“And the organization is run by men. I know who I work for and why.” She turned to him then, her smile very cool, very calm. They might have been discussing the weather. “I am not a fool. The . . . organization has certain goals. So do I. I am more than happy to have them merge to our mutual satisfaction. I will meet and speak with the highest authority. See that it’s soon.”

“Some people take a step and find themselves falling from a cliff.”

“I’m surefooted. Pass this on, s’il vous plaît. What I know is worth a great deal. What I can find out is worth even more. You’ll find enough to prove it in here.” Hannah let her brochure fall to her feet, but this time she left it there. “Bonjour, monsieur.”

She turned, knowing that such demands would either take her to the next stage, or end in her being summarily disposed of. Nerves tingling, she began to wander toward the exit. Her heart stopped when Bennett walked in.

A dozen thoughts ran through her mind in a matter of seconds. Had she been set up? Had they used her to get him out in the open at a certain time and place? Had he come for her because Deboque had already struck somewhere else?

It took her only seconds more to dismiss them all as irrational. It was simply coincidence and bad luck that he should show up now on the tail of her meeting.

“I hope you don’t mind company,” Bennett said before she could think of a plausible opening.

“Of course not.” She didn’t dare look behind her yet to see if her contact was still there. She smiled, not quite sure how to behave since both she and Bennett had done an excellent job of avoiding each other for days. “The museum is even more beautiful than I’d been told.”

“Have you seen everything? I’d be glad to show you around.” He took her hand in a casual, friendly way that she realized could only cement her position if Deboque’s man was watching.

She let her fingers curl into his, hating herself for using Bennett’s generosity against him. “I could spend days looking, but I’m a bit tired.”

She saw him then. He’d moved into her peripheral vision. The brochure she’d passed him was in his hand, and though his back was to them, she knew he was listening.

Bennett didn’t notice the man, but only her. “Let me give you coffee up in my office. I’d like to talk with you.”

She felt the unexpected prick of tears. Everything he said, and the way he said it, only made her claims more plausible. “I’d love some coffee.” Hannah let him take her arm and lead her out, knowing every detail would be reported back to Deboque.