AS KELLY APPROACHED the door of Sam Meadows 's apartment at 14 Rue du Bourg-Tibourg, in the Fourth Ar-rondissement, she hesitated. Now that the chase was drawing to a conclusion, she was finally going to get some answers. She found herself drawing back, afraid to hear them.

Kelly rang the doorbell. The moment the door opened and she saw Sam Meadows, her fears went away. All she felt was pleasure and relief at seeing this man who had been so close to Mark.

"Kelly!" He cradled her in a warm bear hug.

"Oh, Sam."

He took her hand. "Come on in." Kelly stepped inside. It was a charming two-bedroom apartment, in a building that had once belonged to a member of the French nobility.

The drawing room was spacious and luxuriously appointed with French furniture, and in a small alcove, there was a curiously carved oak bar. On the wall was a Man Ray, and Adolf Wolfli drawings.

"I can't tell you how devastated I am about Mark," Sam said awkwardly.

Kelly patted his arm. "I know," she whispered.

"It's unbelievable." "I'm trying to find out what happened," Kelly said. "That's why I'm here. I hope you can help me." She took a seat on the couch, filled with a sense of anticipation and apprehension.

Sam's face darkened. "No one seems to know the full story. Mark was working on a secret project.

He was apparently collaborating with two or three other employees at KIG. They say he committed suicide." "I don't believe it," Kelly said vehemently.

"I don't either." His voice softened. "And do you know the main reason? Because of you." Kelly looked at Sam, puzzled. "I don't understand? "How could Mark ever leave someone as lovely as you? How could anyone ever leave someone as lovely as you?" He was moving closer. "What happened is a great tragedy, Kelly, but life has to go on, doesn't it?" He put her hand in his. "We all need someone, don't we? He's gone, but I'm here.

Your kind of woman needs a man."

"My kind of-?" "Mark told me how passionate you are. He says you love it." Kelly turned to him in surprise. Mark would never have said that. He would never have discussed her like that with anyone.

Sam put one arm around her shoulders. "Yes. Mark told me you really had to have it. He used to tell me how great you were in bed." Kelly was suddenly panic-stricken.

Sam said, "And Kelly, if it makes you feel any better, Mark didn't suffer at all." And she looked into Sam Meadows's eyes and she knew.

"We'll be having dinner in a few minutes," Sam said. "Why don't we work up an appetite in bed?" Kelly felt suddenly faint. She managed to force a smile. "That sounds great." Her mind was working furiously. He was too big for her to fight, and she had nothing to fight him with. He began fondling her. "You know you've got a great ass, baby. I go for that," Kelly smiled. "Do you?" She sniffed. "I'm hungry. Something smells good." "Our dinner." Before he could stop her, Kelly got up and moved toward the kitchen. As she passed the dinner table, she got a shock. The table had been set for one.

Kelly turned. In the drawing room, Sam was walking over to the door and turning the key in the lock. She watched him put the key in the drawer of an armoire.

Kelly looked around the kitchen for a weapon. She had no way of knowing which drawer held the knives. On the counter was a box of angel hair pasta. On the stove was a pot of boiling water, and next to it, a smaller pot with a red sauce that was cooking.

Sam walked into the kitchen and put his arms around Kelly.

She pretended not to pay any attention. She looked at the sauce on the stove.

"Looks wonderful." He was stroking her body. "It is. What do you like to do in bed, baby?" Kelly's mind was racing. She said softly, "Everything. I used to do something kinky to Mark that drove him crazy." Sam's face lit up. "What was that?" "I would take a warm, wet washcloth and-" She picked up a soft cloth on the sink. "I'll show you.

Drop your pants." Sam Meadows grinned. "Yeah." He loosened his trousers and dropped them to the floor. He was wearing boxer shorts.

"Now your shorts." He dropped his shorts, and his organ was engorged.

Kelly said admiringly, "My, my? She picked up the soft cloth with her left hand and moved toward him. With her right hand, she picked up the pot of boiling water and hurled the contents onto his genitals.

Kelly could still hear his screams as she took the key out of the armoire, unlocked the door, and fled.