Falling Awake

anything of interest.”
    This was getting a little weird. “You followed me to ask me that?”
    “You can’t blame me for being curious after the way you disappeared so suddenly today.”
    “I didn’t disappear,” Gavin muttered. “I just decided to take some time off.”
    “You told your colleagues that you were ill.”
    “So sue me. I got plenty of sick time coming.”
    “One of the people in your department overheard you making some calls before you left the center. He said it sounded like you were trying to locate Isabel Wright.”
    “We’re friends, me and Isabel,” he said. “Just thought I’d stop in and say hello while I’m in town, that’s all.”

    “I didn’t realize you and Isabel were that close.”
    “Look, I don’t know what this is about, but it’s late and I’m planning to get up early.”
    “You did find something on Martin Belvedere’s computer, didn’t you? I thought so. It was the only explanation that made sense.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was ordered to wipe that hard drive.” He could feel himself starting to sweat again. “I didn’t steal anything, if that’s what you’re trying to say.”
    “You misunderstand. I’m not accusing you of stealing company data. I just want to know what you found and why you came here to talk to Isabel Wright. There must be some connection. Otherwise it doesn’t make sense for you to go out of your way to stop off in Roxanna Beach. It’s not exactly on the road to Las Vegas, is it?”
    “My reasons for being here are none of your business. This is personal.”
    “I’m willing to pay for whatever information you found, Gavin.”
    Excitement swamped his growing unease. “Yeah? Well, hell, why didn’t you say that in the first place? What kind of money are we talking?”
    “First tell me what you’ve got. Then I’ll tell you what it’s worth to me.”
    “E-mail contact information for old man Belvedere’s three anonymous accounts.” He waited anxiously to see if that generated any interest.
    “I’m impressed. I would very much like to have thatinformation. I’ve got a few hundred in cash on me but if we can find an ATM I could make it an even thousand. I know that’s not a lot but it’s all I can come up with tonight. Unless you want to wait until the banks open tomorrow?”
    Gavin calculated quickly. The bright lights of Las Vegas were calling. No reason he couldn’t sell the information twice tonight, maybe double his profits. And no need for either client to know about the other.
    This was one of those win-win situations.
    “There’s an ATM down the street at that gas station on the corner,” he said. “I noticed it this afternoon when I filled up my car.”
    “Fine. I’ll drive over and get the money. It would probably be best if we weren’t seen together. Why don’t you go back to your motel room? I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”
    “Suit yourself.”
    Las Vegas, here I come.

15
    e llis knew he was dreaming. There was nothing unusual about that. He was a Level Five lucid dreamer, after all. He even recognized this particular dreamscape. But there was something different about it tonight. . . .
He stands in the center of the circular room. The ceiling is transparent. He can see the night sky through it. High, gothic-style entrances to dozens of darkened halls ring the space.
    Tango Dancer comes toward him from one of the many corridors. He wants to make love to her more than he has ever wanted anything in his adult life. But he is afraid that afterward she will walk away from him and vanish into one of the mysterious halls.
    She glides into the circular room, smiling a feminine invitation that makes him ache with desire. She stops in the shadows.Raising one hand, she beckons him with a graceful curl of her fingertips.
    He does not move. He knows that if he stays where he is she cannot see him clearly. It is better that way.
    “Are you afraid of me?” she asks.
    “No,” he says. “I’m afraid of wanting you this much.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know,” he lies.
    “Yes you do. You think that I will leave you.”
    “Everyone leaves.”
    “Will you let that stop you from touching me?”
    “No.” But a great despair and anger well up inside him because he knows what will happen. She will demand more than he can risk giving her. She will want to see him, really see him. She will want to get very close and he cannot allow that. He has a rule about letting