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understand?”
    â€œIf I took out Duncan, it would stop the—”
    â€œReport back to me,” Salazar repeated. “Is that clear?”
    â€œYes, sir.” He was silent. “I didn’t mean to argue. You’re the Pez Gordo , the big boss. I’m just concerned.”
    He was concerned because if Salazar and his cartel fell, he could be part of the collateral damage, Salazar thought cynically. It was obvious Franco was very ambitious. “Then it’s time to use that concern in the way I told you.”
    â€œI’ll leave for the hospital right away. I won’t disappoint you.” He hung up.
    Franco was moving fast and was eager to please but Salazar still wasn’t sure that he would obey instructions if an opportunity presented itself.
    Oh well, Franco was a superb assassin, and Salazar was just angry enough with the way Eve Duncan had spoiled his plans that he was willing to take a chance that Franco wouldn’t pay her a fatal visit in her hospital room without taking appropriate precautions. Salazar rather liked the idea of Duncan’s lying helplessly in that bed in her room while Franco moved around that hospital like a lethal buzz saw.
    But if Franco decided to do it, he’d damn well better do it right.
    COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF THE MONTEREY
    â€œCara has good instincts,” Eve Duncan said as she turned back to Joe after watching the child walk out of her hospital room. “You’re not easy to read, Joe. I’m glad that whatever you’re upset about wasn’t about her. Though I’m not sure she believed you. It would have been difficult explaining a sudden change of heart. Do you know, I’m starting to look forward to having Cara staying with us for a while?” She shook her head. “Remember, we were talking on the day Jane left for London about how my life may be changing? Then all of this happened. Do you suppose Cara is the change?”
    â€œNot necessarily.”
    Eve went still. She couldn’t miss that jerky roughness in his tone. “What are you talking about? What is wrong?”
    â€œNot wrong. Strange. Bizarre.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what else.”
    â€œStop playing around with words. Talk to me.”
    â€œI don’t know how to say it.”
    â€œJust tell me.”
    â€œThe hospital has the results from all the tests they’ve been running on you. The doctor stopped me in the hall to go over them.”
    â€œThe results? Joe, I know you’ve been ramrodding everything connected to my treatment since you brought me to this hospital, but that’s going a little too far. Why go over them with you and not with me?” She tried to smile. “Some terrible disease popped up that he thought you should break to me?”
    â€œGod, I’m not doing this right. No terrible disease. You’re very healthy and ready to go home. He just didn’t want you to leave the hospital without knowing.”
    â€œJoe, what are you trying to tell me?”
    â€œIn my completely clumsy and inadequate fashion.” He reached out and took her hand. “I’m trying to tell you that you’re going to have a child, Eve.”
    *   *   *
    â€œYou’re joking,” Eve said dazedly. “It’s some kind of mistake?”
    â€œNo.” Joe’s hand tightened around her own. “And no. To both questions. I wouldn’t have dared come in here if I hadn’t made sure the doctor had checked and double-checked. You’re pregnant.” His teeth bit his lower lip. “And that goes to show how upset I am. We’re pregnant. I can’t quite take it in either. I went into shock when the doctor told me.”
    â€œTell me about it,” she said weakly as she sat up in the bed. “It wasn’t supposed to happen. I thought it couldn’t happen. It wasn’t as if we weren’t careful.”
    â€œI