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."Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlNicole shook her head.She couldn't believe he'd come up with such alame story."Amnesia? Really, Max.That's pathetic.He'd never fallfor it.And even if he did, do you think a man who so meticulouslyplanned Sandra's murder is going to confess the minute he sees me?""No." He tied to control the urge to join Charlie in the calmingeffects of smoking a cigar."But it's going to scare the hell out ofhim.Then we're going to have to play with him a little.Run the bestcon game and flimflam on him.Nicky, I mean, Sandra, has been livingon the island for over eighteen months.We make him believe thatthough you lost your memory, you're beginning to get little piecesback.That ought to unnerve him."Max couldn't sit still any longer.He got up and began to pace.Everyone was looking at him as if he were a madman, even Doug andHelen, and they'd already heard part of his scheme."The kicker, thethn, that's going to drive John Gillman over the edge, is that Sandrais in love with another man--me, or rather, me as Dr.M.AdairGibson.""The owner of the island?" Nicole asked."Yes.Adair is a wealthy scientist with two Nobel prizes for hisresearch in cancer.He's also a recluse.Our story is that Adairpicked Sandra up and took her to the island.You're in love with eachGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlother, and your idyllic existence would have gone on forever, butSandra--that is, you--doesn't want children because, without knowingwho she is, doesn't feel it's right.Adair, however, does wantchildren, and so decides to quietly do some investigating.He learnsthat Sandra must be the woman presumed killed in the boat.Heconvinces her to call Helen."Helen and I can tell you all you need to know about Sandra, but onlyfor the purpose of instilling those timely memories that are designedto undermine his confidence.Listen, Nicky, John Gillman is a jealousman.He's going to see his wife in love with another man, see himtouching her, and it's going to be the catalyst that drives him overthe edge.""And who's going to be there, besides you, to protect me when thathappens?" His plan leaked like a sieve, but she figured that was onlyin the telling.She was sure Max had all the leaks plugged in hismind."There are only about five or six permanent residents on the island,and they all work for Adair.We'll give them a paid vacation andreplace them with the highly trained security staff from Warner andHart.We'll totally take over the island."Look, there are a thousand details I'll go over with you, but I wantGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlyou to know that before John arrives on the island we'll have camerasand microphones installed.The entire place, inside and out, will beunder surveillance.We'll be watching and listening.There won't be amove or a word said that we won't hear or see.And there will alwaysbe someone close at hand.I swear you'll never be alone with him."Max stopped his pacing and planted himself in front of Nicole."There'sonly one hitch.We can't waste time.We need to do this fast, get thewheels rolling.John's about to inherit Sandra's entire estate.Afterthat, for sure he's going to skip the country with the money."Everyone was stating at her, and Nicole realized that Max was finishedfor the moment, and they werewaiting for her to say something.She caught a glimpse of her fatherand knew he was being swayed by Max's sincerity.She stood up."I need some air and time to think it over."Max gave her half an hour, then went in search, leaving Helen and Dougto reassure Charlie.He found her sitting on the porch steps, staringout at the pasture.He sat beside her.He wanted nothing more than toexplain that what had happened between them had nothing to do withSandra, his work or anything else.But he had a feeling it wasn't asubject to broach at the moment.Besides, he selfishly didn't want hermind on anything but Sandra and the decision to help them catchGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlGillman."I never meant to hurt you, you know.""No.I don't know, because I don't know you, New York.You came uphere thinking I'm some dead woman, and you gave no sign that youthought I was anyone other than Nicole Dawson.It makes me thinkeverything you said and did were lies.And they were, because youthought you were dealing with Sandra."It was a hopeful sign that she'd used her nickname for him."Not forvery long.Listen, at first I was trying to figure out why a woman ofSandra's background would lie about who and what she was.I was sodamn shocked and stunned to see Sandra--you--that I couldn't thinkstraight.Then, after talking to you and getting some answers fromReed, I realized you weren't Sandra.""Well, to be honest," Nicole said, "I'm not sure about this scheme ofyours.I'm having trouble believing a man as careful as this Gillmanwill crack the minute he sees me.""Maybe not the minute he sees you, but after we get through with him,he'll slip up and we'll have his confession on tape."Nicole gazed at Max, wondering if it was her imagination or had shesensed a change in him, a hardness she hadn't seen before."You reallywant this man, don't you?"Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlIf she only knew how much."Yes.The fact that he murdered yoursister is one thing.But he's a cold-blooded killer, Nicky, and ifhe's done it once, what's to say somewhere down the line he won't do itagain--find some gullible rich woman and kill her.I'd think you'dwant to stop him, too."Without answering, she stood and returned to the living room.Maxfollowed her, and as the room fell silent, she looked from one to theother.She liked Helen and pitied her.The woman was a tortured soul.Doug's reasons, she figured, had more to do with the amount of timeWarner and Hart had invested in the case.Then there was Max.Shewasn't as sure of him as she had been
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