The Kiwi Target

dinner?”
    “Yes,” Jenny answered. “Why don’t you wait for me downstairs?”
    He took himself to the bar, where he sat down with a highball.
    He had half expected to find Winston there, but the superintendent was nowhere in sight.
    When Jenny appeared, Peter saw that she had put on a soft flowered dress and done some subtle things with her makeup While they had drinks and dinner together, he sorted out his feelings about her. She had intelligence and natural grace of movement, and she was a genuine beauty. He was captivated by her. He couldn’t help wondering what life would be like if he could spend a good portion of it in her company. He wasn’t at all sure she was available for that—a girl like her had to have scores of friends, including some very special ones. And to her he was, after all, a foreigner.
    After dinner they spent some time with a friendly crowd in the bar. Sometime after ten he glanced at Jenny, knowing she had had a trying day. When she gave him a confirming nod, he excused them both, and together they went upstairs. He unlocked the door of their room and then stepped aside to let her enter. It was a very small thing, but she smiled her thanks and waited while he turned on the lights. “Why don’t you use the bathroom first?” she suggested.
    In response, he took off his coat and tie and hung them up. Then he went in, washed, and prepared himself for bed. “It’s all yours,” he said as he came out.
    As soon as Jenny disappeared, he set out his toilet articles and unpacked the rest of his gear. When he finished, he stepped out of his clothes, snapped off the lights, and climbed into the comfortable bed.
    Time dragged a little then until Jenny came out of the bathroom. She had folded her clothes into a neat little packet, which she put carefully on the end of the dressing table; then she turned and walked toward him. Her naked body, made visible by the moonlight, was flawless.
    He held up the covers for her as she slid into bed beside him. She had come to him just as she was, without coyness or pretense, and he loved her for it.
    She kissed him gently. “Peter, I want you to know something- I just don’t—” He silenced her by laying a finger across her lips. “Please don’t talk about it.”
    He put his arm across her shoulder and felt the creamy smoothness of her back. With his thumb and forefinger he massaged the base of her neck, making tiny circles with gentle pressure. “I like that,” she said. “Do you do that for all your women?”
    He didn’t answer. The lay still together, both aware that they had the long hours of the night to spend with each other. The outside world had withdrawn and left them alone.
    Presently he drew Jenny even closer to him until their two bodies seemed to form a single whole. He ran his hand down the inviting curves of her buttocks, feeling the radiant warmth of their intimacy. When he knew she was ready for him he raised himself on his elbow and slid her under him as the fire within him continued to grow.
    Then he made love to her with all the intensity of his being. He felt no mad rush of passion, only a deep and profound desire to be with her alone and to share equally the growing fulfillment of their union.

CHAPTER 26

    As Theodore Kincaid sat over his breakfast in Auckland, he was reviewing in his mind exactly what his next steps should be. His buying team was on the spot, ready to go to work, but certain matters had to be cleared up first.
    Leaving these matters open in his mind, he returned to his room to get some work done. It took him until almost two in the afternoon. When he finished, he checked out and took a taxi to the airport, where he waited out his short flight to the Bay of Islands.
    It was well into the afternoon when he arrived back at Russell, so he phoned immediately to the MacTavish home. When he had his party, his voice became rich, comforting, and sympathetic. “Mrs. MacTavish, this is Theodore Kincaid. You may recall that I came to see your husband a few days ago.”
    “Aye. I remember.”
    “I don’t want to disturb you at such a time,” he continued, “but despite our short acquaintance, I would like to see your interests protected. For that reason, I would appreciate it if you would allow me to call on you briefly this evening. It is really quite important.”
    “If you wish,” Anne MacTavish answered.
    “Thank you very much; I’ll try to be worthy of your confidence. Would around eight be