“That would be nice,” Pia said. Before she’d arrived, she felt nervous about what she was doing, remembering uncomfortably how Berman had tried to force his way into her apartment. Yet now she felt confident and in control. She’d dealt with guys more intimidating than Berman. The Albanians who had kidnapped her, for instance. Much more intimidating guys.

“I always think of her as having a somewhat military air. She is very well organized.”

“She’s a good boss.”

“Absolutely. She keeps me abreast of everything you’re doing in the lab.” Berman handed Pia a cup of espresso, then made one for himself.

Pia was sure Mariel had briefed Berman about Pia’s role with the Chinese runner and was curious why he wasn’t mentioning it.

“She’s very impressed with you,” he went on. “As I mentioned the other night, we’re very appreciative of the great strides you and she have been making on the microbivore biocompatibility issue.”

“I hope we’re making good progress. It’s really fascinating work, and I very much want to make a contribution to the science. That’s what my goal is.”

With his coffee in hand Berman sat in an upholstered swivel club chair situated on the opposite side of a coffee table from Pia. For a second, he regarded her with a slight smile on his face.

“So, speaking of the possessive type, how’s your friend, Dr. Wilson? Did he get back to L.A. okay?”

Pia smiled a little herself.

“I assume so, I haven’t heard. It’s good to have the apartment back to myself. I’m not equipped for company.”

“That’s understandable,” Berman said.

“Does Miss Jones live with you in your house?”

“Hardly,” Berman said.

“I’d like to see it again. It was so overwhelming; I think I missed a lot of detail.”

Berman tossed back the rest of his espresso. This was all going so much better than he could have imagined.

“You’ll have to come back for dinner again.”

“Sure,” said Pia. “I’d be happy to come to dinner.”

Berman eyed Pia. She truly was one of the most exotically attractive women he’d seen in a long time, and here she was, seemingly offering herself on a platter. He tried to calm himself. It was more than he could have hoped for. “Okay,” he said. “So when are you free?”

“I’m free tonight, I believe. If that’s not too presumptuous.”

“That’s not presumptuous at all. So tonight it is. Does eight o’clock suit you?”

“It suits me fine,” said Pia, who smiled. “But there is one thing I would like to make clear.”

“And what might that be?”

“You promised no repeat of what you called your boorish behavior that happened before you went on your trip to China. I want to hold you to that promise.”