The Steel Kiss (Lincoln Rhyme 12)

The gold Celtic bracelet clinked against the controller as her fingers maneuvered her chair close to his and faced him, about three feet away.

He asked, "No time limit, you said."

"No. But the game has to result in a mate or draw--in which case black wins--in twenty-five moves or fewer. Otherwise..."

"We both lose."

"We both lose. Now"--she closed her eyes--"I'm seeing the board. Are you?"

Rhyme continued to gaze at her face for a moment, the freckles, the narrow brows, the faint smile.

She opened her eyes. He looked away quickly and closed his, nestled his head back in the rest. The chessboard, fully loaded, was as clear as Central Park on a crisp spring afternoon, as today's had been. He thought for a moment. "E2 pawn to e4."

Archer said, "Black pawn e7 to e5."

Rhyme imagined:

He shot back with, "White king's knight to f3."

Archer: "Black queen's knight to c6. You're seeing it clearly?"

"Yes."

Well, she was certainly aggressive. Rhyme was pleased. No uncertainty. No hemming or hawing. He said, "White king's bishop to c4."

Archer snapped, "Black queen's knight to d4."

Her knight was now nestling between Rhyme's bishop and pawn.

How many moves were they up to? he wondered.

"Six moves," Archer said, unknowingly responding to his question.

He said, "White king's knight takes black pawn on e5."

"Ah, yes, yes." Archer then said, "Black queen to g5." Bringing her most powerful piece into the middle of the field. Vulnerable. Rhyme was tempted to open his eyes and see her expression. He opted for concentration.

Rhyme saw an opportunity. "White king's knight takes black pawn on f7." In position to take her rook. And safe from her king, because the piece was guarded by his bishop.

"Black queen takes white pawn on g2."

Rhyme frowned. He'd have to abandon his tactics in the upper right-hand corner of the board. Her brash moves were bringing the assault to his home territory--with most of his pieces not even in play.

He said, "White king's rook to f1."

Archer's buoyant voice said, "Black queen takes white pawn on e4. Check."

Eyes still closed, Rhyme could clearly see where this was going. He chuckled. And said what he had to: "White king's bishop to e2 to block the check."

And there was no surprise when Juliette Archer said, "Black queen's knight to f3. Checkmate."

Rhyme studied the board tucked into his mind. "Fourteen moves, I think."

"That's right," Archer confirmed.

"Is that a record?"

"Oh, no. I've won in nine. My ex in eight."