"You first, darling. I want to watch you get un dressed. It excites me."
"Oh? Well, sure."
As Kat stood there watching, Mallory slowly took his clothes off. First his jacket, then his shirt and tie, then his shoes and stockings, and then his trousers. He had the firm figure of an athlete.
"Does this excite you, baby?"
"Oh, yes. Now take off your shorts."
Slowly Mallory let his shorts fall to the floor. He had a turgid erection.
"That's beautiful," Kat said.
"Now it's your turn."
"Right."
And at that moment, Kat's beeper went off.
Mallory was startled. "What the hell . . .?"
"They're calling me," Kat said. "May I use your telephone?"
"Now?"
"Yes. It must be an emergency."
'Wow? Can't it wait?"
"Darling, you know the rules."
"But . . ."
As Mallory watched, Kat walked over to the telephone and dialed a number. "Dr. Hunter." She listened. "Really? Of course. I'll be right there."
Mallory was staring at her, stupefied. "What's going on?"
"I have to get back to the hospital, angel."
"Now?"
"Yes. One of my patients is dying."
"Can't he wait until . . . ?"
"I'm sorry. We'll do this another night."
Ken Mallory stood there, buck naked, watching Kat walk out of his apartment, and as the door closed behind her, he picked up her drink and slammed it into the wall. Bitch . . . bitch . . . bitch . . .
When Kat got back to the apartment, Paige and Honey were eagerly waiting for her.
"How did it go?" Paige asked. "Was I on time?"
Kat laughed. "Your timing was perfect."
She began to describe the evening. When she came to the part about Mallory standing in the bedroom naked, with an erection, they laughed until tears came to their eyes.
Kat was tempted to tell them how enjoyable she really found Ken Mallory, but she felt foolish. After all, he was seeing her only so he could win a bet.
Somehow, Paige seemed to sense how Kat felt. "Be careful of him, Kat."
Kat smiled. "Don't worry. But I will admit that if I didn't know about that bet ... He's a snake, but he gives good snake oil."
"When are you going to see him again?" Honey asked.
"I'm going to give him a week to cool off." Paige was studying her. "Him or you?"
Dinetto's black limousine was waiting outside the hospital for Kat. This time, the Shadow was alone. Kat wished that Rhino were there. There was something about the Shadow that petrified her. He never smiled and seldom spoke, but he exuded menace.
"Get in," he said as Kat approached the car.
"Look," Kat said indignantly, "you tell Mr. Dinetto that he can't order me around. I don't work for him. Just because I did him a favor once ..."
"Get in. You can tell him yourself."
Kat hesitated. It would be easy to walk away and not get involved any further, but how would it affect Mike? Kat got into the car.
The victim this time had been badly beaten, whipped with a chain. Lou Dinetto was there with him.
Kat took one look at the patient and said, "You've got to get him to a hospital right away."
"Kat," Dinetto said, "you have to treat him here."
"Why?" Kat demanded. But she knew the answer, and it terrified her.
Chapter Eighteen
It was one of those clear days in San Francisco when there was a magic in the air. The night wind had swept away the rainclouds, producing a crisp, sunny Sunday morning.
Jason had arranged to pick up Paige at the apartment. When he arrived, Paige was surprised at how pleased she was to see him.
''Good morning,'' Jason said. ' 'You look beautiful.''
"Thank you."
"What would you like to do today?"
Paige said, "It's your town. You lead, I'll follow."
"Fair enough."
"If you don't mind," Paige said, "I'd like to make a quick stop at the hospital."
"I thought this was your day off."
"It is, but there's a patient I'm concerned about."
"No problem." Jason drove her to the hospital.
"I won't be long," Paige promised as she got out of the car.
"I'll wait for you here."
Paige went up to the third floor and into Jimmy Ford's room. He was still in a coma, attached to an array of tubes feeding him intravenously.
A nurse was in the room. She looked up as Paige entered. "Good morning, Dr. Taylor."
"Good morning." Paige walked over to the boy's bedside. "Has there been any change?"
"I'm afraid not."
Paige felt Jimmy's pulse and listened to his heartbeat.
"It's been several weeks now," the nurse said. "It doesn't look good, does it?"
"He's going to come out of it," Paige said firmly. She turned to the unconscious figure on the bed and raised her voice. "Do you hear me? You're going to get well!" There was no reaction. She closed her eyes a moment and said a silent prayer. "Have them beep me at once if there's any change."
"Yes, doctor."
He's not going to die, Paige thought. I'm not going to let him die. . . .
Jason got out of the car as Paige approached. "Is everything all right?"
There was no point in burdening him with her problems. "Everything's fine," Paige said.
"Let's play real tourists today," Jason said. "There's a state law that all tours have to start at Fisherman's Wharf."