Valhalla Rising (Dirk Pitt 16)

"I didn't know you can read the future," she said blithely.

"The Great Dirk Pitt sees all, knows all, and I see a tall, dark handsome man of equal status and wealth sweeping you off to Tahiti."

"I can't wait."

Kelly breezed into the kitchen, wearing an ivory-knit, wool, low-cut sleeveless sweater and blue cotton shorts. "I'm almost sorry to leave this museum to man's folly," she quipped.

"You'll get a statement in the mail," Pitt said dourly. "Which reminds me, I'd better make a count of the towels before you girls fly off into the blue."

"My thanks to Sally," said Kelly, zipping up her travel bag. "She was kind enough to offer me a lift in her private jet to the airfield near Dad's farm."

"You ready?" asked Sally.

"What are your plans?" Pitt asked, rising from his chair.

"I'm setting up a philanthropic foundation in Dad's name. Then I plan on donating the paintings and other art treasures to a select list of museums."

"Good for you," Sally complimented her.

"And the hoard of silver and gold?"

"Some of it goes to build and finance the Elmore Egan Science Laboratory, which will be run by Josh Thomas, who plans to recruit the finest young minds in the country to come on board. Most of the rest will go to charities. There is, of course, a share waiting for you and Al."

Pitt shook his head and waved his hands. "Please, not me. I'm comfortable. Al might accept a new Ferrari, but I prefer you put whatever you had earmarked for us to better use."

"I'm beginning to see what Loren said about you," said Sally, impressed.

"Oh, what was that?"

"That you are an honest man."

"There are times like this when I hate myself."

Pitt carried their luggage down to the limo that was waiting to carry them to Sally's plane at a nearby executive airport.

Sally stepped over to Pitt, hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Good-bye, Dirk Pitt. It was a privilege knowing you."

"Good-bye, Sally. I hope you find that guy waiting out there."

Kelly kissed him full on the mouth. "When will I see you again?"

"Not for a while. Admiral Sandecker intends to keep me busy and out of mischief for a long time."

He stood there for a moment, waving, until the limo turned toward the airport entry gate. Then he slowly closed the hangar door, walked up to his apartment and went back to bed.

When Loren stopped by to spend the weekend with Pitt, she found him leaning under the hood of the 1938 green Packard town car. She looked tired after another long day of hearings into the Zale scandal, which had brought the entire government to a screeching halt. She looked stunning in a black, form-fitting business suit. "Hi, big man. What are you up to?"

"These old carburetors were built to use leaded gas. The new unleaded variety has all sorts of weird chemicals that eat hell out of the guts inside. Whenever I drive the old cars, I have to overhaul the carburetors or they gum up."

"What would you like for dinner?"

"Sure you don't want to dine out?"

"The news media is in a feeding frenzy over the scandal. I'm still considered fair game. The woman who does my hair drove me here in her husband's pickup truck, with me sitting on the floor."

"How lucky you are to be so popular."

Loren made a sour face. "How about pasta with spinach and pro-sciutto?"