For a while he stood there beside her drinking and chatting easily with the barman. It didn’t take him long to get through his first whisky. Then the couple to Zelda’s right left. Tadić took the seat next to hers with the slow, easy motion of a confident man and signaled for another drink. He glanced toward her, raised an eyebrow in question and nodded toward her glass. Zelda shook her head. “No, thanks,” she said. “I’m still working on this one.”

“Are you waiting for somebody?”

“Is it so obvious?”

“You were looking at your watch.”

“Yep,” she said. “He’s late.”

“Have another drink with me while you wait. Go on. One more won’t do any harm.”

“OK,” she said, pushing her glass forward. “Thanks. You’re not from around here, are you?” She was hoping he wouldn’t catch on to her accent. Most people didn’t.

“No,” he said. “Zadar. Croatia. Goran is my name.” He held his hand out to shake.

Zelda shook it. Her little hand was lost in his, and she could feel the strength in his grip. She was five foot six, and he must be at least six inches taller. She began to have grave doubts about the success of her mission. There was no way she could put the pills in his glass here in the crowded bar, she had already realized. They would have to wait until he got her up to his room, which she predicted from the look in his slightly hooded eyes wouldn’t be very long. Not one for extended conversation, Goran Tadić.

“Cathy,” she said. “Lovely country, Croatia.”

“You go there?”

“Once. Just the tourist spots—Split, Dubrovnik. But I remember Zadar. Isn’t that where the sea plays music? I was on a cruise with my husband.”

He seemed thrilled that she knew Zadar. “Yes, is sea organ. Beautiful music.” Then his face took on a disappointed expression. “You are married?”

“Divorced. I should have said ex-husband.”

“And this man you wait for? Boyfriend?”

“Nobody important.”

“You stay here at this hotel?”

“No.”

“You live here? London?”

“Yes.”

“It is a fine city.”

“You like it here?”

“Oh, yes. Many beautiful women.”

She smiled shyly and looked down. “You’re a real charmer.”

“But you are the most beautiful. This man is not coming. He must be very foolish.”

“Very rude, I’d say.”

He clinked glasses. “Bottoms up. Is that what you say here?”

Zelda laughed. “Some people do.”

“It is so difficult here to know what is right. English language so difficult. Very easy to make mistake, say wrong thing.”

“Your English is very good.”

“You think so?”

“Sure.”