Free Heat by Francine Pascal Page A

SENSOR
at the window of Eddie's diner. In proper situations the device was a wonder. It could take the tiny vibrations that sound caused in the window and use those vibrations to re-create the original sounds. This was not a proper situation. The noise level inside the place made it nearly impossible to sort one sound from th
e sea of babble
. With some difficulty Loki finally managed to locate the voice of the Moss girl.
    The Moss Situation
    ". . . is Gaia . . . what that means . . . father . . . "
    Loki lowered the device in frustration. It was clear that the girl was discussing Gaia, but he couldn't tell what she was saying. Not even Loki could bug every phone in the city.
    The situation was becoming intolerable. The girl had information about Katia, and she had shared that information with others.
Possibly several others
.
    Loki dropped the laser detector back into his pocket, took out his phone, and pressed a single button.
    "Yes," said an emotionless voice from the other end.
    "We'll have to move faster than expected on the Moss situation," said Loki. "She presents too much potential risk."
    "I understand," replied the flat voice. "Measures will be prepared."
    "You handle the aunt," said Loki. "I'll take care of the girl myself."
    ELLA PICKED UP THE PHONE ON
the first ring. "Yes?"
    Step Two
    "Hi," said the voice from the other end. "This is Sam Moon. Is Gaia there?"
    Ella smiled. Sam was a beautiful boy. Nearly perfect, in Ella's carefully considered opinion. He
was far better than anything that Gaia deserved
. "No, Sam," Ella said sweetly. "I'm afraid Gaia is out."
    "Do you know when she'll be back?"
    "Not until late. She's out on a date with her boyfriend."
    "Oh."
    Ella ran a lacquered nail down the side of the phone. This was working out so well. "Do you want me to take a message?"
    "No. No, I guess not."
    "Should I tell her you called?"
    "No," said Sam. "Thanks."
    The sadness in his voice was absolutely delicious. "You're welcome, dear."
    Ella set the phone back on its hook and brushed her fingers through her scarlet hair. The call couldn't have gone better if she had planned it. Now it was time for step two.

her own heartbeat
    His fingertips pressed into her, pushing her against him.
    "YOU LOOK GREAT."
    Ella Wear
    Gaia squinted at the image in the mirror. "I look ridiculous."
    Mary rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding?" She moved around Gaia, inspecting her dress from all angles. "I wish I looked half as good as you."
    Gaia tugged at the top of the dress. "Half my size is more like it. This thing might fit you, but it's
way
too small for me."
    "Are you nuts? It's a perfect fit."
    Gaia turned away from the mirror in disgust. "Okay, you've seen me wear the dress. You have to know I can't go out in this thing."
    "All I know is that it fits great, you look great, and you should wear it."
Mary flipped back her red hair
and studied Gaia for a moment. "But if you're too scared--"
    "I'm not scared," Gaia said between gritted teeth. "Being scared has nothing to do with it."
    Mary nodded. "You just don't want to be embarrassed."
    "Exactly."
    "You're afraid somebody will make fun of you."
    "Right . . . I mean, no." Gaia drew in a deep breath and blew it out through her mouth. "I am not afraid."
    "Good," Mary replied brightly. "Then you won't mind wearing the dress."
    Gaia lowered her face into her hands and shook
    her head. She wondered if being
a sociopathic loner
was really such a bad thing. On her own, she managed to get into fights only with armed criminals. Somehow that didn't seem nearly as disastrous as wearing this dress out in public. "Please tell me we're going somewhere that nobody knows me."
    "Absolutely."
    Gaia raised her head. "And we'll never go there again."
    Mary shrugged. "If that's what you want. Wait till you get there before you decide something like that."
    "Then all right, I may be crazy, but I'll wear the dress." Gaia went to the closet, pulled out her longest coat, and pulled it over the snug