Sidney Sheldon - Nothing lasts forever

An hour later, Grundy stopped Kat in the corridor.

“I've been looking for you,” he said. He looked angry.

“Is something wrong?”

“It's that bastard Mallory. He's so sure of himself that he's telling everyone he's going to get you into bed by Saturday night.”

“Don't worry,” Kat said grimly. “He's going to lose.”

When Ken Mallory picked Kat up Saturday night, she had on a low-cut dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure.

“You look gorgeous,” he said admiringly.

She put her arms around him. “I want to look good for you.” She was clinging to him.

God, she really wants it. When Mallory spoke, his voice was husky. “Look, I have an idea, Kat. Before we go out to dinner, why don't we slip into the bedroom and …”

She was stroking his face. “Oh, darling, I wish we could. Paige is home.” Paige was actually at the hospital, working.

“Oh.”

“But after dinner …” She let the suggestion hang in the air.

“Yes?”

“We could go to your place.”

Mallory put his arms around her and kissed her. “That's a wonderful idea!”

He took her to the Iron Horse, and they had a delicious dinner. In spite of herself, Kat was having a wonderful time. He was charming and amusing, and incredibly attractive. He seemed genuinely interested in knowing everything about her. She knew he was flattering her, but he really seemed to mean the compliments he paid her.

If I didn't know better …

Mallory had hardly tasted his food. All he could think was, In two hours I will be making ten thousand dollars… . In one hour, I will be making ten thousand dollars… . In thirty minutes …

They finished their coffee.

“Are you ready?” Mallory asked.

Kat put her hand over his. “You have no idea how ready, darling. Let's go.”

They took a taxi to Mallory's apartment. “I'm absolutely crazy about you,” Mallory murmured. “I've never known anyone like you.”

And she could hear Grundy's voice: He's so sure of himself that he says he's going to get you into bed by Saturday night.

When they arrived at the apartment, Mallory paid the taxi driver and led Kat into the elevator. It seemed to Mallory to take forever to get up to his apartment. He opened the door and said eagerly, “Here it is.”

Kat stepped inside.

It was an ordinary little bachelor's apartment that desperately needed a woman's touch.

“Oh, it's lovely,” Kat breathed. She turned to Mallory. “It's you.'”

He grinned. “Let me show you our room. I'll put some music on.”

As he went over to the tape deck, Kat glanced at her watch. The voice of Barbra Streisand filled the room.

Mallory took her hand. “Let's go, honey.”

“Wait a minute,” Kat said softly.

He was looking at her, puzzled. “What for?”

“I just want to enjoy this moment with you. You know, before we …”

“Why don't we enjoy it in the bedroom?”

“I'd love a drink.”

“A drink?” He tried to hide his impatience. “Fine. What would you like?”

“A vodka and tonic, please.”

He smiled. “I think we can handle that.” He went over to the little bar and hurriedly mixed two drinks.

Kat looked at her watch again.

Mallory returned with the drinks and handed one to Kat. “Here you are, baby.” He raised his glass. “To togetherness.”

“To togetherness,” Kat said. She took a sip of the drink. “Oh, my God!”

He looked at her, startled. “What's the matter?”

“This is vodka!”

“That's what you asked for.”

“Did I? I'm sorry. I hate vodka!” She stroked his face. “May I have a scotch and soda?”

“Sure.” He swallowed his impatience and went back to the bar to mix another drink.

Kat glanced at her watch again.

Ken Mallory returned. “Here you are.”

“Thank you, darling.”

She took two sips of her drink. Mallory took the glass from her and set it on a table. He put his arms around Kat and held her close, and she could feel that he was aroused.

“Now,” Ken said softly, “let's make history.”

“Oh, yes!” Kat said. “Yes!”

She let him lead her into the bedroom.

I've done it! Mallory exulted. I've done it. Here go the walls of Jericho! He turned to Kat. “Get undressed, baby.”

“You first, darling. I want to watch you get un dressed. It excites me.”

“Oh? Well, sure.”

As Kat stood there watching, Mallory slowly took his clothes off. First his jacket, then his shirt and tie, then his shoes and stockings, and then his trousers. He had the firm figure of an athlete.

“Does this excite you, baby?”

“Oh, yes. Now take off your shorts.”

Slowly Mallory let his shorts fall to the floor. He had a turgid erection.

“That's beautiful,” Kat said.

“Now it's your turn.”

“Right.”

And at that moment, Kat's beeper went off.

Mallory was startled. “What the hell …?”

“They're calling me,” Kat said. “May I use your telephone?”

“Now?”

“Yes. It must be an emergency.”

“Wow? Can't it wait?”

“Darling, you know the rules.”

“But …”

As Mallory watched, Kat walked over to the telephone and dialed a number. “Dr. Hunter.” She listened. “Really? Of course. I'll be right there.”

Mallory was staring at her, stupefied. “What's going on?”

“I have to get back to the hospital, angel.”

“Now?”

“Yes. One of my patients is dying.”

“Can't he wait until … ?”

“I'm sorry. We'll do this another night.”

Ken Mallory stood there, buck naked, watching Kat walk out of his apartment, and as the door closed behind her, he picked up her drink and slammed it into the wall. Bitch … bitch … bitch …

When Kat got back to the apartment, Paige and Honey were eagerly waiting for her.

“How did it go?” Paige asked. “Was I on time?”

Kat laughed. “Your timing was perfect.”

She began to describe the evening. When she came to the part about Mallory standing in the bedroom naked, with an erection, they laughed until tears came to their eyes.

Kat was tempted to tell them how enjoyable she really found Ken Mallory, but she felt foolish. After all, he was seeing her only so he could win a bet.

Somehow, Paige seemed to sense how Kat felt. “Be careful of him, Kat.”

Kat smiled. “Don't worry. But I will admit that if I didn't know about that bet … He's a snake, but he gives good snake oil.”

“When are you going to see him again?” Honey asked.

“I'm going to give him a week to cool off.” Paige was studying her. “Him or you?”

Dinetto's black limousine was waiting outside the hospital for Kat. This time, the Shadow was alone. Kat wished that Rhino were there. There was something about the Shadow that petrified her. He never smiled and seldom spoke, but he exuded menace.

“Get in,” he said as Kat approached the car.

“Look,” Kat said indignantly, “you tell Mr. Dinetto that he can't order me around. I don't work for him. Just because I did him a favor once …”

“Get in. You can tell him yourself.”

Kat hesitated. It would be easy to walk away and not get involved any further, but how would it affect Mike? Kat got into the car.

The victim this time had been badly beaten, whipped with a chain. Lou Dinetto was there with him.

Kat took one look at the patient and said, “You've got to get him to a hospital right away.”

“Kat,” Dinetto said, “you have to treat him here.”

“Why?” Kat demanded. But she knew the answer, and it terrified her.

It was one of those clear days in San Francisco when there was a magic in the air. The night wind had swept away the rainclouds, producing a crisp, sunny Sunday morning.