“That was nothing. Just wait until our next date.” She smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I can hardly wait.” He was impressed at how quickly Therri had recovered. She was proving to be an iron butterfly. “Call me if you need anything.”

She nodded. Austin wished her a good night's sleep and headed for the elevator. She watched until the elevator doors had closed. Then she pulled her key out of the lock, walked down the hall and knocked on another door, which was opened by Marcus Ryan. His smile disappeared when he saw the strain in her face. “Are you all right?” he said with concern in his voice. “You look a little pale.”

“Nothing a little makeup won't cure.” She brushed by him and stretched out on the sofa. “Whip me up a strong cup of tea, then have a seat and I'll tell you all about it.”

They sat down, and she told them about their attack and rescue.

After hearing her story, Ryan tented his fingers and stared off into space. “Austin is right. It's Oceanus. Vmsure of it.” “Me too. I'm less sure who our rescuers were.” “Austin didn't know who they were?” She shook her head. “He said no.”

“Was he telling the truth?” "He may suspect who they were, but I didn't press him on that.

Kurt doesn't strike me as someone who lies."

"Well, well, my tough-minded legal counsel has a soft side after

all. You like him, don't you?" Ryan said with a foxy grin.

“I won't deny it. He's-different.”

“I'm different, too, you must admit.”

“That you are,” she said with a smile. “That's why we're profes- sional colleagues and not lovers.”

Ryan sighed theatrically. “Guess I'm fated to be a bridesmaid, never a bride.”

“You'd make a hideous bride. Besides, you had your chance to be a bride. As you recall, I didn't like playing second fiddle to SOS.”

“Didn't blame you. I am something of a warrior monk when it comes to the Sentinels.”

“Crap! Don't give me that monk stuff. I happen to know you've got a girlfriend in every port.”

“Hell, Therri, even a monk has to get out of the monastery and kick up his heels from time to time. But let's talk about your in- triguing relationship with Austin. Do you think he's smitten by your charms, enough to have him wrapped around your finger?”

“From what I've seen, Kurt doesn't wrap around anyone s finger.” Her eyes narrowed. “What's going on in that tangle of plots and schemes that you call a mind?”

“Just a thought. I'd like to get NUMA on our side. We need mus- cle if we're going to tackle Oceanus.”

“And if we can't get NUMA to help us?”

He shrugged. “Then we'll have to go it alone.”