The Palm Reader's Secret

Marcello wasn't a spy in the romantic sense—no martinis, no exotic gadgets, just a corporate thief who sold trade secrets to the highest bidder. His latest target: Elena Vance, biotech CEO, currently vacationing at the St. Regis in Bali.

He'd spent three weeks watching her from behind a copy of Marguerite Duras, memorizing her routines. She read by the pool at 10 AM. She ordered gin tonics at sunset. She never called anyone.

Then she invited him to dinner.

"You have that look," she said, swirling her wine. "Like you're carrying something heavy."

Marcello laughed, though his pulse hammered. "Just tired."

"I read palms," Elena said. "Not professionally. But I'm good at it."

She reached across the table, took his hand. Her thumb traced his life line, then stopped.

"You bear a great burden," she said softly. "Something that's eating you alive."

Marcello pulled his hand back. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I know you've been following me for twenty-two days," she said, still gentle. "I know you photograph my documents when I leave for the beach. I know you're very, very good at pretending."

He froze.

"What I don't know," Elena continued, "is whether you're going to sell my company's research, or if you're already gone."

The palm trees swayed above them. A waiter poured more wine.

"Why didn't you report me?" Marcello asked.

"Because I'm tired too," she said. "And because for once in my life, I wanted someone to look at me like that. Even if it was pretend."

She touched his palm again, fingers light as smoke.

"The question is," she said, "are you going to finish your drink, or are you going to tell me who hired you?"

Marcello looked at her hand in his. Then at the ocean beyond the palms. Then at the woman who'd known everything and said nothing.

"His name is Viktor," he said. "And the password to the encrypted files is my daughter's birthday."

Elena smiled. It was the first genuine smile he'd seen in three weeks.

"Good," she said. "Now let's have another drink."