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out of my life！〃
Downstairs on the milling sidewalk； she realized that she had nowhere to go。 She couldn't face the apartment； empty and lonely； most of all couldn't face the clothes； the belongings； the photos of Nicholas there。 She could not think of going to Gelda's； that kind of depression would put her over the edge。 And as for returning to her own free…lance business； the idea of starting up again seemed beyond her at the moment。
Confused； she crossed the avenue and went into a coffee shop。 She could not taste the coffee set before her； which was perhaps just as well。 Tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at the blurs of color hurrying by outside。 I've got to do something； she told herself。
She went to the closest branch of her bank and withdrew five thousand dollars。 She kept half as cash； the rest she converted into traveler's checks。 She did some clothes shopping after that； stopping into a luggage store to buy a lightweight suitcase。 She charged everything。 Cosmetics were no problem； but by the time she did that number she realized that she would have to go back to the apartment after all for some essentials she just could not buy duplicates of。 She made it as quick a stop as she could。 But still she was struck by the difference。 It no longer felt like home。 Everything seemed out of place or missing。 The fortable had bee disquieting and sad。 She wiped the tears away and got out of there； locking up as if she were going away forever。
It was only when she was already airborne； on her way to Honolulu and thence Maui； that she realized that； indeed； one item had been missing from the apartment。
The long black lacquer scabbard that sheathed Nicholas' prized dai…katana； the supreme long sword； was gone from its spot on the bedroom wall。 So； of course； was the deadly weapon。
Instinctively； something inside her began to wail。
Minck saw the concern on Tanya's face as she returned from putting Linnear back on his flight east。 She had heard and seen everything； secreted behind the panel of the mirror that was； in the adjoining room； a rectangle of one…way glass。
〃Carroll； I don't understand what you're doing；〃 she said。 〃You've as good as killed him； sending him against Protorov like that。 That wasn't the plan。。。 unless I missed something。〃
Minck was not in a good mood； despite his success with Nicholas。 〃e with me；〃 he said brusquely。 He led her through to the opposite end of the rambling house。 Here； in an area that was restricted even to some of his own staff； Minck took her through several windowless laboratories and into a steel…walled cubicle。 It was very cold in there。
He flipped on the fluorescent overhead light。 Tanya squinted in the harsh purple…blue illumination。 Still； she saw the draped corpse immediately。 It would have been hard to miss since its bulk dominated the small room。
Carefully she strode over to the head and pulled back the white muslin cloth。 〃Oh； God；〃 she whispered。 〃It's Tanker。〃 That was not his real name。 She turned to Minck。 〃When did he e in？〃
〃While you were out。〃
She came away from the blued body。 〃I wondered why you created that 'signature。' Anyone with a knowledge of how it all works would have known that in signals only code names are used； not real ones。〃
'Then let's be thankful that that's one area in which our Mr。 Linnear is ignorant；〃 he said acidly。 〃Because of this beauteous package dropped on our doorstep in Honshu I now have to deal with our brother services who were obliged to transfer Tanker here。〃
They stood in the dim hallway with the door closed at their backs。 〃We now know that Croesus is Protorov's code name； however。〃
〃Tanker was the only one close；〃 she said。
〃Obviously he got too close。〃 Minck closed his eyes。 〃Now； like it or not； we must make do with Mr。 Linnear。〃
〃Do you think that's wise？〃
〃That remains to be seen。 But wise or not； our time has run out。 I'm afraid that were we not to send Mr。 Linnear into the lion's den； the lion would eat us all for supper。〃
〃He may still do that。〃
For a time Minck was silent。 〃I take it； then； that you disapprove of my improvisation。〃
Tanya knew that she was on thin ice here and she thought her words out carefully。 〃I think he's an amateur。 Amateurs have proven in the past to be highly unreliable as well as disconcertingly unpredictable。 They're not under discipline。〃
〃Uhm。 True enough。 But that's also one of his great advantages。 Protorov cannot connect him with us as he did Tanker or as he would you。〃 Minck had the manner of a country yokel； sitting on his back porch of a Sunday； sleepily passing the time with a neighbor。 It was as if nothing of moment was in the air。 〃And after all； he's quite frightening； you know。〃 He seemed to be musing。 〃Up close like that I believe he'd frighten the devil himself。〃 His eyes opened and he looked at her。 〃Even kill him if he was given just cause。 If he or those around him…those he cared about…were put in jeopardy。 Mr。 Linnear strikes me as an extremely loyal fellow as well as a deadly one。〃
〃You think he'll be provoked enough to bring Protorov down。〃 It occurred to Tanya that this had been his goal all along。
〃Yes；〃 Minck said。 〃I have sent our Mr。 Linnear out； rather cleverly I might add； to bring me Viktor Protorov's head； to end our feud once and for all。 I don't like this KGB connection with Colonel Mironenko。 In fact； it scares me like a rattling skeleton at my door。 I begin to imagine the connection between Protorov and Mironenko as being highly significant。 The paranoid in me sketches out a scenario wherein the KGB and the GRU would somehow unite。〃
〃Impossible！〃 Tanya exploded； but her ashen face betrayed her own fright。 〃There are too many points of contention； far too much bad blood between the two。〃
〃Yes； yes； Tanya； my dear。 We're all well acquainted with that line of thought。〃 Minck seemed inordinately pleased with himself。 〃Still I can imagine the attempt being made； I can especially imagine Viktor Protorov spearheading that attempt。 He's got a vicious mind； he's not a bureaucrat。 That's a particularly noxious bination in an enemy。〃
He stirred。 〃In any case…whether this is all imagination or frightening reality…the time has e for Protorov to die。 Mr。 Linnear will be my terrible swift sword。 I have quite a bit of faith in him even if you do not。〃
〃I didn't say that。〃
〃Not in so many words； no。〃 He contemplated her as if she were an entree set before him。 He rose。 〃But just in case you're right in your assessment； I'll be sending you after him in a few days' time。 Timing's crucial so you'll have to be ready immediately。 The beeper'll signal you if you're out of the building。 Tickets will be waiting at Pan Am； the rest's standard procedure。〃
〃What about Linnear？〃
Minck looked at her cynically。 〃The first priority…absolutely the first…is Protorov。 If you and Mr。 Linnear can e to terms and team up； so much the better。〃
〃And if not？〃
〃If not；〃 Minck said； moving away； 〃if Linnear bees a hindrance； you'll just have to dispose of him。〃
Seiichi Sato possessed big hara。
Kneeling across the low lacquer table from Nicholas； he had already taken the top off one of the small dishes and with