The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Modern makeup artistry had reached a near-magical level-no less effective than the old legends of disguise and transformation. In the right hands, a man could become a woman, and a woman could pass for a man without raising suspicion.

For Leonard, slipping away from pursuers was child's play.

All of Sandford had been locked down. Every road was blocked, every car stopped and inspected.

The driver eyed the barricade ahead and murmured, "Mr. Lerman, there's a checkpoint."

Leonard glanced at Stella, who remained motionless in the backseat, and spoke with cool indifference. "Relax. They wouldn't recognize us even if they tried."

It was soon their turn. Leonard shot the driver a look; the man understood, got out, and walked to the officers. He handed over his license, a slim envelope of bills tucked inside. "We're in a hurry, gentlemen. I hope you'll let us through." He gestured to the car, his voice steady and convincing. "There's nobody you're looking for in my vehicle. You're welcome to check."

The interaction carried clearly into the car through the cracked window.

his own window halfway down. Stella, meanwhile, had been shoved down onto the floor,

officers ignored the bribe, gave the interior a cursory glance, and asked, "Nobody else in

two of us,"

facedown on the floor, limp and utterly still—as if she'd slipped beyond consciousness, unable even to

faint, enigmatic smile tugged at Leonard's lips as he watched the scene unfold. He exchanged a glance with the inspectors-these weren't strangers, but men he'd strategically planted for this very performance. The goal was to let Stella

backseat on purpose, offering her one final, tantalizing chance to call for rescue, just to snatch

already drifted into oblivion. That spoiled his fun, just a

he couldn't afford to waste time playing games. Foreman's people were still searching for them. Leonard gave a quiet command. "Let's

climbed back in, and the car

city streets empty in the early morning hours. Their driver kept mostly to deserted

listened intently to

turned onto the main road, tails had picked them up-now several vehicles were shadowing them. Leonard had dispatched his entire crew to