"Father, what was that all about?"

"I don't know, Scott. I just got a really bad feeling. Contact Agent Twelve."

Scott nodded and flipped open his cell phone. He dialed the number and let it ring. But all he got was voice mail. "He's not answering, Dad."

"You said he was staking out the house."

"Yes. I talked to him not an hour ago."

"I thought that blood looked fresh. Where was his vantage point?"

"He didn't say, Dad. I don't get your train of thought."

"If he were still on the stakeout, he'd have answered his phone. And if he'd seen someone murder the Micheners, he'd have called you."

"Yeah, you'd think. Unless maybe he didn't see it."

"But he would've seen us. He knew we were coming this morning, didn't he?"

"Yes," Scott said, realization dawning. "Yes, he did. He would've been watching."

"And he would've come out to join us. He was supposed to do that, I gave him the order myself."

"I didn't even realize he wasn't there, Father. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, son," Jeff said, squeezing Scott's leg briefly. "I just got a really bad feeling out there."

"You think the killer was still around?"

Jeff shook his head, his gaze fixed on some random point in front of him. "I don't know. But I wasn't about to wait to find out."

They had breakfast at a small café on Main Street, then spent about an hour walking the town, ostensibly searching for antiques, but in actuality waiting to hear any news from Tracy Island about what had happened. Virgil was monitoring all the local Long Island frequencies, and was to report as soon as he heard so much as a peep about the double murder. But each check-in came and went with no news, and Scott and Jeff soon found themselves standing in front of the same café at lunch time.

"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to check in to a motel out here," Jeff said as they were seated at an outside table. "I don't want to leave until I know who killed the Micheners and why."

"What are you thinking, Dad?" Scott asked as Jeff looked across the street. All color drained from his face as his jaw dropped. "Dad?" Scott followed his father's line of sight, but there were at least a dozen people where his eyes landed. He looked back at Jeff, who had risen to his feet. "Dad, what is it? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

Jeff looked down at his son. "I...I may have, at that." His eyes returned back to whatever he was looking at. Scott stood and tried once again to figure out what or who he was looking at, but couldn't. Jeff dropped the napkin he'd been holding to the table. "I'll be right back."

"You'll what? Where are you going?"

"Scott, just stay here. And keep your eyes open." With that, Jeff Tracy walked out the ornate wrought iron gate onto the sidewalk. He looked both ways before loping across the street.

Scott walked up to the edge of the low fence surrounding the café's outdoor patio and watched as his father hit the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street and kept jogging along, his eyes most definitely on a target. And this time, Scott realized exactly what that target was.

"My God, it can't be," he breathed. "It just can't be."

Jeff didn't believe it. His eyes had to be deceiving him. He kept them on her, though, refusing to even blink lest she disappear when he reopened them. To his surprise, she suddenly turned left, walking through a small, black wrought iron gate and up the front walk of a large, two-story blue house. It looked pretty old, perhaps one of the town's originals. He stopped in front of the gate, watching as she turned the key in the lock.

"Jenny?" he said. The woman froze. "Jenny, is that you?"

She turned slowly to face him. Though her hair and eyes were now dark brown, there was no mistaking the face. Her mouth formed a perfect O as she took in the man at the end of her walk. "Jeff?"

Jeff smiled and unlatched the gate, walking through and letting it swing closed behind him. "I thought it was you."

"What are you doing here?"

"We're here on business. What are you...is this where you relocated to?"

She nodded, smiling as he approached. "I never thought I'd see you again."

"Me too," he replied, walking up the steps.

"Come in," she offered, opening the door for him. He turned and backed in, never taking his eyes from her. She had to smile. Evidently, whatever it had been was still there, even after nearly a year.

"I like you with dark hair," he commented as she closed and locked the door behind her. "You...live here alone?"

She nodded, hanging the keys up by the door and depositing her purse on a nearby table. She brushed past him and placed her bag of groceries on the counter in the kitchen, him following her all the way. "So what brings you to Greenport, Jeff?"

But instead of an answer, she felt his hand on her shoulder. Slowly he turned her around so they were face-to-face. "Jenny," he whispered. He leaned in and touched his lips to hers, softly reclaiming the last moment they'd shared together. Her hands raised to his chest, then snaked up around his neck as her mouth opened to allow him access. Many long minutes passed as they deepened the kiss, pressing into one another so hard there wasn't a millimeter of space left between them.

Finally the need for oxygen made them pull away, gasping for breath. "Jeff," she breathed. "You know you shouldn't be here."

"Kyrano says everything happens for a reason," he argued softly. "I wouldn't be here now if there wasn't a reason."

She smiled and grasped his hand. Looking back at him, taking in the look on his face, his shining eyes and his broad grin, she knew she was doing the right thing. And without another thought on the matter, she silently led him up the stairs to her room.

Scott frowned as Virgil called in for the fourth time since their father had disappeared into the blue house. Finally he could take it no longer. "She's here, Virg," he said just as Virgil was about to sign off.

"Who is?"

"Jenny," he whispered. He was in the back of the limo, and the soundproof wall was up between him and the chauffer, but still he was taking no chances.

"You're kidding. In Greenport?"

"Yes. I didn't believe my own eyes, but from the look on Dad's face and how he took off down the street after her...and...well, he's been in her house for over an hour now."

"He what? Are you sure he's okay?"

"I buzzed his watch once. I got the DND sign."

Virgil laughed out loud, a hearty sound that just made Scott burst out laughing as well. "Whoa-ho-hoa, go, Dad!" Virgil guffawed.

"Now, stop it, Virg. You know it's dangerous for them to be together. I've been sitting out here in a parking lot with a bird's eye view of the house since he left our table."

"Any activity?"

"Not on the outside," Scott replied sarcastically. "You know, it somehow seems unfair that he's getting some while I'm sitting out here in the limo with—"

"Your thumb up your ass?"

Scott narrowed his eyes as Virgil chuckled and raised his hands in mock surrender. "Listen, you, I have to return back to the island some time."

"Mercy, mercy!" Virgil grinned. Then his face became serious. "You know what I don't like?"

"That you're not here getting any either?"

He shook his head, the moment of mirth gone. "No. That the man we pegged as one of the Hood's spies is dead, that we can't get hold of Agent Twelve, that there hasn't been a single word on any frequency about the Micheners and that Jennifer North just happens to be in the same town as all that."

Scott looked back up at the house. "You have a point. I have half a mind to go back out there myself."

"What, to the house? What if the murderer is still there?"

"Why would he stick around?"

"In case you two came back."

"What are you getting at, Virg?"

"I have a bad feeling in my gut. And just a few moments ago, Kyrano asked me to caution you two. I guess he's got a bad feeling, too."

"You think the Hood's here?"

"Well, Dad obviously thought something was pretty wrong out there given how you told me he had you high-tail it off the scene."

Scott nodded thoughtfully. "I would hate to break up Dad's little reunion, but you may be on to something."

"If you interrupt him, he might very well kill you."

"Yeah, I know. But if I don't, he might be the one who ends up getting killed."

"I'm so glad you're here."

"So am I," he smiled, kissing her as he pulled the sheets up over their bodies. Several minutes passed before they both came up for air.

"Man, can you kiss," she said, running her hands through his hair.

"Guess the old man hasn't lost it, huh?"

"Old man, my ass. You're better than most men half your age."

He laughed out loud, then his face became serious. "I haven't forgotten you."

"Nor I, you. Why do you think I'm still single?" she teased as he gathered her in his arms.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you across the street. I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me."

"Well, I'm awfully glad it wasn't." Jeff sighed, burying his face in her long, dark hair. "Tell me how things are going," she said softly. "Your family, the company...International Rescue."

He pulled her closer, nuzzling her neck. "Oh, busy as hell."

"How have you done rooting out the spies?"

"Slow going, but we've got twenty-three out already. In fact, that's why we're here in town, to get rid of another one."

"What?" she asked, alarmed. "One of his spies is here? In Greenport?"

"I'm afraid so. Or, at least, he was. Before he was murdered."

She whipped around in his arms, eyes looking wildly into his. "Murdered?" she squeaked.

"Yes. At least, I'm guessing it was murder. Howie Michener and his wife. Scott and I headed to their home at eight this morning. When we got there, we saw them through a front window, dead on their living room floor."

"Oh, no."

"Yes. And we can't locate our agent who was keeping an eye on Michener for us."

"Jeff, you don't think..." she breathed, closing her eyes and throwing herself back onto a pillow. "My God, you don't think it's him, do you?" Her eyes opened wide. "What if he's found me?" she asked, body tensing as she raised up on one elbow to look into his eyes. "What if he knows I'm here? Does he know you'rehere?"

"Now, Jenny, we don't even know that it has anything to do with the Hood."

"No, but it's a damn coincidence, isn't it? You finding Michener, coming all the way out here only to find he's been killed. Then your missing agent and all this just happens to occur where I'm living?"

"Well, I had thought of that, now that you mention it."

"Oh, Jeff, you don't think...I mean...you don't think I have anything to do with this."

He reached out and gathered her in his arms. "If I thought that, I wouldn't be lying naked in bed with you," he said.

"Mmm," she moaned as he nibbled his way from her ear down her neck to her shoulder. "I guess not."

At that moment, a funny sound was heard by both. "What the hell is that?" she asked, startled.

Jeff growled in frustration. "My wrist comm. Hang on a minute." He rolled over and grabbed his watch off the nightstand. "What, Scott?" he answered, his tone of voice leaving no doubt as to the degree to which he was annoyed.

"Father, I'm sorry to disturb you. Virg and I debated, but I just had to."

Jenny watched in amazement. She'd never seen someone talk into a watch before.

"Why? What's going on?"

"Well, I've been out here in the limo since you followed...well, it is Jenny, isn't it?"

Jeff had the decency to turn a bit red as he nodded. "Yes. It's Jenny. What about it?"

"Oh, nothing, Father. It's just that I've been sitting out here not doing a damn thing, and Virgil hasn't heard spit about the murders. I want to go back out there."

"You what? No way, Scott."

"But Dad, what about Agent Twelve? None of us can get hold of him, and you can't tell me if the murders had been normal run-of-the-mill murders that the whole eastern end of Long Island wouldn't know by now. Why the hush-hush?"

Jeff sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You and Jenny are thinking along exactly the same lines, I'll bet."

"The Hood?"

He nodded. "And if that bastard is here, then he probably knows we are."

"And if he knows we are," Scott said grimly, "then he knows she is."

Jenny's frightened face turned toward him. "Yes," he said. "I think for right now we have to assume that might be the case."

"Then you two need to get out of there, and now," Scott said. "I'll have the driver pull right up to the front sidewalk."

"No," Jenny said. "There's an alley around back. The back door is only about six feet from it."

"Right," Jeff told Scott. "Pull up in back. We'll be out in ten minutes."

As the channel closed, Jeff turned and grabbed Jenny's arm just as she was about to hop out of bed. "I'm not letting you go again," he said. "I can't, Jenny."

She smiled. "You're taking an awful big risk."

"No," he replied. "It's time you stopped running. I'm not letting that sonofabitch have control over my life anymore."

"Your life?"

"You're damn right, my life." Jeff reached over and grabbed his underwear and pants, pulling them on quickly. Then came the socks and shoes and finally the shirt. When he turned, he saw that Jenny had quickly pulled on a skirt and sweater, toeing into shoes and tying her hair back into a ponytail.

"I've got to pack some clothes at least," she said.

"No," he shook his head as he secured his watch around his left wrist. "We've got to go now. I'll buy you whatever you need later."

She nodded and took his hand. They'd made it halfway down the steps when they realized they weren't alone in the house. Jeff motioned for her to move back up to the second floor. He hadn't anything to use as a weapon, but he knew he couldn't just wait for whomever it was to find them first. Slowly he made his way down the steps. He peered around to the left, but found the sitting room empty. So he stole into the small hall and looked into the living room. Again, empty.

He made his way down the hall and looked in the room to the right. The dining room. It, too, was empty. That left only the kitchen, straight ahead. Taking a deep breath, Jeff was about to inch closer to its doorway when a man dressed all in black from head to toe jumped out at him. They struggled for a moment as Jeff tried to wrestle him to the floor, but the man wriggled free and raced out the front door.

"Scott!" Jeff yelled into his watch. "Where are you?"

"Just pulling up around back, why?"

"Jenny, come on! Now!" She came running down the steps and took his outstretched hand. "Scott, open the door!"

They banged out the back screen door just as Scott got the limo's door open for them. They piled in and Scott slammed the door shut. "Step on it!" he said to the chauffer. "What the hell happened, Dad?"

"Someone was in the house. He attacked me, then ran out the front."

"Did you recognize him?"

Jeff shook his head as Jenny grabbed his hand tightly. "No, he was wearing a ski mask. Couldn't see a thing."

"Shit," Scott swore, looking over at Jenny then back to his dad. "Then I guess our assumption has just panned out into a full-blown fact." He turned his attention to Jenny only. "Miss North, I'm afraid you've been compromised."