Barely waiting for Perry's acknowledgement, he closed his cell and turned off the engine, depositing the keys under the mat. Gao retrieved a long, narrow, hooked strip of metal from his glove box, and feeling the reassuring weight of the gun in his waistband, surveyed the street carefully before exiting the car.

Zipping his light summer jacket up halfway, Gao crossed the street and ambled towards the church on the corner, dark eyes darting about. Aside from a car that drove by, the street was quiet and absent pedestrians, suiting his purpose perfectly. His one concern was a car alarm, but he'd decided it was worth risking. If he had to run, he'd come up with an alternative plan.

Walking by the tall privacy hedge, he could hear laughter emanating from the enclosed yard. Stepping to the driver's side of the Lexus, he glanced quickly around one more time. He automatically tried the handle, not expecting it to open. When it did, he almost giggled in disbelief and quickly scrambled into the car, sinking into the space behind the driver's seat.

Though not a superstitious man, Gao chose to view this tiny piece of serendipity as an omen, and he settled in to wait with a more peaceful mind. It was almost over, and soon he could pick up the threads of his life again without these aggravating women haunting his every moment.

Squirming into a more comfortable position, he carefully pulled his gun out of his waistband. Letting it rest comfortably in his lap, he stretched out his legs, grateful for his slight frame as he smiled at a stray thought. Good thing it was the little one driving. There was not nearly as much space behind the lawyer's seat.

Clothed in his customary dark colours, Gao wasn't too concerned about the women seeing him, knowing that even if they did, he'd have the advantage over them. Having observed them closely for the previous two weeks, he knew it was highly unlikely that one would do anything to endanger the other, and he intended to use that edge in whatever manner was required.

*****************************************************

"Another piece, Marika?" David asked, indicating the barbequed chicken breasts.

The lawyer smiled and shook her head. "No, thanks. I think I've had enough."

Rhi held out her plate. "I'll have one more, please."

David grinned and forked a piece onto his young friend's plate. He'd been pleased to see that the week's events hadn't ruined her appetite or disposition. Quite to the contrary, Rhi looked better than he'd ever seen her. She was relaxed and smiled readily, her dark blue eyes sparkling with humour and happiness.

In fact, both women exuded an unexpected sense of repose. When he'd met the lawyer previously, she'd had a slightly brittle edge about her that was absent now. Ruefully, David acknowledged that despite his initial reservations, they seemed to be good for each other.

Picking up the conversation, he continued, "So Lee figures the King brothers have hightailed it out of town?"

Rhi nodded around a mouthful of chicken. Marika smiled at her and answered, "She thinks they got scared and ran. She's been trying to find them, but so far with no success."

Topping up everybody's iced tea glasses, David set the pitcher back on the table. "I guess that must be a huge relief for you then." He studied the women, who glanced at each other.

"Yes," Marika said slowly, "but as our guardian angel points out, there was someone else involved and she doesn't want us to get careless."

"You are being careful, right?" David asked with concern.

"Uh huh. Not to worry, Ichabod. Lee put a super duper security system in the condo, and we drive straight to work and straight home again. She won't even let us go grocery shopping." Rhi shook her head with a small laugh. "She told Rika to give her the list and she'd get our stuff for us."

David smiled. He felt immensely reassured that these two had Lee watching over them. He'd been very impressed with the big woman. She had a way of engendering confidence even in a casual acquaintance, and she was obviously devoted to her friends. The priest was deeply grateful that she numbered his young friend among them.

Marika said softly, "Sometimes, it's hard to believe this is happening."

David watched as Rhi laid a comforting hand on the lawyer's forearm and saw their gazes meet.

"You're doing it again," the younger woman chided gently. "This is not your fault, and I'm going to keep telling you that until you believe it."

That got her a brilliant, loving smile and David almost felt like an intruder in his own backyard. Clearing his throat, he asked, "You don't expect this Cass or Sandra or whatever she's calling herself to show up on your doorstep or anything, do you?"

The women had filled him in on the whole story...or at least most of it. He strongly suspected that they had sanitized details of Marika and Cass' relationship, but he was an expert at reading between the lines and was confident he grasped the gist of the matter.

Marika shook her head. "I really don't think so. I suspect everything that's happened is simply some sort of warning or attempt to scare me into keeping my mouth shut about who she really is." Her beautiful face hardened and gray eyes flashed angrily. "She probably thought Rhi was expendable, and her death would serve as an object lesson to me."

Fascinated, David watched the transformation and the fiercely protective way the lawyer looked at her companion. He was seeing depths to the woman he hadn't expected, and he felt increasingly confident that Rhi had chosen more wisely than he'd given her credit for.

"Shhh, it's okay. She's not going to hurt me," Rhi soothed as she stroked the arm her hand still rested on. Marika covered the small hand and squeezed it, relaxing visibly under the reassurance.

Turning to the priest, Rhi said somberly, "She's a bad one, Ichabod."

She glanced quickly at the lawyer, and David sensed that Rhi had learned much more from Marika about Cass than the lawyer was even aware of revealing.

Rhi leaned slightly across the table towards him. "David, do you think there's such a thing as pure evil in the world?"

He smiled a bit at the apparent non-sequiter, recognizing her philosophical mode. It was a common facet of their times together as her eager, inquisitive mind roamed afar, challenging him and forcing him to think outside his established patterns. He contemplated her question with equal seriousness and then slowly nodded.

"Yes, Rhi, I do." He settled back in his lawn chair and eyed the two who were watching him closely. "I have a dear friend-a doctor who works with Doctors Without Borders. She was sent to Rwanda immediately after the genocide stopped, or at least slowed to the point where they could get in and set up camps to help the survivors. She told me that the second day she was there, the team leader dispatched her and another doctor to go with a man who'd come begging for help. The man took them to a village where there were about a dozen or so people with horrible wounds. They got them patched up as best they could and they were making arrangements to transport them back to the medical camp, when she decided to do a quick walk around to make sure they hadn't missed anyone who might need help. She'd pretty much covered the village and she was just about to check out the small church, when the man who'd originally come for them came running up to her, babbling that she didn't want to go in there."

David paused and took a deep sip of his tea, his mind's eye drifting to the lost look on his doctor friend's face when she'd told him her story over a late night drinking session. He'd never forgotten the haunted expression, the eyes glazed over as much with remembered horrors as with whiskey.

"She told me that she'd give anything if she'd listened to him, but she was determined not to leave any stone unturned in case a survivor had been missed. So she shook the man off and opened the door of the church. Said she was overwhelmed with the stench-it hit her like a palpable force, and she stumbled back, gasping for air. She covered her nose and mouth with her sleeve and went back to the doorway."

He stopped, and after a long moment, Marika asked softly, "What did she see?"

"Bodies," the priest said in anguish. "Strewn through the pews, piled five and ten deep against the wall...men, women, children, babies...hacked to death and slaughtered in their refuge. She couldn't force herself to go in--turned away and vomited until she couldn't retch anymore. The man had gone for water and brought it to her. Then he led her away. He explained that when the slaughter began, desperate people poured into the church seeking sanctuary, but instead it was turned into a charnel house."

Recalling his friend's agony, David swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at the women as he said softly, "She saw the results of evil that day, Rhi. How else to explain the collective madness that has periodically afflicted human beings from time immemorial and caused them to do these horrendous things to other human beings?"

"In a church?" Rhi asked, shaking her head in bewilderment. "They did that in a church?"

"A church is only a collection of bricks, mortar and wood unless it's invested with the humanity of good people," David said gently. "Those that carried out that slaughter had forsaken their humanity for evil's sake."

They sat quietly for a moment, and then Rhi excused herself. David watched her walk to the door and regretted having told her about his friend. Turning to Marika he raised an apologetic eyebrow. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset her."

The lawyer smiled. "No, she asked; and if there's one thing I've learned, she doesn't like things to be soft-pedaled. Besides, if I know her, she'll have a dozen more questions before the night is out. She does love to debate with you, you know."

David grinned with relief. "I've noticed." They chuckled together and the priest turned serious again. "Marika, is Cass evil?"

"Yes."

The answer was instantaneous, and it gave David pause. Worriedly, he asked, "Are you sure you can keep Rhi safe from her?"

It was Marika's turn to lean forward and, fixing the priest with an intense look, she said with absolute certainty, "I will--or die trying."

They regarded each other, wordlessly testing their mutual devotion to the young woman who had captured both their hearts. Slowly David relaxed and nodded, saying simply, "Good."

Marika eased back in her chair and smiled. "Besides, as Rhi likes to say, we have Lee on our side and to quote our young friend, 'She's not going to let some piss-ant psycho get the best of her.'"

David broke out laughing and Marika joined in, the tension effectively dissipated. Still chuckling, the priest said frankly, "I think you're good for her."

Marika glanced at him sharply, then said carefully, "She's good for me too. She's a great person to be around."

He understood her caution, but mischievously decided that the lawyer needed to lighten up. Casually he said, "I was going to introduce her to my son, Dylan, when he comes to visit me next month." He grinned at the look that earned him. "However, I've come to the conclusion she's never going to be my daughter-in-law."

David could tell Marika was torn, unsure how much he knew or suspected, and he took pity on her. "It's all right," he told her gently. "Not that you've sought it, but if you did, I would freely give you my blessing."

He almost laughed out loud at the stunned look on her face.

"I...she...um, it's not what you think," Marika sputtered.

David only smiled enigmatically and was spared from further comment by Rhi's return. "So," he said brightly as she approached the table, "could I interest you two in some of my homemade pineapple upside down cake?"

He bounced up without waiting for an answer and headed for the kitchen, ignoring the lawyer's wide-eyed stare, but chuckling to himself. "Oh, you're a bad 'un, David Anthony Ross," he told himself as he bustled about the kitchen. "Put the cat among the pigeons now, didn't you?" Grinning, he sliced the cake and slid pieces onto three small plates. "And darned well time that someone did."

Feeling not the slightest bit repentant, the priest made his way back, elbowing the door open as he balanced the plates. He nodded approvingly as he saw Rhi and Marika deep in conversation, their heads close together. "Here we are," he said cheerfully as he set the plates down. "Sorry I didn't make up any whipped cream to go with it."

From the natural way Rhi answered him and dug into her cake, David suspected that Marika hadn't said anything of his comments to her, but that was fine with him. The two of them would eventually figure things out for themselves, and if he'd put a bug in the lawyer's ear...well, even Cupid could use a helping hand now and then.

The rest of the evening passed in laughter and conversation as they left the darker topics alone, and it was dusk by the time the women rose to make their departure. He walked them to the driveway, and leaned against his Volvo as they chatted for a few more moments.

"I almost forget, Rhi. Your aunt needs you to come see the insurance people with her."

Rhi groaned. "Damn! I was hoping I'd never have to see her again."

David eyed her sympathetically. "Well, probably better to get it over with and then you're done. Besides, there may be some compensation in it for your belongings."

"Hah," Rhi snorted. "I'll bet you not a cent of the insurance will find its way into my pocket."

"Then maybe you should take a lawyer with you to the meeting," Marika suggested, only half-joking.

"You'd do that?" Rhi asked. "It won't be pleasant, I can assure you."

"I'd do that."

David heard the unspoken 'for you', and knew from the way Rhi's eyes softened that she did too.

"Thank you."

The two women looked at each other for a long moment, while the priest smothered a smile at how obvious they were...to everyone but each other apparently. When Rhi turned back to him, he plastered an innocent look on his face and asked, "So shall I tell her when I see her at Sunday services that you'll give her a call."

"Nope, tell her that she can call me at work," Rhi answered firmly, then smiling she added, "Thanks for dinner, Ichabod. It was great."

"Always my pleasure to entertain beautiful ladies," David responded gallantly.

Marika grinned and added her appreciation. "It really was good, David. Why don't you join us for dinner on Sunday and let us repay the favour."

They made plans to get together, then David waved as they walked to the Lexus. Rhi had just opened the door when she stopped and, facing him, asked curiously, "I forgot to ask-what happened to your flower gardens out front? They looked a mess when we drove up."

David shook his head sadly. "Someone vandalized them this week, and poor, old Tupper was heartbroken. He's going to replant them this weekend, and he swears he's going to stand guard over them for the rest of the summer if he has to. He does love his little gardens."

The women murmured their sympathy just as David heard his phone ringing.

"Oh, gotta go," he said, as he walked rapidly back to the rectory door. "Give me a call tomorrow, okay?"

David heard a laugh and Marika call, "You're as bad as Lee!" as he opened the door and hurried to pick up the phone.

*****************************************************

Gao held perfectly still, focusing on keeping his breathing calm and noiseless as he heard the driver's door open. For one panicked instant, he thought he'd been seen when no one got in immediately, but was relieved when moments later he heard the women's laughter.

He felt the seat move against him as the small woman settled into it, then heard the distinctive click as she unlocked the passenger side.

"Rhi," he heard the lawyer chastise, "you didn't lock your door? Lee would have your head."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think...well, we're at the church, for heaven's sake," the small woman apologized as she started the engine.

"Uh huh, and you know what David said about that."

"Yeah, that was a pretty gruesome story all right."

Gao prepared himself to move, subtly working tight muscles too long in one position. The car began to back up and then lurched to a halt as the driver half-turned, saw him and screamed. Instantly, Gao lunged forward and pressed the gun to the lawyer's head.

"If you make one wrong move, I'll shoot her," he said in a cold, calm voice. "Continue to back out and then drive away. I'll tell you where." Prodding the frozen lawyer's temple with the barrel, he snarled, "You-keep your eyes forward."

Gratified when she did exactly as he instructed, Gao ordered, "Drive to Macleod Trail and head south."

He intended to direct them south of the city and out to an isolated rural road, where he would kill both of them. When the Chameleon confronted him on the dual deaths, he'd explain that the lawyer had thrown herself into his path of fire and that her death had been an accident. If he sensed that she didn't buy his story or if she were enraged at the change of plans, he would follow the King brothers' lead and vanish.

He'd been preparing for that eventuality ever since he'd realized the hazardous nature of being in the Chameleon's employ. Unlike Rhongji, he didn't spend his money lavishly and was well prepared to fund a life in exile...preferably on the other side of the world from the madwoman for whom he worked.

As the car made a left turn onto Macleod, he felt himself brooding on the unfairness of it all. He'd had a tidy set-up working for him in Calgary until these two derailed things. Anger began to build and burn within, and he contemplated their deaths with increasing pleasure.

Crouched between the women, he pulled the gun around so the barrel was planted in the back of the lawyer's neck, but not obvious to anyone passing by. He'd moved to the seat and, to the casual observer, simply appeared to be leaning forward.

Gao watched the driver closely to ensure she didn't foolishly try to alert anyone to the women's plight. He half-smiled when he caught her stealing a look at him in the rear view mirror, but he said nothing more than to issue instructions, warning her to speed up to the flow of traffic when she lagged. It was dark now, which suited his purposes fine.

They'd just crossed the major intersection at Glenmore, when his cellphone rang. Irritated, he shifted his gun hand and reached into his pocket.

Flipping the phone open, he snapped, "Yes?"

The voice he heard sent a shudder through his spine.

"Gao. Have my instructions been carried out?"

The Chameleon's purr froze his blood, and he had to force the words beyond the lump in his throat. "I'm in the process of doing so now, Madam. They're in the car with me."

"They? What the hell are you doing? I very clearly told you to eliminate the lawyer's companion, not the lawyer!" The snarled words instantly made Gao rethink his plans. He would execute the small woman and merely knock the lawyer out, transporting her back to the city in the trunk of the car and leaving her to be found.

"Of course, Madam, and I fully intend to carry out your orders to the letter," he assured her, feeling cold sweat break out on his temples. When the two women exchanged a look, he instantly hit the lawyer with the butt of the gun, drawing a cry of pain and a small rivulet of blood, but not doing any serious damage. He heard the driver hiss in anger, but the blow served its purpose as his prisoners kept their eyes forward.

"Where are you now?"

The icy voice did nothing to reassure him, but projecting a false confidence, Gao said, "Heading south on Macleod, just approaching Heritage, Madam."

"Three blocks past Heritage, turn right and go straight ahead to the Southfield Industrial Park. At the north end of the park, you'll find a shipping terminal-DeAndre Transport. Go around the back of the building and park beside the door. Someone will be there to let you in and show you where to go. Wait there for me. Is that clearly understood?"

Gao's eyes widened in shocked understanding and he swallowed hard. She's here! In the city! Fighting to control his voice, he barely had time to say, "Yes, Madam," before the connection closed in his ear.

He hastily issued the new directions to the driver, and within moments they'd turned off the busy main road onto a side street leading to the industrial park, sparsely traveled at this late hour of the night.

When they reached their destination, a man was waiting at the back door of the warehouse-terminal. Gao roughly ordered the women out of the car, clambering over the seat to follow closely behind the lawyer, gun still jammed in her back as she pressed her hand to the side of her head. The smaller woman came around to join her, slipping a supportive arm around her waist.

Too taken up with his own concerns, Gao didn't bother ordering them apart, but simply directed them to follow the man at the door. He took them down a staircase to a sublevel jammed with shipping crates and freight dollies. He opened a door and wordlessly gestured them in.

Gao followed the women into a small, almost bare storage room with metal shelving along one side, boxes of office supplies stacked high, and several desks piled against the back wall. He motioned the women to a patch of uncluttered wall.

"Sit down," he snapped, perching himself on a couple boxes of printing paper as he cold-bloodedly watched them slide down the wall and huddle together. The small one used the bottom of her shirt to wipe away the blood on her companion's head, keeping one arm wrapped around her waist.

The Asian man caught a glimpse of smooth, pale flesh and a lacy bra, but felt nothing. His only concern was to survive this night. He glanced at his watch as he rested the gun on his thigh.

Ten minutes passed and then half an hour. The lawyer's head had dropped onto her companion's shoulder, and she appeared groggy. He was briefly concerned that he'd hit her harder than he'd intended, but shrugged it off as a minor matter. His watch indicated a full hour had passed when he heard the door swing open. Gao's breathing immediately sped up, and he straightened respectfully as a woman entered the room. Focusing muddy brown eyes on the prisoners, she simpered scornfully, "My, my...what a touching sight."

Continued in Chapter 24