The tutor had been gone less than an hour. Each minute she was out of his sight wore down his usual, infinite patience until Quinton was grinding his teeth.

Was she a kidnapper?

Maybe.

Evidence revealed her hobbies included more than playing language games with a ten year old. The kidnappings were an inside job. Isabelle Archer, if that even was her real name, was hiding something. It didn't make sense, though. She hadn't been in the Batang Palace long enough to have any direct contact with the missing children. What possible part in the disappearances could she have played?

Quinton shuddered. He hadn't felt such off-balance anger since Julia dumped him five years ago. The only sure thing he knew was that the tutor unnerved him, pissed him off, and he wanted the coming confrontation over, done with, pronto. He'd turn her over to the Sultan's people for further questioning and let the bungling palace detectives have a go at her.

The door clicked open. He quit pacing and stared, mesmerized. Silky black hair that would feel buttery soft around his fingers or resting against his bare chest, swayed with each graceful movement she took. Desire curled in the pit of his stomach. He imagined her tight body easing down, riding him slowly, taking her pleasure.

Quinton couldn't look away. The tutor quietly shut the door, turned and speared him with her haunting blue eyes. The impact of her beauty slammed him so hard in the chest that he flinched.

"Where's Jumah?"

Her voice was lilting, spellbinding, terrifying.

"Locked in my room where you can't get to him."

"Why would you do that?"

Quinton held his hand up in challenge, waved the packet of tools in the air. "Explain this."

Her eyes narrowed for a split-second. She stepped closer.

"I found it hidden in your toiletries bag," he announced.

"And you assume it is mine?"

"Are you denying that it is?"

After a long silence, "Of course it's mine."

Her honesty came as a complete surprise. Quinton felt like he'd been rebooted.

"What use would a tutor have for a directional sound amplifier?" He steeled himself against the urge to either back away or pull her close and pointed to another instrument. "How about this little goodie? Are you any good at picking tumbler locks?"

"That depends..."