"What if they tried?" she persisted.

"If they could extract a pronuclear human embryo, and if it survived the mechanical insertion of the plasmid, and if it could be reimplanted, and if the plasmid integrated the foreign genetic material successfully into the DNA, then yes, they could have pulled it off. But it's not therapeutic. It's Frankenstein stuff." At her blank look, he added. "We didn't know enough about DNA in those days to do something like this. The kids would have been born with two heads or one eye."

Alex nodded and got to her feet. "Thanks, Charlie. I appreciate it."

He collected the charts, but before he handed them to her, he sighed. "If you don't believe me, find one of these kids and profile their DNA and their parents'. If by some snowball in hell's chance someone did successfully fiddle with their genes, it'll show when you compare the comparative results."

"I would. Charlie," she said slowly, "but all of these kids are orphans, remember? No parents."

Charlie walked her out of the office and to the limo waiting in the parking lot. He eyed it and whistled. "Very nice ride. You traded up."

Alex took one of his hands in hers, the left hand, and she gently rubbed her thumb over the plain gold wedding band he wore. "I loved you. Charlie, but I wasn't in love with you. I missed you, though. And I apologize for what I put you through after I left."

"Al." He curled a hand around her neck. "Wouldn't it be great if we could go back and do everything all over again?"

"We can't, and it's for the best." She made a face. "I'd have made you a terrible wife. Doctors should never marry doctors. And if we'd had kids, they probably would have come out with two heads or one eye."

He gave her a startled look. "Alex, you never said this was about you."

"It isn't anymore. It's about my brother, and trying to keep him from going off the deep end, and… another train wreck in progress." She stood on tiptoe to brush her lips against his. At the same time she concentrated, and the air around them grew heavy with the scent of lavender. "Charlie?"

"Hmmmmm?" He looked at her, dazed.

Alex took in a deep breath. "I want you to forget about me now. Be happy with Kimberly and your new baby. Be good to them, the way you were to me."

"Forget," he repeated. "Happy. Good."

"Good-bye, Charlie." Alex got into the limo and sat back, closing her eyes. She wanted to cry, but all she felt was numb. "Take me to Jaus's."

"Are you sure that is where you wish to go?"

Alex turned to look at Michael. "You were supposed to let me do this alone."

"I did. You did not say anything about the ride back to the hall." He eased his arm around her. "He seems like a very nice man, your friend."

"He is. But he's not you, and now that I've doused him with l'attrait, he'll probably never think of me again." She gave him a wobbly smile. "Don't worry, baby. I'm still yours."

"I know that. Just as I knew that what you did for your friend was not an easy thing." He rubbed his thumb against her soft cheek. "Sometimes you have so much courage that you terrify me. And you make me so proud. That is why I am in the limo."

"I'm glad." She snuggled against him.

* * *

Chapter 20

It took six hours to return to Chicago. When they arrived at O'Hare. Valentin directed Wilhelm to escort Melanie Wallace to a hotel.

"As soon as we have confirmed that there will be no danger to you," he told her. "you can return to Florida."

"My parents live in Ohio," she said. "I think I'll rent a car and go spend spring break with them." She smiled and gave him a quick hug. "I really appreciate everything you've done for me. Mr. Jaus."

Valentin took Liling directly from the airport to Derabend Hall. Lights blazed from every window, and every member of his guard lined the long drive, each holding a blazing torch. But when the car stopped at the front of the mansion, everyone stood back, and only one man came to the car.

Gregor walked slowly, dignity making his lined face look stern, and stopped to bow low before Valentin. "Welcome home, my lord."

"It is good to be home, old friend."

A tear wound its way down the tresora's wrinkled cheek, and then he stepped forward and embraced Valentin like a son.

"You cannot fly anymore, master," the elderly tresora told him. "My heart will not stand the strain."

"I was not worried." Jaus kissed Gregor's brow. "I knew you would see to everything."

"Oh, Wilhelm handled the emergency and the visit by the seigneur and the search for your plane flawlessly," he told Jaus. "I mostly sat in my room and cried like a baby until they found you." He beamed at his grandson before adding in a low voice. "I think it is time the boy took his place among your household. He will serve you well."

Valentin shared a smile with Wilhelm. "He has been trained by a master." He turned to Liling. "Liling, this is my tresora and very good friend, Gregor Sacher. Gregor, may I present my sygkenis, Liling Harper."

Sacher's jowls sagged, and then tightened as he produced a wide grin. "My lady." He offered her a stiff bow. "You are very welcome here." He looked over the cap and clothes she had borrowed from the search-and-rescue team. "May I escort you to your bedchamber so that you may freshen up and rest a bit?"

Liling glanced at Valentin, who nodded, then smiled shyly and took the old man's arm.

Alexandra Keller appeared and hugged Valentin. "A sygkenis, huh? Whom you found after you crashed the plane in the middle of nowhere, or before?"

"She was on the plane with me," he told her, and turned to take Michael Cyprien's hand. He found himself pulled forward and hugged again. "Such affectionate greetings. I shall have to disappear more often."

"I told Gregor that if you even drove near an airport again. I'd fly up just to personally kick your ass," Alex informed him.

Valentin laughed. "Perhaps I will buy a railroad." He turned to Michael. "If you have a few moments, Seigneur, we have much to discuss." He glanced at Alexandra.

"You don't have to have anyone whisk me off to the gardens this time, Val," she told him. "I've got a patient to check on." She kissed his cheek and whispered loudly. "But I get to meet the beautiful life companion later, right?"

As the three walked into the mansion, Wilhelm removed two suitcases from the trunk of the limousine. He took the one containing Jaus's ruined clothing out to the trash bin behind the garage and emptied it into one of the cans. A splash of water startled him for a moment: then he chuckled and shook his head before returning to the main house.

The can rocked slightly as the water inside it defied gravity, streaking upward and over the rim. It gathered in a large pool next to the can and streamed, unnoticed, through the seams and cracks in the stone-paved drive.

Archbishop Hightower was so upset that he couldn't eat, sleep, or rest. He went out into the church and ignored the pain of his swollen legs and aching back as he knelt before the altar railing, folding his hands. He did not pray.

Prayer was for the weak. He had to think of how to explain the girl's death to D'Orio.

"Your Grace." His housekeeper appeared, a tray of his favorite sandwiches in her hands. "I don't mean to interrupt you while you're communing with Him, but you have to eat sometime."

"I told you—" He slopped as the shouted words echoed in the empty sanctuary. In a more moderate voice, he said. "Forgive me, Mrs. Murphy. I will have something later."

"I'll leave them in your office." She glanced around. "Father Cabreri still hasn't returned? Would you like me to stay?"

"No, go home to your husband," he told her. "I will see you tomorrow."

"Good night, Your Grace."

Hightower brooded another hour after the old woman left, and then retreated to his office. He sat down on the love seat reserved for visitors, reaching over with a grunt to take one of the sandwiches from the tray. He munched on the smoked ham and imported Swiss as he considered what D'Orio would do when they failed to deliver the girl.

He couldn't give her to Rome, not when the cardinal remained ignorant of the red swan's true ability. She had been living free for years; even after the years of conditioning the odds that she would behave obediently were next to nothing. He didn't regret the careful editing he had performed on her reports, however. She had been one of his special lambs, and if she hadn't faked her death and escaped, her abilities might have helped propel him to his proper place in the order.

Still, there were others, and for all his machinations D'Orio would never be able to cope with the coming apocalypse. When the proper time arrived, August knew he would have no trouble taking over control of the order.

The desk phone rang, and Hightower almost fell over trying to grab it. "St. Luke's."

"I planted a locator on the maledicti" Melanie Wallace said. "I have the address of his stronghold. There are dozens of maledicti there."

"You are to remove the girl and bring her to me." Hightower saw Cabreri in the doorway, out of the corner of his eye, and waved him in. "My men will exterminate the nest. Give me the location."

"I can't bring the girl to you. The maledicti have turned her," Wallace said. "She is contaminated now and of no use to us."

They had turned her? Hightower's mind raced. "What I do with the red swan is none of your concern. Where are you? Tell me."

"Good-bye, Your Grace," the girl said, and hung up.

"Wallace? Wallace!" With a curse he threw the phone across the desk. He turned to Cabreri. "I want you to trace that call. Don't just stand there."

Cabreri tried to speak, and then fell forward as an electrical sound buzzed in the air. The double prongs of a Taser protruded from between his shoulder blades.