KELLY AND DIANE made their way down to the main lobby of the hospital.

Diane said, "That's why Richard and Mark were going to Washington, to see Senator Van Luven." "How do we get hold of her?" "Simple." Diane took out her cell phone.

Kelly held up a hand to stop her. "No. Let's use a pay phone." They got the telephone number of the Senate office building from information, and Diane called from a public phone.

"Senator Van Luven's office." "I'd like to speak to the senator, please." "May I say who's calling?" Diane said, "It's a personal matter." "Your name, please?" "I can't-just tell her it's very important." "I'm sorry, I can't do that." The line was disconnected.

Diane turned to Kelly. "We can't use our names." Diane called the number again.

"Senator Van Luven's office." "Please, listen to me. This is not a crank call. I need to speak to the senator, and I can't give you my name." "Then I'm afraid I can't let you speak to the senator." The call was disconnected.

Diane dialed again.

"Senator Van Luven's office." "Please don't hang up. I know you're doing your job, but this is a matter of life and death. I'm calling from a pay phone. I'm going to give you the number.

Please have the senator call me." She gave the secretary the number and heard the secretary slam the phone down.

Kelly said, "What do we do now?" we wait.

They waited for two hours, and finally Diane said, "It's not going to work.

Let's-" The phone rang. Diane took a deep breath and rushed to pick it up. "Hello?" An annoyed female voice said, "This is Senator Van Luven. Who is this?" Diane held the phone toward Kelly, so that they could both hear what the senator was saying. Diane was so choked up, she could hardly speak. "Senator, my name is Diane Stevens.

I'm here with Kelly Harris. Do you know who we are?" "No, I don't, and I'm afraid I-" "Our husbands were murdered on their way to meet with you." There was a gasp. "Oh, my God. Richard Stevens and Mark Harris." "Yes." "Your husbands made an appointment to meet with me, but my secretary received a call saying that they had changed their plans. Then they-died." "That call was not from them, Senator," Diane said. "They were murdered to stop them from seeing you." "What?" She sounded in shock. "Why would anyone-?" "They were killed to prevent them from talking to you. Kelly and I would like to come to Washington and tell you what our husbands were trying to tell you." There was a brief hesitation. "I'll meet with you, but not in my office. It's too public. If what you're saying is true, it could be dangerous. I have a home in Southampton, Long Island. I can meet you there. Where are you calling from?" "Denver." "Just a moment." Three minutes later, the senator came back on the line. "The next flight out of Denver to New York is a red-eye. It's a United flight, nonstop to La Guardia. It leaves at twelve-twenty-five a.m. and arrives in New York at six-oh-nine a.m. If the flight is full, there's one-" "We'll be on that flight." Kelly looked at Diane, surprised. "Diane, what if we can't get-?" Diane held up a reassuring hand. "We'll be on it." "When you get to the airport, a gray Lincoln Town Car will be waiting for you.

Go right to the car.

The driver is Asian. His name is Kunio, K-U-N-I-O. He'll take you to my home.

I'll be waiting for you there."

"Thank you, Senator." Diane replaced the receiver and took a deep breath. She turned to Kelly. "We're all set." Kelly said, "How do you know we can get on that flight?" "I have a plan."

THE CONCIERGE AT the hotel arranged a rental car, and in forty-five minutes, Diane and Kelly were on their way to the airport. Kelly said, "I don't know whether I'm more excited or more frightened." "I don't think we have anything to be frightened about anymore." "It looks like a lot of people tried to meet with the senator, but none of them made it, Diane. They were all killed first." "Then we're going to be the first to make it." Kelly said, "I wish we had-" "I know. A weapon. You said that. We have our wits." "Yeah. I wish we had a weapon." Kelly looked out the car window. "Pull over." Diane pulled over to the curb. "What is it?" "There's something I have to do." They had stopped in front of a beauty parlor. Kelly opened the car door.

Diane said, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to get a new hairdo."

Diane said, "You're joking."

"No, I'm not." "You're getting a new hairdo now! Kelly, we're on our way to the airport, to catch a plane, and there's no time to-" "Diane, you never know what's going to happen. And in case I should die, I want to look pretty." Diane sat there, speechless, as Kelly walked into the beauty parlor.

TWENTY MINUTES LATER, Kelly came out. She was wearing a black wig that was a luxurious upsweep piled high in the back.

"I'm ready," Kelly said. "Let's go kick some ass."