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.

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

officers ignored the bribe, gave the interior a cursory glance,

of us," the driver replied

still—as if she'd slipped beyond consciousness, unable even to cry for help.

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

purpose, offering her one final, tantalizing chance to call for rescue, just to snatch it away at the last moment. He imagined her

seemed she'd already drifted into oblivion.

playing games. Foreman's people were

driver climbed back in, and the car rolled

the early morning hours. Their driver kept mostly to

intently

onto the main road, tails had picked them