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bird's leg。
〃Good girl； Margo。 Take it home。〃
A uniformed policeman appeared from nowhere。 〃Hold it！ What do you think you're doing？〃
Tracy's heart skipped a beat。 〃What's… what's the trouble； officer？〃
His eyes were on the cage； and he was angry。 〃You know what the trouble is。 It's one thing to feed these pigeons； but it's against the law to trap them and put them in cages。 Now； you just let it go before i place you under arrest。〃
Tracy swallowed and took a deep breath。 〃If you say so； Officer。〃 She lifted her arms and tossed the pigeon into the air。 A lovely smile lit her face as she watched the pigeon soar； higher and higher。 It circled once； then headed in the direction of London； 230 miles to the west。 A homing pigeon averaged forty miles an hour； Gunther had told her； so Margo would reach him within six hours。
〃Don't ever try that again；〃 the officer warned Tracy。
〃I won't；〃 Tracy promised solemnly。 〃Never again。〃
**********
Late that afternoon； Tracy was at Schiphol Airport； moving toward the gate from which she would board a plane bound for Brazil。 Daniel Cooper stood off in a corner； watching her； his eyes bitter。 Tracy Whitney had stolen the Lucullan diamond。 Cooper had known it the moment he heard the report。； It was her style； daring and imaginative。 Yet； there was nothing that could be done about it。 Inspector van Duren had shown photographs of Tracy and Jeff to the museum guard。 〃Nee。 Never seen either of them。 The thief had a beard and a mustache and his cheeks and nose were much fatter； and the lady with the diamonds was dark…haired and pregnant。〃
Nor was there any trace of the diamond。 Jeff's and Tracy's persons and baggage had been thoroughly searched。
〃The diamond is still in Amsterdam；〃 Inspector van Duren swore to Cooper。 〃We'll find it。〃
No； you won't； Cooper thought angrily。 She had switched pigeons。 The diamond had been carried out of the country by a homing pigeon。
Cooper watched helplessly as Tracy Whitney made her way across the concourse。 She was the first person who had ever defeated him。 He would go to hell because of her。
As Tracy reached the boarding gate； she hesitated a moment； then turned and looked straight into Cooper's eyes。 She had been aware that he had been following her all over Europe； like some kind of nemesis。 There was something bizarre about him； frightening and at the same time pathetic。 Inexplicably； Tracy felt sorry for him。 She gave him a small farewell wave； then turned and boarded her plane。
Daniel Cooper touched the letter of resignation in his pocket。
**********
It was a luxurious Pan American 747； and Tracy was seated in Seat 4B on the aisle in first class。 She was excited。 In a few hours she would be with Jeff。 They would be married in Brazil。 No more capers； Tracy thought； but I won't miss them。 I know I won't。 Life will be thrilling enough just being Mrs。 Jeff Stevens。
〃Excuse me。〃
Tracy looked up。 A puffy； dissipated…looking middle…aged man was standing over her。 He indicated the window seat。 〃That's my seat； honey。〃
Tracy twisted aside so he could get past her。 As her skirt slid up； he eyed her legs appreciatively。
〃Great day for a flight； huh？〃 There was a leer in his voice。
Tracy turned away。 She had no interest in getting into a conversation with a fellow passenger。 She had too much to think about。 A whole new life。 They would settle down somewhere and be model citizens。 The ullrarespectable Mr。 and Mrs。 Jeff Stevens。
Her panion nudged her。 〃Since we're gonna be seat mates on this flight； little lady； why don't you and I get acquainted？ My name is Maximilian Pierpont。〃
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