Yvonne really wanted to follow her doctor''s orders—no stress, no fighting. But Jeffrey was begging for a beating.


    She was about to kick him into next week when a tall, imposing figure stepped between them. With effortless ease, Bet broke Jeffrey''s grip on her arm.


    Jeffrey stumbled, catching his bnce just in time. He was furious, but seeing who it was, he swallowed his anger. "This is a Spencer family matter, Mr. Thompson. I don''t think you should interfere," he said through gritted teeth.


    "I''m interfering. What are you going to do about it?" Bet replied with a cold smile before turning to Yvonne. "Are your tests done?”


    "Yes," she nodded.


    "Let me see the report," he said, holding out his hand.


    She obediently handed him the file. He nced through it, then gave it back. "Let''s go."


    Yvonne followed him toward the elevators, and they walked past Jeffrey without a second nce.


    "Yvonne!" Jeffrey roared, his voice low with impotent rage. He didn''t dare challenge Bet, so he directed his anger at her.


    She acted as if she hadn''t heard a thing.


    They took the elevator down and walked out of the hospital. The ck Mercedes G-Wagon was parked at the curb


    Thompson family


    garage was filled with cars worth tens of millions, but Bet''s military position required him to maintain a lower profile.


    The car moved smoothly down the road. During the drive, Bet took a call. After he hung up, he slowed the car and turned to Yvonne. “Vexel just called. They''ve caught Mark. They need you to go identify him."


    Yvonne blinked, then nodded. "Okay."


    Mark had been apprehended at the Vexel border and was being held at a police station there. There were no direct flights, so they would have to fly to Vexel and then drive to the border.


    They caught an afternoon flight, arriving in Vexel in the evening. The local police had sent someone to meet them.


    "Mr. Thompson, hello. I''m Jonas, captain of the Vexel criminal investigation division," the man said, extending a hand. He was dressed in in clothes and had a friendly smile.


    “Bet,” Bet replied, his tone cool but polite as he shook the man''s hand.


    Jonas led them through a


    .n


    restricted-ess exit to a green military-style jeep. The vehicle sped down the highway toward the border Jonas and the driver sat in the front while Yvonne and Bet were in the back. The terrain was unfamiliar to Yvonne, and she watched through the window as fields gave way to mountains andkes.


    Bet leaned his head back against the seat, his eyes closed. Yvonne rested her chin on her hand and watched him. The passing streetlights cast shifting patterns of light and shadow across his face.


    Her mind drifted back in time. She


    up


    remembered a winter vacation one year when Bet had taken her north to see the snow. They had traveled by ne, then train, then bus a long journey from south to north. She had sat by the window, watching the scenery, and he had sat beside her, watching her.