He stood in shadows, just a block from the Le Jardin hotel, the sounds of his city all around him, the flashing police lights a few blocks away. He felt the hand on his arm.

    'Kevin.'

    Christa-Marie looked fragile, sculpted from moonlight. She raised a hand to his cheek, a warm finger tracing the lines in his face. She slipped her hand around the back of his head, leaned forward and kissed him, gently at first, then with a growing passion.

    A moment later she leaned back, looked into his eyes.

    'It's time, isn't it?' she asked.

    'Yes,' Byrne said. 'Are you ready?'

    'Yes.' She took his hand in hers. 'Take me home.'