Behind him, his door opened softly, and he turned to acknowledge with a nod the presence of the blond man who had entered his office. His name was Giles Smith. Not tall, he was bulky, muscular, surprisingly quick—a professional at providing security for people in such sensitive, lucrative positions as Andrew Balaton. He stood at attention, like a Marine.

“Good evening, Giles.”

“Sir.”

“Thank you for coming. I would like you to fly up to Massachusetts this evening and perform a little service for me.”

“Sir?”

Andrew pushed his own copy of You across his desk. Giles picked it up and glanced at Ashley Wakefield. Andrew smiled. “She’s quite attractive, isn’t she?”

Giles said nothing. Andrew had known he wouldn’t. In addition to being very good at what he did, Giles knew and accepted his place.

“The tiara and choker she’s wearing don’t belong to her, and they could cause a great deal of unnecessary anguish for myself and my daughter.”

“I understand, sir.”

Andrew turned back to the window. “I want them.”

6

Jeremy Carruthers rang the doorbell of Elaine and MacGregor Stevens’s house tucked into the terraced hills of elite Point Loma, just minutes from downtown San Diego. It was late Friday afternoon, and still warm. Jeremy had been fidgety all day, ever since Mac had nearly collapsed in his office and then left early. It wasn’t like Mac. It just didn’t fit. And Jeremy was worried...or at least curious.

Elaine Stevens opened the door a crack. When she saw Jeremy, she pulled the door open wide and smiled. “Jeremy! What a lovely surprise. Come in.”

“Thanks.” He stepped into the small foyer, where Elaine always had a vase of fresh flowers. Today’s were roses. “Mac home?”

“Why, no.” She looked surprised, but continued to rub a pink cream into her hands. She was a tall woman with ash-blond hair and strong, chiseled features—the rock in Mac’s life. As always, she was neatly but casually dressed; she loathed uncomfortable clothes. “Didn’t he tell you? He left for Honolulu this afternoon.”

Jeremy shook his head. Mac had said nothing of the kind, not even to his secretary. And that wasn’t like the cofounder of Carruthers and Stevens and the man Jeremy had known and admired since he was six years old.

“Not on business,” Elaine said. “We have land in Hawaii. You know we plan to retire there. Mac said he’d heard rumors the adjoining property was going to be rezoned for business. He went out there to see what he could do.”

“Was this planned? He never mentioned—”

“Well, no, it came up very suddenly.” Concern reached her warm hazel eyes. “Why?”

“I’m just surprised.” He smiled, forcing the look of skepticism from his face. “Guess I’ve been preoccupied with my own work.... I see you didn’t go with him?”

“I have too much to do here. Do you need to get in touch with Mac? Is it important?”

“Just business.”

“Well, I can have him call you. He’s staying with a friend—an old buddy of his from Yale, I think he said. He didn’t leave a number, but I’m sure he’ll call tonight. He always does when he’s away. Would you like me to have him call you?”