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anything. A young nubile thing like that can hardly be ignored by a virile man.”
    “I didn’t notice,” he said.
    She laughed and punched him in the ribs. “Get out, you did too. I saw you staring.”
    “Just a quickie. I am a virile man, you know.”
    “You sure are.” She latched on to his arm and snuggled beside him. “I’d love to know what’s behind those locked doors on the bookcase.”
    “ A first edition, some valuable signed version of a manuscript or publication, or maybe it’s not a book at all.”
    “Maybe, but somehow I think the secret to Brother Osiris is in that office.”
    As they walked to the car, they exchanged glances when a slim young woman head ed into the mission, her angelic face framed by straight blonde hair that blew slow motion in the breeze like a diaphanous curtain. Diana placed her age in the late teens. The buttons of her white blouse strained across her woman’s chest.
    Another runaway, or another disciple?

Chapter Nine
    The Pink Room in the Pink House

    “A nything on Deems, Sam?”
    “Nothing. He’s disappeared off the face of the earth. Could be he’s off kidnapping another baby. The feds are issuing a news release with his picture. ”
    “Good,” Lucier said. “Janitors come and go. It’d be perfectly natural for him to cruise the corridors without raising suspicions. He probably used different names and disguises.”
    “None of the babies ha ve turned up, and no ransom notes either.”
    “Sam, can you get me a list of contributors to the Sunrise Mission ? Should be public record. And dig deeper into Edward Slater, alias Brother Osiris. A complete profile. I wish the hell we could get his fingerprints.”
    “Why? Do you think he’s involved in this?”
    “Probably not, but my gut tells me there’s something fishy about our do-gooder . Diana thought so too.”
    * * * * *
    T hat evening when the doorbell rang, Diana checked to make sure it was Lucier before she opened the door . He would have chewed her out if she hadn’t . She kissed him on the lips. “You look tired.” She pointed him to the sofa. “ Relax, I’ll get you a beer.”
    “I a m tired. It’s been a long day.”
    She handed him the beer, then curled up next to him. He leaned back and took a long swallow. “Tastes good. Aren’t you having one?”
    “I promised myself I’d cut back.”
    “I thought it was just until you fully recovered. You’re recovered.”
    “I know, but it won’t hurt to take it slow.”
    He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “When was the la st time I told you I love you?”
    “Last night, in the throes of passion. That’s okay, I’ll take those words any way I can get them.” She took his beer bottle from his hand and leaned into him. “You know what they say when a person stops drinking?”
    “What?”
    “That they need something to take its place.”
    “Really? What did you have in mind?”
    “Sex.”
    He lifted her onto his lap. “Come here.”
    “If I get any closer I’ll fit you like a glove.”
    “Exactly what I had in mind.”
    He moved her hair aside and put his warm lips on the back of her neck, alternating between kissing and licking.
    “Hmm, that is so sexy , ” she said.
    Still kissing her neck, he moved his hands up under the front of her shirt and brushed over her breasts, barely touching but touching enough to send her nerve endings into spasms. She closed her eyes and released a soft moan. “Oh, G od, Ernie, I’m so in love with you. Love me like you’ve never loved me before.”
    “Loving you like that will take a long, long time.” He removed the back sofa cushions and threw them on the floor. “Maybe all evening.”
    “I’m not going anywhere.” She lifted her mouth to his and whispered in his ea r.
    He broke into a raucous belly laugh. “I love when you talk dirty, as i f I needed more encouragement.”
    He moved his kisses to her ear and nibbled on her lobe while he ran his hands up under the back of her