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"Kat? It's Mike."

Kat was awakened by the ring of the telephone. Without opening her eyes, she reached out for it and put the receiver to her ear.

"You know the fellows I owed money to? Mr. Dinetto got them off my back. He's a real gentleman. And he thinks the world of you, Kat."

Your friend. Kat was nervous…"Mike, listen to me. I want you to be careful."

Kat had forgotten the incident with Dinetto, but now it suddenly flashed into her mind: Lady, you don't know who you're talking to. You better do what the man says. This is Mr. Lou Dinetto.

"Who?" Kat tried to concentrate, groggy with sleep.

"Mr. Dinetto."

Kat had no idea what he was talking about. " Mike…"

"Mr. Dinetto. He really saved my life."

"H'lo?"

"My friend?"

She heard him laugh again.

"Never better, sis. Thanks to you and your friend."

Mike was going on. "I'm sending you some cash, Kat. Your friend arranged for me to get a job. It pays real good money."

She sat up, her heart suddenly pounding. "Mike, are you all right?" She heard him laugh.

Kat was unable to go back to sleep. Dinetto! How did he find out about Mike, and why is he helping him?

"Take care of yourself, Mike. Don't --"

The following night, when Kat left the hospital, a black limousine was waiting for her at the curb. The Shadow and Rhino were standing beside it.

"Don't worry about me. Didn't I tell you everything would be coming up roses? Well, I was right."

The connection was broken.

As Kat started to pass, Rhino said, "Get in, doctor. Mr. Dinetto wants to see you."

She studied the man for a moment. Rhino was ominous-looking, but it was the Shadow who frightened Kat.

"Thanks for coming, Dr. Hunter," he said. "I appreciate it. A friend of mine had a little accident. I want you to take a look at him."

There was something deadly about his stillness. Under other circumstances, Kat would never have gotten into the car, but Mike's telephone call had puzzled her. And worried her.

She was driven to a small apartment on the outskirts of the city, and when she arrived, Dinetto was waiting for her.

"How did… how did you find out about him? I mean, that he was my brother and…"

"I am," Kat said. "I really am."

"I told you, he doesn't like hospitals. I can get you whatever hospital equipment you need. I had another doctor who took care of my friends, but he had an accident."

"Nothing," he said innocently. "I heard he was in a little trouble, and I got it taken care of."

What am I letting myself in for? Kat wondered. "Very well."

"Illegal?" Dinetto said. He seemed hurt. "I wouldn't ask you to do anything like that. This friend of mine was in a little accident and he hates hospitals. Would you take a look at him?"

Dinetto's friend had been badly beaten up. He was lying in bed, unconscious.

The words sent a chill through Kat. She wanted nothing more than to run out of the place and go home, and never hear Dinetto's name again, but nothing in life was free. Quid pro quo. Kat took off her coat and went to work.

"He's in the bedroom."

Kat shook her head. "I won't do anything illegal."

"What happened to him?" Kat asked.

"Good! You know the saying 'One hand washes the other'?"

Dinetto looked at her and said, ' 'He fell down a flight of stairs."

"He should be in a hospital."

Dinetto smiled. "In my business, we're all friends. We help each other. Mike got mixed up with some bad boys, so I helped him out. You should be grateful."

"What are you doing with Mike?" Kat demanded.