Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine 03/01/11 Read Online Free PDF

suddenly.
    “Why? The Penny performed perfectly.”
    “She still needs a few adjustments.”
    “What adjustments?”
    “I’m a creative guy. I’ll think of some.”
    “That would be a mistake for both of us,” she said, her mood darkening. “I know I’m no great beauty, Mr. Falk, but I’m not someone to be trifled with either. I’m a wealthy woman and you’re an attractive man who is, how should I put it? A bit casual when it comes to money?”
    “Thank you,” he said.
    “For what?”
    “For the ‘attractive man’ part. As for the rest of it, you’ve got to be kidding. The Cree say that a man who has enough is rich enough. I have more than enough. I live the way I want, put a little aside for a rainy day, and donate a major chunk of my earnings to tribal charities. About half, I think.”
    “You give away half your income?” she echoed, incredulous.
    “I have sins to atone for. And I don’t need it. Every morning, the dawn turns this bay to gold. And in winter, the waters freeze the lakes into a diamond wonderland far as you can see. I don’t give a damn about your money, Aliana. I just want to see you again. To listen to you. And look at you.”
    “Come live with me and be my love?” she said ironically. “In my cabin in the forest?”
    “You’re way ahead of yourself. I was thinking more along the lines of ‘come let me buy you a cheeseburger.’”
    She laughed in spite of herself. “I like cheeseburgers,” she admitted. “And where would we dine? At the local McDonald’s? You, me, and my entourage?”
    “I didn’t say it would be easy.”
    “It’s not possible. Life isn’t poetry, Mr. Falk, especially mine, I—why are you smiling?”
    “Because I don’t believe you, lady. I’ve always understood boats and rifles better than women. But somehow . . . I can read you. The way I can read winds or currents or tracks in the forest. And I think you really want to come back, don’t you?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “It’s not a trick question. Are you happy with your life? Traveling with armed guards, living like a prisoner? Is that what you want?”
    “Americans.” She shook her head. “You think everyone gets to live happily ever after.”
    “It beats the alternative.”
    “I didn’t choose my life,” she said evenly, “it chose me. But I have to live it. I have responsibilities.”
    “To your family, sure. But not necessarily to your father’s business. Trust me, the arms trade won’t grind to a halt if you choose to do something else.”
    “You don’t understand.”
    “I understand better than you think. I had a choice like yours once. I chose to do my duty, for my country and my government. And I killed people in a faraway place and nearly destroyed myself. Take a lesson from my mistakes, Aliana. You can make a different choice.”
    “What choice do I have?”
    “A simple one, I think. You can keep moving, selling more weapons. Or you can step away, and spend time here, with me. And see what happens.”
    “This is crazy,” she said, looking away. “You’re crazy.”
    “Certifiable,” he agreed. “I’ve got papers to prove it. But that wasn’t the question. Do you want to come back, Aliana? Or not?”
    “We have to go, right now,” Deacon said angrily as Luke eased the Penny to the dock. “There’s a watcher in the hills. One of those federal men, probably. This place isn’t safe.”
    “Compared to what?” Aliana snapped, stepping gracefully ashore, slipping on her shoes. “Damascus? Kosovo? Will anyplace ever be safe enough for you, Deacon?”
    “I don’t know, miss, but this place definitely is not. Is something wrong?”
    “This damned boat won’t do at all! Mr. Falk needs to make further adjustments.”
    “I’ll get right on it, miss, ” Luke agreed. “She’ll be ready to try again in a few days.”
    “Out of the question!” Deacon said. “We’re too isolated here, too vulnerable. We can’t come back.”
    “Damn it, Deacon,