusive Hawk?

She had just resigned herself to waiting out the siesta after all when her prey had swooped on her unsus­pecting back

'The bus driver does have instructions to co her re­alise how long the silence had stretched

'Yes, well I like to be independent,' she reminded him

'But now you are regretting that independence?' he guessed sa privately owned island, he has to have official permission to land anyone on the Ile des Faucons—permission which he does not happen to have'

'Yes, of course,' Elizabeth lied priuiltyNo wonder the prices she had been quoted were so exorbitant! 'I was just enquiring, that's all Actually, I thought I'd just look around the shops while I waited for the hotel boat to come back-'

'Unnecessary, Miss La for the island in a few minutes You will travel with us'

Not can, not may, but will Elizabeth's pride was pricked

'Thank you, but I prefer to do soan testily

'It's siesta The shops are closed' He picked up her largest bag, hefting its weight with an ease that hardly stirred the thick muscles of his upper arth made her more determined to impose her will on him

'Put it down'

'I beg your pardon?' The haughty English correctness was as infuriating as ever