Jessica was sitting by his feet when he opened his eyes. She was propping a large gun on her forearm aimed at his head. The smile was gone and the voice was no longer sultry and smoky, it was hard. She wanted the package and she wanted it right away.

Jeff sat up, his nerves jangling over the gun. He started to speak when the bedroom door flew open and Donald Carver burst in carrying an even larger gun. Jessica swung around and started to get up but Carver pointed the gun at her and fired, blowing away the beautiful eyes and showering Jeff in warm, sticky blood.

He jerked awake with a yelp and gaped about the room; he was alone. The sheets were soaked in sweat but he was alone and the nightmare was over. He got out of bed and staggered to the bathroom. The money was still in the heat duct and he leaned on the sink, shuddering at the remembered images in his dream.

What the hell had prompted that? Washed and shaved, he began to feel a little better and after a steaming cup of coffee and a couple of slices of toast he felt better still. With a second coffee, Jeff sat down in his living room and began organizing events and options in his mind.

He started with the first encounter with Jessica and after a minute he was feeling emptiness in the pit of his stomach. He recalled how he blathered on about himself, his personal bits of business spilling out with each twitch of her smile. She knew his name and it wouldn't take a genius to track him down.

He got out his phone book and looked himself up, disheartened to see of the nine Bowens listed, only two with the initial J lived remotely close enough to be strolling daily on the boardwalk. Jessica could learn his address with ease. Maybe she already had. Maybe she was watching him now.

He carried his coffee to the window and stared down at the street feeling stupid and helpless. He turned his thoughts to Carver and racked his brain for any clues he might have picked up subconsciously and addressing the room aloud. "He had been wearing a dressing gown with what looked like sweat pants, maybe pyjamas. I'd arrived around eleven. Kind of late to still be in bed. Of course! He must have come in late the night before, after we were in the apartment. The license!"

Jeff fumbled through his wallet and took out the license with his photo pasted onto it. Immediately he plucked his picture free and worried the gum residue away with his thumb. Donald Carver was forty-nine, five foot ten and one half inches tall and weighed one hundred and sixty eight pounds with blue eyes and longish black hair. Jeff shook his head at how the hotel had so readily accepted the fraud when they weren't remotely alike.

Jeff's hair was short and seeded with grey, he was over six feet by a little and he weighed at least ten pounds more, not only that, his eyes were brown. Why hadn't she met him as arranged? The coffee had grown cold and he went to the kitchen, poured it down the drain and rinsed the mug. All he knew for certain was that Jessica could find out where he lived in a heartbeat.

Slumping back into the sofa in the living room, Jeff shook his head and cursed aloud. "So what if she found me? I did what she asked. I don't have to mention going to Carver's or even knowing about him. Let her find me, I'll give her the package and good riddance." She'll see that I've opened it. He got up and took out his jacket. "What the hell, I'll go down to the boardwalk and have a look around."

********

The lake was a dirty grey with darker shadows huddling beneath the wavelets that rolled up to the stony shore. Several dogs were romping around on the sand, oblivious to their owner's shouted commands. A huge black Labrador galloped into the water and out again, shaking a shower's worth of water on the woman trying to corral it.

Ducks bobbed like decoys out beyond the breakwater, occasionally tipping upside down with their feathered bottoms in the air. Jeff wandered along to his favourite bench and paused, deciding to lean on the railing instead. He gave a quick scan in both directions, not really expecting to see her and wasn't surprised when he didn't.

The morning sun ducked in and out of some low, stringy clouds and he held his face up to it with his eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the water, the birds, the dogs and their frustrated owners. Time passed without notice and he was almost asleep standing with his face to the sun.

"Hello . . . Mike, enjoying the day?" The name didn't register at first but the voice did. He opened his eyes and turned to find Jessica staring at him from only inches away. Mike was the name he'd hurriedly given Carver. How did she know it? "Been a busy fella haven't you?"

"Where were you? Why didn't you meet like we planned?" He backed up slightly and leaned his elbows on the rail behind him.

"Plan changed. What were you doing at Carver's?"

"Looking for you. You said that was where you lived, right? How did you know I was there?"

He caught a glimpse of something passing behind her eyes and she didn't answer right away. "The package is safe by the way, in case you're worried."

"You shouldn't have gone there." She sighed and rested her arms against the rail, staring out over the water.

"Well pardon me for trying to do the right thing. How did you know I did? What changed that you couldn't meet like we said?"

He turned around to face the same way, their shoulders just touching.

"You don't want to know any more about this, Jeff. Just let me get the package and we'll say goodbye. It was really nice meeting you but−"

"Oh bullshit. You planned on using me from the get go so don't start with the nice to have met you crap." His throat seized and he had to wait before continuing. "I'm a pretty big boy, Jessica; I can handle a little embarrassment. It's the deceit that's harder to swallow."

"I didn't intend to- to . . . " She sighed again and pushed away from the rail. "Let's just get the package."

"Fine." He walked away and she started to follow. "No way. You stay here and I'll bring it back, I don't need you in any more of my life than you are."

Jessica slumped back against the rail silently.

********

She stood by park bench with her arms folded tightly, her face set in a frown. "You opened it."

He felt his face heat and he lifted his chin. "Yeah, I did. Since I didn't know where you were or if something had happened I decided to see if there was something in there that would help . . . it'll certainly help someone." He added sardonically.

"You should never have done that, Jeff." She glanced about to make sure they were alone.

"Hey, you know what? Take your damn package and go; forget we ever met. Alright?"

She opened her purse and took out a cloth bag and placed the re-wrapped package inside. "I hope it's going to be that easy." She waited a beat as if to add some conciliatory comment then turned and walked toward the street.

"Is that supposed to be an indication that you're going to suffer from a broken heart?" He called cruelly after her.

"If it were true, the same sentiment would apply." Her voice curled back over her shoulder.

He stood staring her retreating figure, her remark spinning in confused circles in his head. If it were true? Jeff wandered back to the boardwalk, halting as a lingering scent of her perfume tickled his nose. She meant something else stupid, he chastised himself and then began worrying about what it might be.