In Search of the Dove Read Online Free PDF Page A

to her, he knew there were too many times lately when he had pushed her awfully hard. It was because he worried about his agents, and she was the only one here at the Aviary who had the same two dozen top-secret clearances as he did. That meant she took the brunt of his frustration when things went badly in the field.
    He’d gotten to musing lately on Carl Jung’s observations about marriage. The psychologist had argued that some pain helped cement that relationship. The comment applied as well to Connie and himself as it did to any couple who were actually married. The two of them had lived through a lot together and were the stronger for it. Today he wanted her to know she was appreciated.
    Fingers that were wrinkled but still graceful lifted the lid of the box. Inside, nestled against black velvet, was an exquisite diamond-and-emerald parrot. When she looked up and saw the not-quite-concealed anxiety on Gordon’s lined face, she forgave him all his harsh words.
    “Do you like it?” he questioned gruffly.
    “It’s remarkable. Where did you ever find it?”
    “Designed it myself and had it made up in New York. You deserve only the best.”
    “Amherst, you shouldn’t have.”
    So the Falcon was coming as close as he ever would to acknowledging that he’d been rather difficult to work with lately. How like him, she thought, to give her a jeweled parrot instead of kind words. But if she were wise, she’d accept the apology graciously.
    She saw him visibly relax and was unable to keep a slight smile from flickering at the corners of her aristocratic mouth.
    Before moving toward the table, the Falcon paused and picked up the two folders he’d set discreetly on the sideboard.
    “Back to business, I see,” Connie observed with a measure of relief as he set down his cane and pulled out the chair opposite her.
    “Yes, Michael Rome hasn’t come up with anything definite in New Orleans, but Jed Prentiss reported in last night from Royale Verde in the Caribbean.”
    Slipping the jewelry box into the pocket of her skirt, she asked, “Has he uncovered something on that end?”
    “He wants us to dig up any information we can on a place down there called the Blackstone Clinic. It’s a private psychiatric sanitarium run by a physician named Jackson Talifero.”
    Connie looked puzzled. “What does a place like that have to do with his assignment?”
    “He’s not sure. But it’s been whispered around the island that something unsavory is going on there.”
    “Like what?”
    Gordon shrugged. “Well, for one thing, the upstanding local people won’t go near the clinic. It seems there’s some sort of voodoo taboo associated with the place.”
    “Voodoo. Now really!”
    “It’s a good way to ensure their privacy.”
    “That won’t keep Jed away.”
    “No, it won’t.”

Chapter Three
    “W hat are you doing down there on the floor, girl, scrubbing like a slave?”
    Jessica’s head snapped around to confront a pair of slender burgundy-hose-clad legs below the hem of a flowing designer dress. Her gaze quickly traveled upward to collide with a smiling fawn-colored face and a pair of familiar mahogany eyes.
    “Simone? Is it really you?” As she spoke she scrambled to her feet.
    “No, Memorex.”
    Jessica laughed. “You always were a smart-ass.”
    The two young women embraced warmly.
    “Let me look at you,” Jessica finally said, inspecting her old friend’s chic clothing, neat chignon, and subtle makeup that brought out her striking looks. Simone was a good six inches taller than Jessica, but her lean figure had filled out in the right places since her adolescent years. “Well, you don’t remind me much of the scrawny little scarecrow who used to chase snapping turtles with me down at the bayou.”
    Simone chuckled. “You do.”
    Jessica glanced down quickly at her smudged white T-shirt and faded jeans.
    “I don’t mean the charwoman costume. Jessica, I’d know you anywhere. But, honey, it sure has been