A PERFECT RENDEZVOUS

Mail Delivery

"That's Keaton down there, off the starboard wing, Mr. Payne," the pilot said as the sleek Learjet slid gracefully out of the cloud cover and began its final approach. "I'm going to make a pass over the airstrip before I set her down, just to make sure it's in as good a shape as it's supposed to be."

Liam reached up and pressed the intercom button. "Fine, Steve," he said absently, studying his wife's worried features. "What's wrong?" he asked Meredith quietly. "I thought I reassured you completely that there's nothing illegal about delivering a letter that was addressed to Harry Mathison in care of me. The authorities are well aware that I have Zayn's power of attorney to handle his financial affairs. I've already turned over the envelope his instructions came in so they can try to trace it. Not that it will help them," he added with a chuckle. "It's postmarked from Dallas, where he's obviously paying someone to receive mail intended for me, remove it from its original envelope, and then forward it on to me."

Knowing how strongly he felt about what he was doing, Meredith made a better effort to hide her worry and asked, "Why is he doing that if he trusts you so implicitly?"

"He's doing it so I can freely hand over to the authorities' whatever envelopes I receive from him, without giving away his whereabouts. He's protecting both of us. So, you see, I've adhered to the strictest letter of the law so far."

Meredith leaned her head back against the curved white leather sofa that dominated the plane's cabin and said with a laughing sigh, "No, you haven't. You did not tell the FBI that he enclosed a letter to Harry Mathison along with his letter to you, and you didn't tell them you're delivering it."

"The letter to him is in a blank, sealed envelope," he countered lightly. "I have no way of knowing if Zayn wrote what's in it. For all I know it contains recipes. I hope," he said with mock horror, "you aren't suggesting that I should open the letter to find out what's in it. It happens to be a federal offense to do things like that. Furthermore, my love, there is no law that specifically requires me to tip off the authorities every time Zayn contacts me."

Alarmed and unwillingly amused by his bold nonchalance, Meredith tipped her chin down and looked at the handsome man she'd fallen in love. She loved that reckless, forceful streak in him, even though she knew it was the reason he was now ignoring the possible legal consequences of his actions. He believed in Zayn Malik's innocence, and that was the only justification he needed for what he chose to do. Period. Even though she knew it was futile and probably unnecessary, she'd insisted on coming along this afternoon, just to make certain he didn't stick his neck out too far.

"Why are you smiling like that?" he asked her.

"Because I love you," she admitted wryly. "Now, why are you smiling?"

"Because you love me," he whispered tenderly, putting his arm around her and nuzzling her neck. "And," he admitted, "because of this." From his breast pocket, he took out the letter Zayn had written him.

"You said that's just a list of instructions about Harry Mathison. What's funny about a list of instructions?"

"That's what's funny—a list of instructions. When Zayn went to prison he had a fortune in investments spread out all over the world. Do you know how many instructions he gave me when he gave me power of attorney to handle them all?"

"No. How many?"

"One instruction," he said with a grin, holding up his forefinger. "He said, 'Try not to bankrupt me.'"

Meredith laughed, and Liam glanced out the window as the plane swooped down, racing for the runway, the setting sun glinting off its wings "Joe's here with the car," he said, referring to their chauffeur, who'd flown into Dallas on a commercial flight that morning, rented a nondescript car, and driven it here to meet them. Liam wanted to arrive and depart without anyone knowing they'd been here, which meant they couldn't call a taxi from the airfield, even if there was a taxi service in Keaton.