“With great difficulty,” he said dryly. “But when I talked to Mallory on the phone a little before you showed up with Rennell, I realized the last thing I wanted was to have her there when you’d be in danger. I pulled one of Mallory’s men and told her to stay with him. She wasn’t pleased.”

“I’m not surprised. It could be the end between you.”

“No, it will only mean anger and adjustment. She knows me. She trusts me.”

“I’m not so sure.” She shrugged. “She’s going to be even less pleased with me. But I had to do it.” She gazed at the canyon. “Volkov is dead?”

“To Rennell’s regret. But he got some satisfaction out of it.”

“Anton is dead, too. I killed him.” She shook her head. “Things are changing…It’s what we wanted, but it’s still strange.”

She straightened. “I guess I’d better go and be with Lara. Can you give me a ride back? Rennell forgot about me.”

“He has a lot on his mind.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? I wasn’t complaining. I understand him…I think.” She ran her hand through her hair. “And he gave me what I wanted today. I have to see if I can help him.” She turned and headed for his car. “But Lara first.”

He got in the driver’s seat. “By all means, Lara first.”

*  *  *

“Maria?”

Tanner had just told Lara what Maria had done, but she was still having trouble believing it. Yet there was no doubt it was Maria, though her shirt and jeans were dirt-stained, and there was a bruise on her left cheek. Maria looked up and smiled, then waited for Lara to come to her. Lara fought her way across the rocks to where Maria was getting out of Tanner’s car. “Are you crazy?” Lara enveloped her in a quick hug before she pushed her away. “What are you doing here? Are you all right?”

“Where else would I be? Did you actually think that I’d let you go without me? You’ve been on too many Trials over the years and left me behind. Not this one. I wasn’t going to sit back there and wonder what was happening to you. I needed to keep it from happening.” Her lips twisted sardonically. “But first I had to convince Rennell that I wouldn’t get in his way.”

“Tanner said you were with him. That was pretty weird, Maria?”

“He was the one who was going to be in the action. It seemed the place for me to be.” She glanced down the hill to the casino at Rennell, who was now in deep conversation with Tanner. “And it still does.” She started the Land Rover. “My job’s not finished yet. I’m going to follow Rennell out to Volkov’s place and see if I can help him.”