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trying to encourage her,” Monk rushed out. “I’m just trying to understand why such a pretty would want to die.”
    â€œOh, I could never kill myself,” she explained. “It would be a sin. Someone else has to do it. Don’t you see?”
    Caine had taken about all he could handle for one evening. He bounded to his feet, upsetting the chair in his haste, then planted the palms of his big hands on the tabletop. “No, I don’t see, but I promise you I’m going to before this night is over. We’re going to start at the beginning. First you’ll begin by telling me your name.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIt’s a little rule I have,” he snapped. “I don’t kill anyone I don’t know. Now tell me your name.”
    â€œIt’s a stupid rule.”
    â€œAnswer me.”
    â€œJade.”
    â€œDamn it, I want your real name!” he commanded in a near roar.
    â€œDamn it, that is my real name,” she replied. She had a thoroughly disgruntled look on her face.
    â€œYou’re serious, aren’t you?”
    â€œOf course, I’m serious. Jade is my name,” she added with a shrug.
    â€œJade’s an unusual name,” he said. “Fitting, though. You’re proving to be a rather unusual woman.”
    â€œYour opinion of me isn’t at all relevant, sir. I hired you to complete an assignment and that is all. Is it customary for you to interview your victims before you do them in?”
    He ignored her glare. “Tell me the rest of your name, or I may strangle you.”
    â€œNo, you mustn’t strangle me,” she replied. “I don’t want to die that way and I am the one doing the hiring, if you’ll remember.”
    â€œWhat way did you have in mind?” he asked. “Oh, hell, never mind. I don’t want to know.”
    â€œBut you have to know,” she argued. “How can you kill me if you don’t know how I want it done?”
    â€œLater,” he interjected. “You may instruct me in the method you’ve chosen later. First things first, Jade. Are your parents waiting at home for you?”
    â€œIt’s doubtful.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThey’re both dead.”
    He closed his eyes and counted to ten. “So you’re all alone?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNo?”
    It was her turn to sigh. “I have a brother. I’m not going to tell you anything more, Pagan. It’s too much of a risk, you see.”
    â€œWhy is it a risk, miss?” Monk asked.
    â€œThe more he knows about me, the more difficult the task will become. I believe it would be very upsetting to kill someone you liked. Don’t you, sir?”
    â€œI ain’t never had to kill someone I liked,” Monk admitted. “As to that, I ain’t never killed anyone. Still, your theory makes sense to me.”
    It took all Caine had not to start bellowing. “Jade, I assure you that won’t be a problem. At this moment, I don’t like you at all.”
    She took a step back. “Well, why not?” she asked. “I haven’t been half as insulting as you have. Are you just a cranky person by nature, Pagan?”
    â€œDon’t call me Pagan.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt’s a danger, miss, if anyone overhears,” Monk blurted out when he saw how infuriated Caine was becoming. The muscle in the side of his jaw had started flexing. Caine had a fierce temper and she was innocently shaking him into a real froth. Why if he let loose, he might very well give her her wish and frighten her to death.
    â€œWhat should I call him then?” she asked the tavernkeeper.
    â€œCaine,” Monk answered with a nod. “You can call him Caine.”
    She let out an inelegant snort. “And he thinks I have an unusual name?”
    Caine reached out and grabbed hold of her chin. He forced her to look at him again. “What is your brother’s