The Kiwi Target

have been any better.”
    “I’m glad to hear that.” Then for a brief moment she hesitated. “Did you talk to Ray O’Malley?”
    “You mean about Jenny. Yes, I did. You’ve heard, then.” Louise inclined her head. “Jenny and I have been close friends for a long time,” she said. “She called me when she’d made up her mind.”
    Peter looked at her carefully, studying the planes and contours on her face. “When was that?” he asked.
    “Just before you left. I was sick about it, Peter, because I knew you cared for her, but I didn’t dare to tell you.”
    ”I’m glad you didn’t,” he reassured her. “Ray explained to me that Jenny and his son had known each other for years, that this hasn’t anything sudden.”
    ”Still, I know it must have hurt you.”
    “Not too badly. I admit I was attracted to her. She’s a stunning girl, and—”
    ”And she was willing to sleep with you,” Louise finished.
    He was glad she knew about that—it made things easier. As if to show that she understood, she put her hand on his for a moment. Then she took a little time to drink her coffee. “Jenny, was very attracted to you, Peter—in fact, you quite bowled her over. Otherwise she never would have shared a room with you. The thing is, she was already close to committed. I think she was testing herself with a very attractive man. Can you understand that?”
    “Of course I can. I’m just grateful she chose me.”
    Louise gave his hand a little squeeze. “Now, tell me all about Wellington: I want to know everything that happened.”
    “A lot of it is about Pricane, which wouldn’t interest you.”
    “Yes, it will. I want to know everything that went on.”
    Peter drank some coffee; then he gave her a condensed account of the meeting in Minister Cooper’s office and the conclusions he had offered. She listened silently but with visible interest. When he had finished, she had a comment. “You were right—I know it. That’s why they attacked us here and I had to shoot two of them.”
    “When I told your father about that, he said to me, ‘I didn’t teach her to miss.’ ”
    “The police were here,” Louise said. “Bill Woodley asked me for a full statement, and I gave him one. He phoned the next day and told me to forget it. He said it was clearly self-defense and the matter was closed. Riley was taken to Christchurch to stand trial for the attempted murder of a policeman. After that, there’s a charge of murder laid against him in Russell.”
    “Then I don’t get to testify that you saved my life?”
    Louise smiled. “I guess not. What kept you so long in Wellington?”
    “It seems I’m still working for the ministry of tourism, and they wanted to discuss some things. They’re giving serious consideration to the idea of a new hotel at the Bay of Islands. There’s a site where it won’t destroy any part of the spectacular scenery and will allow more people to enjoy it. If they do build the hotel, it will be a hundred percent New Zealand operation.”
    “Will you be involved in that?”
    “It’s possible, because they want to appeal to Americans and I’m one of the principal design engineers at Swarthmore and Stone. For the present, though, I’d much rather just stay here.”
    “There’s a lot to do,” Louise said. “Managing a station like this is a big job.”
    She made a show of finishing her coffee, even though it was by then cold. “What will happen to Kincaid?” she asked. “I’m not so sure he’s as innocent as he claimed. He could have ordered the attack on us here. He sounds the kind of man who might do it.”
    “I thought that too,” Peter said, “but however much he was or wasn’t involved, it’s all over now. He’s finished here, and he's finished at Pricane. He’s worse off because he’s been in Brazil for years and doesn’t have any contacts he can turn to in the States. He’ll get something eventually, but he may not have a lot of choices.”
    “Peter, is all big business like that?”
    “Pretty much so, I guess. I’ve had enough of it.”
    “Good! When are you going back to Wellington?”
    “When they send for me. We’ve agreed on a part-time schedule; I’ll go when I’m wanted. Meanwhile, I’m depending on you to teach me the ranching business.”
    Louise, for reasons of her own, changed the topic. “Are you sure you don’t want something to eat?”
    “I’m sure.” He looked around him at the big, airy, well- furnished room, focusing