Forbidden (43 page)

“None that I know of.” Adam thought of another possibility.
“I have another account at First Federal Savings in Washington. Maybe we ought to check to see if that’s gone, too.”

Fitz left the room and returned ten minutes later. “No, that one hasn’t been touched.”

“Well, that’s something, at least.” Restless, he continued his pacing. “Damn, I wish I knew what happened.”

Liz walked to him and slipped her arms around his waist. “I can’t believe Diane would commit suicide after cleaning out the
bank account. She certainly never appeared the type. If there were no skid marks, she must have fallen asleep, maybe after
drinking too much. It’s really dark along there, and the road winds and twists. Perhaps she was on her way to meet someone
and became disoriented. She might have gone into a turn, and before she could swing back, she was over the edge.”

“Odd that there were no witnesses,” Fitz stated calmly. “And where’s her body?”

“They’ll find her,” Liz insisted.

Adam sighed heavily. “If she’s managed to disappear, you realize we won’t be able to marry until she’s declared legally dead.
That could take seven years.” It would be just like Diane, he thought, to come up with a way to have her cake and eat it,
too, to get away with the money and punish him at the same time.

“No.” Liz’s voice was uncharacteristically adamant. “I refuse to believe that. If she wanted to disappear, she wouldn’t have
had to concoct such an elaborate hoax. She could have withdrawn the money while you were in Ireland, put on a disguise, and
left the country. Why go to so much trouble?”

Adam saw that she was getting agitated. He took her in his arms. “You’re right. The police have divers and a
search party out. They’ll find her. I’ll check with Genovese later.”

Liz rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Please, God, let them find her.

Six Months Later

Barbados in the Caribbean

At the legendary Sandy Lane Hotel, an attractive blond woman sat down at the pool bar. She was wearing a red cotton dress
by Armani and a diamond tennis bracelet on the wrist of her ringless left hand. She gazed toward the distant sea, looking
contemplative. Then she picked up her clutch bag and removed a gold cigarette holder. As she chose an Eve cigarette from a
slim case, the setting sun glistened off her red nails.

Almost lazily she reached for her lighter, but before she could snap it open, a tall man with neatly trimmed black hair appeared
next to her. “May I offer you a light?” he asked in a deep, smooth voice.

Silently she bent her head to his ebony lighter, inhaled, and straightened to blow smoke upward. The bartender nearby tossed
ice into a silver mixer and watched disinterestedly.

The man sidled onto the stool next to the blonde. “What are you drinking, honey?”

She took her time looking him over. He wore a colorful Burberry shirt, white linen slacks, Italian leather loafers. A thick
gold cross hung on a heavy chain around his neck, nestling in his dark chest hair. There were no rings on his long, tapered
fingers.

Slowly she raised her eyes to his and smiled sweetly. “Bourbon and branch, sugar.”

The man signaled the waiter. For six long months he’d tracked her sparse clues, followed endless bad leads, and been maddeningly
frustrated; but patience had always been Lieutenant Lou Genovese’s long suit, and it had finally paid off.

He returned the blonde’s smile. “My name’s Lou. What’s yours?”

Liz Townsend’s love for senator Adam MacKenzie life of a prominet attorney’s wife, yet she never forgot the charismatic politician
who, years ago, had chosen his career over their future. Now, as a vice presidential candidacy promises to send Adam MacKenzie
to the White House, fate put their lives on a collision course. Widowed for some time, Liz senses Adam still wants her—and
the ambitious, brittle beauty he married feels it too. But if Liz can get him back, the price may be too terrible to pay.
For beyond her control is the scandalous secret she has hidden for years, and the undeniable passion driving them both toward
a happiness too long denied, too long…

FORBIDDEN “[WARREN’S WORK IS] CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT.” —ROMANTIC TIMES