A PERFECT RENDEZVOUS

What Happened in Colorado

"That does it!" Meredith jumped up from the sofa in the living room where she and Liam and Joe O'Hara had watched the videotapes that the FBI agent had handed over. Brushing the tears from the corners of her eyes, she shoved all the 'evidence' into its envelope. "I'll make Zayn Malik look at these if I have to tie him up first!"

"Meredith," Liam said gently, grabbing her wrist. "You were right about Harry, I can see that, but I know Zayn. You can't make him watch those until and unless he's ready to do it."

She hesitated, thinking, then a resolute smile dawned across her face. "Yes I can—and I know how!"

He stood up. "If you're determined to try, I'll go with you and hold him down while you tie him up."

"That won't work," she said. "You'll lose your temper, but if you aren't there, I can use you very effectively to shame him into doing it."

"I doubt it."

"Let me try," she said, leaning over and kissing his forehead. "If I need your help, I'll come and get you."

Before he could object, which he looked to be on the verge of doing, Meredith slid open the patio doors and headed across the back lawn. Spotting Zayn standing by the pool surrounded by a group of movie stars and studio heads, she lifted her chin and struck off in that direction, her Italian sandals slapping softly against her bare heels as she wended her way purposefully around white-coated waiters passing trays and throngs of guests gossiping about each other.

Zayn was laughing at a joke when he caught sight of Meredith walking across the yard with a large brown envelope in her hand and his smile abruptly faded. "Excuse me a minute," he said to Barbra, his eyes narrowing on that envelope.

"I wondered where you and Liam were," he said with his most deliberately disarming smile as he carefully avoided the sight of the envelope in her hand. "You haven't changed clothes yet."

"We were in the living room, watching something on the television set," she said, and Zayn realized her eyes looked as if she'd been crying. "May I speak to you alone?"

"There's a party going on," he pointed out evasively. "Come with me and I'll introduce you to Kevin Costner. He asked to meet you last night."

"Later," she persisted stubbornly. "This really can't wait."

With no choice left, Zayn nodded and followed her into the house and down the hall to the library. "What's on your mind?" he said curtly, perching on the edge of his desk and turning on a lamp as she drew the curtains over the windows, throwing the room into almost total darkness.

Turning from the windows, she walked over and stood in front of him. "The contents of that envelope are on my mind."

"I asked you to destroy what was in it."

"Yes, you did," she retorted, facing him like a cool blond spitfire. "And now I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Do you feel any obligation to my husband for the things he did for you while you were in prison?"

Zayn nodded warily.

"Good. Liam will not impose on your friendship to ask a favor of you in return."

"But you will," he concluded shortly.

"You're right. In return for his years of loyalty and assistance, I am asking a favor in his behalf. We want you to sit in here and watch those videotapes and read the letter that's in the envelope."

Zayn's jaw tightened, but he nodded and started to stand. "I'll do it later."

"No, now."

He glared down at her from his vastly superior height, but without any success. "It's little enough to ask of you," she pointed out irrefutably. "A half hour of your time."