Disclaimers - See Part 1 for disclaimers.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Gao stared angrily at the papers he'd combed through a hundred times over the past couple of hours, seething with frustration that nothing in their contents told him where his prey had gone.

Perry wandered in from the kitchen, slurping soup from a stained mug. "Want some?"

The Asian man glared at his reluctant host. "No!" He took a slight measure of satisfaction from the way Perry cringed and edged away. Ignoring the other man, Gao turned his attention back to the uncooperative printouts, irritated by the way his left eye kept blurring on him.

"Um, did you get any ideas?"

Gao almost ignored the tentative question, but then he shook his head. "It is obvious that Glenn has hidden them, but there is nothing in here to indicate where they might be. It's doubtful that she would keep them in her home any longer, so I suspect she either has them staying with friends or in a hotel somewhere."

"Maybe they went with that skinny guy who was there yesterday," Perry suggested as he drained his soup with a noisy swallow.

The Asian turned his cold black eyes on Perry. "What skinny guy?"

The electronics expert quailed under the icy stare. "Uh, when I was watching the Glenn place, there was some tall, skinny guy came in through the backyard. He was there for a long time, and when he went to go, that smaller woman walked him out. They talked for quite a while before he left."

"You're sure?" For the first time Gao felt a stirring of optimism.

"Well, yeah. I could see the back and the front yards from the garage I was hiding in, and I had my binoculars."

Gao closed his eyes, picturing the previous evening when he'd driven by the church and witnessed a tall, thin man greeting the women he was tracking. "Yes!" He hissed his triumph. He will know where they went!

Gao wasn't at all squeamish about going after a priest. As far as the slender Asian was concerned, his newest target signified nothing more than a chess piece to be removed before he could get to his real objective. Nor was he worried that the priest might successfully conceal the women's whereabouts. His experience had shown him that courage and resolve were hollow philosophies when a man was confronted with an agonizing end to his own mortality.

If the priest gave him the information he wanted without too much trouble, then he would reward the man with a clean, swift execution. If he didn't...

Gao shrugged and stood up, awkwardly tucking his gun in the back of his trousers with his left hand. Having a concrete plan, he already felt better.

"You're driving me," he informed Perry coldly. The electronics expert opened his mouth to protest, but snapped it shut as Gao slid his hand around to his gun. Meekly, he set the soup mug aside, wiped his hands on his pants, and went to get his keys.

The Asian shook his head in disgust. He would have vastly preferred to keep Perry entirely out of this, but his head still pounded and his left eye was unreliable, so he needed the man for the moment.

As Perry drove him across the city towards St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Gao formulated the most effective approach. He concocted a cover story in case the priest didn't realize who he was; but if the priest did make the connection that he was the man who had abducted his friends the previous night, Gao was prepared to use immediate force if necessary.

He had Perry slow down as they turned down the street that ran along the side of the church. Frowning, he realized that the driveway was empty, the windows of the rectory were dark, and the only one apparently around was an old man working in the flower gardens that fronted the building.

Thinking on his feet had always been one of Gao's trademarks, and was largely responsible for his rapid climb in the Chameleon's organization. Even now-with his mind still mildly scrambled from the blow he'd taken the previous night-he quickly shifted gears and adjusted his plan.

"Pull over up the street and wait for me."

Perry did as ordered, and within moments Gao was once again walking down the street leading to the church, carefully looking around for any sign of unusual activity. There was nothing out of the ordinary, so he crossed the neatly mown lawn to where the plaid-shirted man was planting brightly coloured petunias.

Letting his shoulders droop and hunch a little, Gao called out softly as he approached. "Sir? Excuse me, sir?"

The man pushed himself up from the garden and turned, resting on his haunches as he tipped an old cowboy hat back over his gray hair. He gave a little whistle as Gao approached.

"Good lord, boy! Didya get the number of the truck that hit ya?"

Gao forced a rueful smile, as he halted and squatted on the grass a short distance away from the old cowboy. Touching the bandage on his forehead, he said, "It was five teenagers. They mugged me last night. I tried to give them my wallet, but they beat me anyway."

"Damnation!" The cowboy shook his head sympathetically. "Makes ya wonder what the world is comin' to, don' it?"

"Yes, sir, it does," Gao agreed.

"Eh, don't be callin' me sir now, boy. Name's Tupper." The cowboy held out his hand, then pulled it back when Gao raised the cast on his right hand. "Sorry, lad." He jerked a thumb at the flowerbeds he'd been labouring in. "T'were a buncha kids done this too, just for the helluvit. Taken me two days to clean up the mess, and now I'm tryin' to get the flowers all in before services t'morra."

"My name is Charlie Liu. I live not too far from here, and I was wondering if I might speak to the minister. I've never gone to church, but the mugging has made me think..." Gao almost smiled at the understanding on the old cowboy's face.

"Yep, I know what ya mean, Charlie. Sometimes things come along makes a man think twice about his life...Makes ya think there might be more 'n puttin' yor next meal on the table. Why I remember..."

Before the old man could continue his train of thought, Gao cut in smoothly. "I thought perhaps if I might speak to the minister tonight, I would know whether this would be a good church to attend in the morning."

Tupper bristled with pride. "Ain't none better, boy. And we got the finest priest in the city here. They jus' don' make better men than David Ross, let me tell ya!" He laughed. "Min' you, I mighta had a diff'rent opinion if ya'd asked me this mornin'. That man had me going through a hundred boxes looking for a blessed key. Then he finds it in the very firs' one he checked!"

The old cowboy rubbed his jaw with affectionate exasperation, as Gao felt an instinctive fluttering in his belly. Careful to keep only the mildest interest in his voice, he asked politely, "Had he misplaced his house keys?"

Chuckling, Tupper shook his head. "Nah, though sometimes I swear that man couldn't find his glasses on his own nose. He was lookin' for the key to a buddy's cabin so he could loan it to some frien's"

Despite wanting to punch the air in triumph, Gao remained motionless. "That was very nice of his friend to loan his cabin."

"Yep. Well, of course he's a priest too, so bein' nice is sorta in the job description. From what David says though, this Conor darn near walks on water."

"Conor? I knew a priest named Conor Williams in Edmonton once. I wonder if it's the same man."

"Don' think so. David's friend's name is Conor O'Reilly." Tupper laughed. "Now there's a good Irish name for ya. My mother was a Reilly-right straight from the ol' country, she was."

Faking disappointment, Gao continued to probe. "No, that wouldn't be the gentleman I knew then, though he did have a cabin as I recall. I'm afraid I don't remember what lake it was on though."

"Mighta bin the Shuswaps. That's where David's frien's cabin is, and I know lotsa folks go there for hol'days. David says the cabin is a real beaut too, right down on the waterfront."

Gao could have kissed the garrulous old cowboy. So his prey had fled to a waterfront cabin on the Shuswaps, owned by a priest named Conor O'Reilly...and he hadn't even had to pull the gun that nestled so comfortingly under his light summer jacket. It was time to wrap this up and go.

Glancing up at the sky, still fairly light in the summer evening, Gao murmured, "I'm afraid I must get going. I take it your priest is out tonight?" He didn't really care now that he had the information he needed, but he needed a graceful exit.

"Fraid so. Miz Hancock took poorly s'afternoon, and the family asked David to come sit with 'em. Knowing him, he'll be there 'til the wee hours and then come d'rectly here for services."

"Then perhaps I shall attend services in the morning and speak to him afterwards about joining the church," Gao said, rising to his feet.

"Good idea," Tupper said approvingly. "I thin' ya'll like it here. Great priest...good buncha folks. Make ya feel right at home."

"Thank you for taking the time to talk to me," Gao said courteously, inclining his head in a little bow.

Tupper grinned. "My pleasure, Charlie. Be seein' ya around."

Gao smiled in return, then turned and made his way back to the sidewalk. Glancing over his shoulder as he left, he saw the old cowboy already back at work getting the last of the flowers in place.

He frowned as he approached Perry's car, feeling the vibration of the car's stereo through the pavement under his feet. Oh, that's inconspicuous!
Watching Perry drum wildly on the steering wheel, he briefly considered simply throwing the man out of the car and driving himself to the Shuswaps, but as attractive as the idea was, he knew he needed to rest on the drive there so he'd be in top form when he found the women.

Gao wrenched open the door, startling Perry so badly that the nervous man banged his head on the window jerking away from his ominous passenger. The Asian snapped off the blaring stereo, and ordered, "Drive."

Perry fumbled for the ignition, starting the car before he asked, "Where?"
He flinched as coldly amused black eyes regarded him.

"Shuswap Lakes."

The electronics expert gaped at him. "Shuswap? In B.C.?"

"Yes, now drive."

"But..."

So swiftly that Perry didn't have time to utter another word of protest, Gao had the barrel of his gun pressed tightly to his reluctant chauffeur's temple. He gave the ashen man a moment to absorb the sensation of the cool metal, then calmly asked, "You were saying?"

"Nothing," Perry squeaked. "Didn't say nothing."

"You didn't say anything," Gao corrected with a trace of black humour, but he removed the gun, flipped the safety back on and set it on his lap. "Get moving. I want to drive straight there-no stops."

Sullenly, Perry put the car in drive before muttering, "I gotta get gas and take a leak."

"All right," Gao agreed, his mood markedly improved now that he was en route to his targets. Then he added calmly, "But don't be foolish, Perry. You really don't want to be an added complication."

They stopped at a gas station to fill up the tank and use the facilities. Gao was amused when he stood at a urinal beside Perry, that his companion seemed to have problems coaxing his bladder to relax. Even with the awkwardness of using his left hand, he was finished, washed up and back out to the car long before the electronics expert.

Once the jittery man had returned to the car, Gao took off his jacket and neatly folded it on his lap to cover his hands-one in a cast, and one holding an H&K P7M13 in a casual grasp. When they got out on the highway, the setting sun bothered him, so, content now that his intimidated driver would carry out his instructions precisely, the Asian closed his eyes. Comforting visions of cowering women soon soothed him to sleep as the sky deepened to night and the kilometres slipped by.

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

Rhi woke to a tangle of sheets, and long arms and legs wrapped around her. She didn't move, smiling as she let her eyes adjust to the early morning light. With a deep joy she recalled every moment of the previous day...from waking for the first time in Marika's embrace to both of them finally falling asleep exhausted, long after the stars had come out.

Her stomach felt completely hollow-reminding her that they hadn't eaten since the roadside sandwich the previous afternoon-but her body was profoundly satiated, and her heart was overflowing with what she felt for her new lover. Suddenly needing to see Marika, she twisted in her warm cocoon until she'd rolled over.

The lawyer mumbled and instinctively pulled her small partner closer, but Rhi resisted, wanting to watch her sleeping partner's face. Avidly she took in every detail: the way pale lashes fluttered briefly and then subsided, as if the sleeper resisted waking up; the ash blond strands that had drifted over soft cheeks; the tiny blue veins she could see through the thin, delicate skin of Marika's temple.

Rhi's gaze sharpened then, and she frowned at the bandage that Dana had placed over the wound Gao had inflicted. She knew it wasn't serious and would heal quickly, but the thought that someone had dared to hurt her lover still left her livid. For the most part she was content to leave the apprehension of their enemies to the police, but a small part of her dearly wanted a final confrontation with Gao.

Resolutely pushing the residual anger aside, Rhi concentrated instead on studying the woman sleeping beside her. Overwhelmed by the depth of what she was feeling, she gently pushed back the silken hair and traced her finger down Marika's jaw line to her neck, pausing to feel the pulse there before continuing her downward path.

Coming to rest on the side of her lover's breast, she was startled by the sound of an amused, sleep-raspy voice.

"Are you having your way with me, sweetheart?"

Rhi chuckled and looked up to meet loving gray eyes. "Um...yes?"

Marika leaned forward, capturing her lips in a slow, lingering kiss before deliberately taking Rhi's hand and placing it firmly over her breast. Huskily, she murmured her approval. "Good."

Before they could proceed any further, Rhi's stomach rumbled loudly in the quiet room and both women broke out laughing.

Rhi slid her hand over the soft curve and around Marika's back, snuggling in closer. She thrilled, as she had the first time, to the sensation of their bodies melding. Her lover nuzzled her hair and ran a gentle hand down the length of her back.

"I suppose we really should eat first, eh?"

When Rhi giggled, Marika laughed. "Breakfast, my insatiable little darling...breakfast."

Leaning up for another kiss, Rhi agreed. "Mmmm, I guess that would be acceptable." With a wicked twinkle in her eye, she added, "For now."

Marika gave a mock-groan. "Oh for the stamina of youth!"

Laughing, Rhi rolled her older lover over on her back and squirmed on top. She was torn between wanting to demonstrate her stamina, and acceding to the increasingly intrusive demands of her empty stomach, but another rumble decided the issue for her.

"Ooooh, that tickled." Marika grinned up at the smaller woman, wrapping her arms firmly around the body that had her pinned.

Rhi lowered her head, nibbling a little at an elegant collar bone as her hands traced teasing patterns down the lawyer's sleek sides. "Tickling can be good," she countered, her words somewhat muffled.

"You want tickling do you?" Marika's hands promptly began to fly over Rhi's body, driving her young lover into a paroxysm of laughter, and quickly ending with both of them bouncing out of bed and standing with their arms draped loosely around each other as they surveyed the room.

"Sorta looks like a tornado hit it," Rhi observed wryly.

Marika squeezed her shoulders and chuckled. "I'd like to point out that most of these clothes are yours."

"Uh huh. That's only because yours are still downstairs. And who was it that tossed that pillow all the way over there last night?" Rhi raised one eyebrow as she indicated the square cushion that was balanced haphazardly off the edge of a chair.

"Oh yeah...that would be me."

Rhi looked up to see a delightful pink blush on her lover's fair features. She grinned, remembering the circumstances that had sent the pillow flying through the air. Chuckling she moved to her suitcase to get fresh clothes.

"I think a bath might be in order," Rhi suggested as she dug for what she needed. When the expected concurrence didn't come, she glanced over her shoulder to find Marika watching her intently, a trace of uncertainty on her face. Puzzled, she stood and faced her lover. "Rika? What's wrong?"

"Are you all right...I mean, with all this? I didn't rush you last night or anything?"

Astonished, Rhi blinked at the other woman. "You rush me? Honey, in case you hadn't noticed, there was a whole lot of mutual rushing going on." She watched Marika drop her eyes, and instantly she moved to her lover, taking the long, slender hands that had brought her such pleasure in her own.

"Hey," she coaxed, "what's going on, my love? What are you thinking?"

Marika shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm being an idiot."

"No you're not," Rhi rebuked her gently. "If something's bothering you, tell me what it is."

Drawing a deep breath, Marika voiced her worries. "I'm wondering if everything that's happened has happened too fast-as a result of what you went through last week."

Rhi understood instantly. Softly she clarified. "You're questioning whether I made love with you out of a need to confirm we were alive...a reaction to surviving Gao and Cass."

Unable to meet her eyes, Marika simply nodded. Inwardly, Rhi cursed Cass all over again for making her lover question her own worth. She'd thought their glorious lovemaking would have convinced the insecure woman of her feelings, but obviously the light of day had brought doubts to the fore again.

Firmly she tilted Marika's face up until their eyes met, then putting every ounce of conviction she could into her voice, she declared, "I love you, and I was falling in love with you long before the events of last week. What happened last night was only a beginning. You said yourself that it's up to us what we make of our lives from this point forward. Well, I want to make my life with you...not because of Cass or Gao, or even Lee and Dana. I want to make my life with you because I love you. Do you believe me?"

Saying the words, Rhi felt their unequivocal truth, and as she stood quietly while Marika's eyes searched her face, she knew David had been right. She didn't need her old crutch anymore. She had made her choice-long before they'd first touched each other the previous night.

"Yes."

It was only a single word, but Rhi saw the blaze of joy in Marika's eyes as her lover finally accepted the miracle they'd been given.

"Good." They stared at each other for a long moment, two sets of eyes brimming with emotion. Finally Marika drew Rhi forward into her arms and they relaxed into each other, somewhat exhausted by the emotional overload.

Neither could have said how long they stood in that sunny room, arms locked around each other as Rhi rested her head on her tall lover's shoulder, but finally Marika broke the contented silence.

"So...bath then breakfast?"

"Sounds good," Rhi agreed as she eased out of the embrace and smiled at Marika.

Both women moved to pick out clothes as Marika teased, "I suppose you're going to have that chocolate marshmallow cereal you picked out."

"Of course," Rhi said cheerfully, finding the shorts she wanted at the bottom of the bag.

"You do realize that stuff is pure sugar," Marika chided gently as she led the way out of their room.

"Yup," the younger woman agreed, then added with an evil chuckle, "I figure I'm going to need all the energy I can get."

A melodramatic moan was followed by the sound of the lovers laughing together as they descended the stairs.

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

Gao slammed his uninjured hand against the dashboard in frustration, and not even Perry shrinking from him alleviated his foul mood. He'd been so certain the women would be easy to find once they got to the lake, but he'd been unaware that the Shuswaps were really an H-shaped chain of four large lakes, with over a thousand kilometres of shoreline.

They'd arrived just after two AM, with Perry whining that he was exhausted and needed to rest. Reasoning that there was little hope of finding the cabin in the dark, Gao had agreed to obtain a cheap motel room. Once inside, Perry immediately sacked out on one of the beds, while Gao headed straight for the local phonebook.

Opening to the 'R's, he'd scanned the listings and found eight Reilly's. Tearing out the page, he'd studied the addresses and with rising excitement, found two listed on Lakeshore Drive. Leaving Perry snoring noisily, Gao drove to an all-night convenience store and bought a local map. Once back in the room, he'd meticulously charted the location of each address. To his disgust, he'd found that Lakeshore Drive was near a small lake south of the actual Shuswaps, and the rest of the Reilly's were in town.

Irritated, but not discouraged, Gao had decided they would leave at first light and check every cabin on the lake if they had to. Many hours later, they were no further ahead than when they'd started, which was why the dashboard was taking the brunt of his anger.

The problem he'd encountered was that many of the lakeside cottages were nestled in the thick woods that covered the hillsides surrounding the lakes. Gao was able to eliminate a number of them that conveniently had family names posted clearly, but he was concerned that if he kept approaching strangers looking for his prey, he might arouse suspicions and end up being reported to the local RCMP detachment.

It was past noon now, and although Gao didn't feel he was under a deadline since the women couldn't know he was there, he was driven by his own need to find and kill them.

"Uh, could I pick up some lunch?" Perry asked nervously.

"Make it fast." Gao stared out the window as Perry drove, turning over possibilities in his mind. He could-if necessary-continue the cabin-by-cabin search along the vast network of roads around the lakes, but he wanted something faster...more effective.

"The Lakes!"

Perry glanced at Gao. "The Lakes?"

"Exactly! They're in a lakeshore cabin with a private beach. On an afternoon like this," Gao said excitedly, gesturing at the bright sunny day, "they're not going to be inside. They'll probably be lounging on their beach, or swimming or something. All we have to do is rent a speed boat, and we can cover the lake much faster that way."

"Do you know how to drive a boat?" Perry asked skeptically. "'Cause I sure don't."

"How hard can it be?" Gao scoffed. "As soon as we have lunch, we'll find a boat rental outlet. Are your binoculars still in the car?"

"Yeah, I left 'em in the trunk yesterday."

"Excellent. You drive. I'll scan the shoreline."

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

Rhi leaned out of the canoe and grabbed the end of the wharf, pulling alongside as Marika propelled them forward with strokes of her paddle.

"Don't fall out," the lawyer warned laughingly. "I've fished you out once, and that's enough for one day."

"Hey!" Rhi protested good-naturedly. "Can I help it if that fish was too fast?"

"Good thing we were only in three feet of water...and honey, I don't think you're supposed to try and catch them with your hands."

"I almost had him!" Rhi grinned, as she crawled out on the wharf and tied the canoe down.

They'd had a wonderful day. After a bath and breakfast, they'd gone for a walk in the unexplored direction from their beach, then returned for a swim before lunch. They'd planned to take the canoe out after lunch, but had gotten distracted and ended up spending the afternoon making love instead. They'd finally dragged themselves out of their comfortable nest, and after a late lunch-or early dinner-had taken the canoe out for a couple of hours of exploration.

Neither woman had ever canoed before, so there was more hilarity than actual progress for the first half hour, but by the time they'd returned as the early dusk was starting to settle in, they'd gotten quite proficient. Rhi wanted to stay out longer, but Marika was concerned that she'd get chilled in her damp clothes, so insisted that they return, bribing her young lover with the promise of a bonfire.

As Marika stood to climb up on the wharf, the wake of a passing motorboat rocked the canoe, and she almost fell before Rhi grabbed her arm. The younger woman glared after the boat that had picked up speed as it roared away, but the setting sun made it hard to see anything.

Shaking her head, Rhi took off her lifejacket and picked up her paddle. Marika did the same, and they made their way back up the rocky beach to the A-frame, stowing their gear on the porch in readiness for the next day.

Linking hands, the new lovers entered the cabin. They barely made it inside the door before Rhi was in Marika's arms, claiming the kisses willingly offered.

"Mmmm, I've been wanting to do that for hours," the lawyer murmured contentedly when they finally came up for air.

Rhi snuggled into the taller body. "Me too. But I figured the canoe was too tippy for us to fool around out there."

"No kidding. In case you haven't noticed, you're wet, you know." Marika chuckled at the raised eyebrow that got her. "I meant that your clothes are still damp from your fishing expedition. Why don't you go change and I'll start getting things ready for our bonfire."

"Okay." Rhi broke away, but as she was walking up the stairs, she turned back with a wicked grin. "By the way, you were right on both counts."

Marika broke out laughing, watching affectionately as the younger woman disappeared into their bedroom. Turning to the fridge, she began to take items out, a huge smile on her face. "I think I've created a monster."

Dreamily, she stood at the counter, the hot dogs, buns and condiments sitting forgotten on the tray in front of her. Lost in thought and memory, she didn't notice Rhi coming back down the stairs, dressed in clean, dry clothes, until a soft, loving voice sounded beside her.

"Woolgathering, sweetheart?"

Marika smiled and cupped her lover's face. "Just thinking."

"Hmm, looked like pretty good thoughts."

"The best...they were all about you...about us."

Rhi looked at her seriously. "Are you happy?"

Marika returned her gaze with equal gravity. "I don't remember ever in my life being happier. Thank you, my love." She staggered a little as small, strong arms suddenly wrapped around her and hugged her fiercely, but she matched her lover, holding the younger woman tightly as tears of joy filled her eyes.

"You know, at this rate, we're never going to get through all the food we bought."

The muffled voice quavered suspiciously, and Marika smiled gently, feeling Rhi snuffle against her chest. Planting a kiss on tawny hair, she suggested, "Well, I did promise to demonstrate my fire-starting skills, and you were pretty keen on roasting some marshmallows."

Rhi drew a deep breath and pulled back a little, brushing at her wet eyes with the back of her hand. Her brilliant smile reassured Marika that her lover was fine, just somewhat overcome with emotion. The lawyer knew that feeling well. She'd been alternating between euphoria, exhilaration and exhaustion for the last 24 hours or so herself.

Gently she nudged the smaller woman and pointed to the tray. "Why don't you take that down to the fire pit, and I'll grab the matches, some newspaper and the toasting sticks."

Rhi did so, and Marika turned back to find the matches on top of the fridge. Gathering what she needed, she went to join her lover, keeping her fingers crossed that she'd recall, from her long ago Girl Guide days, how to build a bonfire.

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

Gao growled exultantly as he watched the small woman help her tall companion out of the canoe. "Get us out of here," he ordered, and Perry increased their speed as they roared away.

They'd spent the entire afternoon cruising up and down the waterways, Perry driving while Gao scanned the shoreline for familiar faces. As the hours wore away, the Asian man began to question whether this had been the right strategy after all, but the hours of searching had finally paid off on the third pass of this part of the lake.

"Where to?" Perry asked, his pasty skin burned bright red from the unprotected hours on the water.

"Back to the dock. We'll turn in the boat and take the car," Gao ordered, as he consulted the map and marked the approximate position of his prey's cabin.

Once back at the rental dock, they turned in the boat and climbed the hill to the parking lot. Much to Gao's amazement, Perry balked at getting back into the car.

"No. I'm not going along with you on this. I've never killed anyone," Perry protested weakly, his eyes flitting nervously from Gao to the surrounding cars and the few others in the parking lot.

"I have," Gao snarled in a low voice. "Now get in the car."

"Nuh uh," Perry said, his voice scared, but determined. "I'll wait for you back at the motel."

Gao stared at him, torn between anger and exasperation. Finally, he snapped, "Fine. You would undoubtedly be more of a hindrance than help. Give me the keys."

Perry slid them across the roof of the car and backed away. Ignoring him, the Asian walked around and slid into the driver's seat, adjusting the seat for his shorter frame. Starting the ignition, he rolled down the window. "I won't be long, and I won't wait for you if you're not ready...Is that understood?"

The electronics expert nodded mutely, and Gao put the car in gear. Glancing in the rearview mirror as he drove away, he saw Perry slouching off in the direction of the street, then dismissed the man from his thoughts. What he'd said was accurate, and in truth, he preferred to carry out his mission unhindered by a reluctant assistant. Perry had served his purpose...now the rest was up to him.

Squinting, Gao momentarily cursed his unreliable eyesight. Unfortunately he would need Perry to make the trip back to Calgary, so abandoning him at the motel was not an option. Hours of straining his good eye with the binoculars to compensate for the fuzzy vision in his other one had aggravated his ever-present headache and left him tired. However knowing he was so close to his goal pushed back his exhaustion. As he turned onto the main highway that circumnavigated the Lakes, he smiled in anticipation.

The boat rentals were on a different arm of the lake, and he estimated it would take him at least forty-five minutes to get to the arm where the women's cabin was, but that too suited him as the sun's rays faded. It wouldn't be dark by the time he got there, but it wouldn't be full light either, the twilight--along with the element of surprise-giving him the advantage.

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

Grinning, Marika watched Rhi strip her fifth blackened marshmallow from the toasting stick. The younger woman lacked her lover's patience, and rather than staying over the embers to toast the white confections to a golden brown, she preferred plunging the marshmallows into the flames for a quick charcoal effect.

The lawyer chuckled at the sticky white tendrils that coated her companion's chin. Rhi tried to clean them off, but only managed to smear the marshmallow over her fingers as well.

"I think I'd better go get cleaned up," she said ruefully, popping one marshmallow covered finger in her mouth.

"The lake's right there," Marika suggested, vastly amused by her lover's antics.

"I think this is going to require soap too," Rhi answered, rising from the stump on which she'd been perched.

Half a dozen stumps served as makeshift seats surrounding the fire pit, and the women had been contentedly sitting side-by-side comparing roasting techniques as they enjoyed the bonfire. Rhi leaned over with a grin and tried to buss her companion, but Marika shrieked with laughter and held her at bay, grateful for her longer arms as she did so.

"Go get cleaned up, brat! Or no more kisses for you!"

"Oh sure! You didn't mind kissing me when I was all sticky this afternoon."

Marika chuckled. "I don't mind that kind of sticky one bit, sweetheart."

Rhi chortled and started up the trail to the cabin. Marika called after her, "Can you bring the cell back with you, love? I want to call Lee early so she doesn't interrupt us later."

"I like the way you think, Rika," Rhi called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the cabin.

Marika smiled and turned back to watch the flames, feeling a certain pride in her handiwork. It had only taken her five matches to get the kindling started, and Rhi had been admirably silent during her efforts, rewarding her with a long kiss once the fire was snapping strongly.

The lawyer looked up at the sky, enjoying the faintly emerging stars. She knew that later in the evening they'd illuminate the night sky brilliantly. Sighing with a deep sense of well being, her eyes returned to the fire, enjoying the sound and colours of the flames as she waited for her lover to return.

It wasn't long before Rhi returned, considerably cleaner and carrying the cell phone. Marika accepted the phone and the kiss that went with it, almost getting lost in the soft sensations of her companion's lips. With a small moan she pulled away.

"If we keep doing that, I'm going to forget to phone again."

Rhi chuckled and sat down beside her, laying one hand on the lawyer's thigh. "Yeah, Lee's timing left something to be desired last night, so best to check in with mom first."

"Mom?" Marika laughed as she punched in Lee's speed dial. "She'd be cuffing you upside the head if she heard that one." The line was busy, so she set the phone down on the ground beside her, concentrating instead on the delightful way her lover's hand was tracing circles on her leg. Reaching one hand behind Rhi's neck, she gently rubbed the nape, having learned the previous night what a sensitive area that was for the small woman.

They leaned towards each other and just as their lips met, the phone rang, startling them into jumping apart.

"Damn! Told you she had lousy timing," Rhi muttered, as Marika reached down to pick up the phone.

"Hi, Lee," Marika said with amusement, winking at her slightly frustrated lover.

"Marika! You've got to get out of there!"

Shocked at Lee's frantic tone, Marika asked, "What? Lee, what are you..."

"Get out! Leave everything and get the hell out of there! Gao knows where you two are!"

Marika shot upright and Rhi stood too, eyes wide as she tried to decipher what was going on.

"What do you mean he knows? How could he?"

"David just called. Tupper inadvertently told an Asian man with a cast on his hand and a bandage on his forehead where you two were. He doesn't know precisely, Rika, but you've got to get out of there as fast as you can. Go to the RCMP detachment in Sicamous. I'll have Marc call them right away to tell them what's going on. Don't stop to pack, just get moving. And call me when you're there!"

Instantly Marika closed the connection, grabbed Rhi's hand and started running for the cabin. Rhi didn't stop to ask, but matched her stride. Slamming through the door, Marika dropped her lover's hand and raced up the stairs to get the car keys. She was back in under a minute, noting with approval that Rhi had turned off the lights.

"Gao's coming?"

Rhi's tense question came as she stood at the edge of a window, scanning the area around the cabin in the fading light.

"Yes. We're going to the RCMP right now." Marika knew her voice was sharp with tension, but Rhi followed her unquestioningly as they left the cabin and rounded the corner, heading for the Buick at the back of the A-frame.

Marika stopped short and frantically backpedaled. She whispered harshly, "There's a car coming down the road with its lights off." Frantically she cast her eyes about, trying to decide which was the best way to flee.

Rhi grabbed one of the paddles they'd leaned against the wall when they'd returned earlier. Marika pointed in the direction they'd first walked the previous night. "That way. Neighbour's closer."

They ran down the hill to the beach, hearing the unmistakable crack of a gun just as they dodged behind the wood hut. It was only a few metres between the edge of the hut and the bush, but Marika felt like it was a mile of open prairie as they ducked and scampered frantically for the cover of the trees. They heard another crack as they plunged into the thick underbrush, Rhi holding the paddle high to keep it from becoming entangled.

Marika had no idea how long they ran, but when Rhi pulled her to a halt, her lungs were burning and her legs were trembling. Bent double as she sucked in air, she managed to gasp, "We should head up the hill for the road."

"Rika, listen to me," Rhi panted. "We have to stop him."

Marika stared at her companion incredulously, barely able to make out her features in the gloom of falling night and thick forest. "Are you nuts! We have to get out of here!"

"Listen, love...we can get away, but by the time the police come, he'll be long gone, and he'll come after us again and again. He'll never stop unless we stop him," Rhi insisted, one hand wrapped around Marika's upper arm, shaking her slightly.

"He's got a gun. We've got a paddle," Marika pointed out harshly. She wanted nothing more than to grab her lover's hand and drag her away from the danger that she had caused.

Rhi dropped the paddle and grabbed the older woman with both hands. "We can do this, love, we can! No more running, Rika...never again!"

Marika couldn't believe she was even listening, but even in the twilight, she could see the intensity in her lover's eyes and hear the fervor in her hushed voice. There was silence as Rhi let her make up her own mind.

"How?" Even as the question was out of her mouth Marika couldn't believe she'd said it, but something inside her...no, something within her lover, compelled absolute trust and belief.

Flashing a grin, Rhi quickly laid out her plan.

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

It had taken Gao longer than he'd estimated to find the cabin, but as the car drove at a turtle's pace along the narrow, rutted road, he felt the growing anticipation of the chase. He passed four turn-offs before his headlights illuminated a sign reading 'O'Reilly'.

"O'Reilly? O'Reilly?" Gao swore as he realized he'd dropped the critical first letter when he'd instituted his search of the phone book when they'd first arrived. He cursed his aching head and unreliable memory, allowing himself a moment to wonder if he could have found them sooner, before discarding the thought as irrelevant. All that mattered was that he'd found them now.

Extinguishing the headlights, he turned down the trail leading to a cabin he could see dimly through the trees. Parking behind a white Buick, he picked up his gun, opened the car door and soundlessly eased it shut. Walking rapidly, he made his way along the side of the cabin. Rounding the corner, he saw two figures running across the beach. For a split second he froze in confusion; then as he saw the tall, slender blonde in the lead glance over her shoulder directly at him, her fearful expression illuminated by the dancing light of the campfire, he realized his prey were getting away from him.

Furious, he raised the gun and, barely aiming, shot in their direction. They disappeared behind a hut and then reappeared as they dashed for the forest. He fired again, and began to run after them. By the time he reached the bush, they'd disappeared and he cursed them, their parentage and the children they would never have if he had his way.

Plunging into the bush, he followed them. He was a city boy, born and bred, but even he couldn't miss the snapped branches and broken foliage. However the deeper he got into the forest, the harder it got to see, and he had to backtrack several times.

He thought he had lost the track when he caught a glimpse of something red through the trees ahead. Firing another shot, he called, "Stop!" Somewhat to his surprise, the figure did so and slowly stepped out into view. It was the smaller woman, and Gao's eyes narrowed.

"Your friend...where is she?" he demanded, raising his gun threateningly.

"Long gone." The small woman's tone was taunting. "She's out of your reach and she'll have the police down on you so fast, you'll be rotting in Drumheller before you know it. You lost, asshole. She beat you, you low-life loser. Your boss is going to be so pissed at you. Hell, you'll probably be fish food before you ever make it to the pen."

Rage made his hand tremble, as Gao spat, "But at least you'll be dead."

Everything happened at once. His target dove to one side as he fired, and a scream echoed in his ears as something slammed down on his gun hand. He howled and dropped to his knees, scrabbling after the fallen gun. Another blow slammed into his kidneys, leaving him writhing in pain and unable to move as the smaller woman raced to the gun and picked it up.

Through teary eyes, he saw her hold out one hand and the lawyer come around him to take it, still holding the paddle that she'd used against him. The little one pointed the gun at him as she asked her companion, "Are you okay?"

The tall woman's voice was slightly hysterical. "Am I okay? You're the one dodging bullets!" She threw one arm over the small one's shoulders, and the other woman soothed her, never taking her eyes off Gao.

Using every bit of will, Gao pulled himself to his knees, groaning as the pain rippled through him. Panting, he stared at the women, trying to focus on the gun wielder.

"You can't shoot," he challenged, unwilling to concede these women their victory.

Slipping an arm around the waist of the taller woman, the little one said with absolute certainty, "I can, and will, if I have to. There's nothing I wouldn't do to protect her."

He believed her. He heard the certitude in her voice. Slumping back to the forest floor, Gao shook his head numbly, cradling his newly injured left hand with the cast on his right hand. He could barely breathe from the agony in his back, but the sharpest wound was to his pride. They had won. They had beaten him, just as the little one said. And looking up as they held onto each other, he accepted that fact, finally letting the rage that had consumed him ebb away on the waves of pain wracking his body.

Continued in Chapter 28