THE SKY IS FALLING BY SIDNEY SHELDON

Dana hated to ask. “And then?”

“The test results indicate that the cancer has spread. Rachel doesn’t want me to leave yet.”

“I see. I don’t mean to sound selfish, but isn’t there someone else who—?”

“She has no one, darling. She’s all alone and panicky. She won’t have anyone else here. I honestly don’t know what Rachel would do if I left.”

And I don’t know what I’m going to do if you stay.

“They want to start chemotherapy immediately.”

“How long will it take?”

“She’ll need a treatment every three weeks for four months.”

Four months.

“Matt has asked me to take a leave of absence. I’m so sorry about all this, honey.”

How did he mean that? Sorry about his job? Sorry about Rachel? Or sorry that our lives are being torn apart? How can I be so selfish? Dana asked herself. The woman may be dying.

“I’m sorry, too,” Dana finally said. “I hope everything turns out all right.” Turns out all right for whom? For Rachel and Jeff? For Jeff and me?

When Jeff put down the phone, he looked up and saw Rachel standing there. She was wearing a nightgown and a robe. She looked lovely, with an almost translucent light about her.

“That was Dana?”

“Yes,” Jeff said.

Rachel moved closer to him. “Poor darling. I know how much this is hurting you both. I—I just couldn’t have gone through all this without you. I needed you, Jeff. I need you now.”

Dana arrived at her office early in the morning and logged on to the Internet again. Two items caught her attention. Separately, they were innocuous, but together, they suggested a mystery.

The first item read: “Vincent Mancino, the Italian minister of commerce, has unexpectedly resigned during trade contract negotiations with Taylor Winthrop, the representative for the United States. Mancino’s assistant, Ivo Vale, took over.”

The second item read: “Taylor Winthrop, special adviser to NATO in Brussels, has asked to be replaced and has returned to his home in Washington.”

Marcel Falcon had resigned, Vincent Mancino had resigned, Taylor Winthrop had quit unexpectedly. Were they connected? Coincidence?

Interesting.

Dana’s first call was to Dominick Romano, who worked for the Italia 1 network in Rome.

“Dana! It’s good to hear from you. What’s up?”

“I’m coming to Rome, and I’d like to talk.”

“Bene! What about?”

Dana hesitated. “I’d rather discuss it when I get there.”

“When are you coming?”

“I’ll be there Saturday.”

“I will bring out the fatted pasta.”

Dana’s next call was to Jean Somville, who was working in Brussels at the press headquarters of NATO on the rue des Chapeliers.

“Jean? Dana Evans.”

“Dana! I haven’t seen you since Sarajevo. Those were some times. You ever going back there?”

She grimaced. “Not if I can help it.”

“What can I do for you, chérie?”

“I’m coming to Brussels in the next few days. Will you be around?”

“For you? Certainly. Something special going on?”

“No,” Dana said quickly.

“Right. You’re just sight-seeing, huh?” There was a skeptical note in his voice.

“Something like that,” Dana said.

He laughed. “I look forward to it. Au revoir.”

“Au revoir.”

“Matt Baker would like to see you.”

“Tell him I’ll be right there, Olivia.”

Two more phone calls and Dana was on her way to Matt’s office.

He said without preamble, “We may have lucked into something. I heard a story last night that might be a clue to what we’re looking for.”

Dana felt her heart quicken. “Yes?”

“There’s a man named”—he consulted a slip of paper on his desk—“Dieter Zander, in Düsseldorf. He was in some kind of business with Taylor Winthrop.”

Dana was listening intently.

“I don’t have the whole story, but apparently something very bad happened between them. They had a violent falling-out, and Zander swore to kill Winthrop. It sounds like it might be worth checking on.”

“It certainly does. I’ll look into it right away, Matt.”

They chatted for a few more minutes, then Dana left.

I wonder how I can find out more about it? She suddenly thought of Jack Stone and FRA. He might know something. She found the private number he had given her and called it.

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