"Maybe, but he's, like, seventy-five and has three of his sons working for him, and I think his wife is still in the picture, too. I'm not that great at reading people, but he doesn't seem like much of a threat."

What about me? Gabe wanted to ask, deliberately looking away from her. Am I a threat? He was surprised at the hurt he was feeling—hurt mixed with anger that she had lied to him more times in one day than Cinnie had over the entire length of their marriage.

"Ferendelli's place is in Georgetown, yes?" he asked.

"The far side from here—somewhere between a walk and a drive. How's your luck at finding parking spaces?"

"It was always pretty good in Tyler, but we only have three or four cars in town, and a lot of spaces."

"In that case, let's take this car." She flipped the keys to him. "Traffic's heavy, but I don't mind spending the extra time together if you don't."

Stop looking at me that way!

"I'll manage," he said, opening the door for her and receiving a smile of pleasant surprise in return.

"In my world, people worry that opening the door for a woman might offend her. I like your world better."

"So tell me. You dropped off the bullet at the lab?"

"I did."

"And did your handlers have any theories about who might have tried to kill me?"

If, in fact, the guy wasn't a Secret Service employee to begin with.

"I don't have any handlers, Doctor. I have department heads and a division chief. Was that snide tone on purpose?"

"Huh? Oh, no." He warned himself to be more careful. "I'm on edge about this, that's all. Someone tried to kill me, and the police show up a minute later, and at your urging I end up not telling them anything—or anyone else for that matter."

"Well, believe me or not, it was the right thing to do. I did speak to my superior about what happened. He doesn't have any idea who could have done this or why. Is there anything going on surrounding Dr. Ferendelli or the president that you haven't told anyone about?"

"Absolutely not." Nice delivery, Gabe thought. Not too rushed, not too forced. A little bit of incredulity thrown in. You pick up on things quickly. "Is this supervisor you spoke to the same guy who has no idea why Ferendelli might have disappeared?" he asked.

"Pardon me for suggesting it, but you're sounding snide again. You're upset because I didn't tell you I was Secret Service when we first met. Is that it?"

"Sorry. Let's drop it for now."

"Go left at the next light."

Except for finishing the directions, there was no other conversation.