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LeBaron gave her husband on their anniversary is a fake； one of those inexpensive reproductions that are illegally manufactured in Taiwan or Mexico。〃
〃Why would a woman who could write a check for a million dollars give her husband a cheap imitation？〃
〃Raymond LeBaron was no slouch when it came to style and taste。 He must have recognized it for what it was。 Better to ask the question； why did he stoop to wearing it？〃
〃So you think she put on an act and lied about the body ID？〃
〃My gut reaction is that she prepared herself for what to expect；〃 Rooney replied。 〃And I'd go； so far as to bet my new Mercedes…Benz that genetic tracing； the dental report； and the results of the rubber casts I made from what remained of the fingerprints and sent to the FBI lab will prove she was right。〃 He turned and peered at the corpse。 〃That isn't Raymond LeBaron lying there on the slab。〃
Detective Lieutenant Harry Victor； a lead investigator for the Metro Dade County Police Department； sat back in a swivel chair and studied several photographs taken inside the Prosperteer's control cabin。 After several minutes； he raised a pair of rimless glasses over a forehead that slipped under a blond hairpiece and rubbed his eyes。
Victor was a tidy man； everything in its correct pigeonhole； neatly alphabetized and consecutively numbered； the only cop in the memory of the department who actually enjoyed making out reports。 When most men watched sports on television on weekends or relaxed around a resort swimming pool on vacations； reading Rex Burns detective novels； Victor reviewed files on unsolved cases。 A diehard； he was more fanatical about tying up loose ends than obtaining a conviction。
The Prosperteer case was unlike any he'd faced in his eighteen years on the force。 Three dead men falling out of the sky in an antique blimp didn't exactly lend itself to routine police investigation。 Leads were nonexistent。 The three bodies in the morgue revealed no clues to where they had been hiding for a week and a half。
He lowered his glasses and was attacking the photographs again when the desk phone buzzed。 He lifted the receiver and said pensively； 〃Yes？〃
〃You have a witness to see you about a statement；〃 answered the receptionist。
〃Send him on back；〃 said Victor。
He closed the file containing the photographs and laid it on the metal desk； whose surface was antiseptic except for a small sign with his name and the telephone。 He held the receiver to his ear as though receiving a call and swiveled sideways； looking across the spacious homicide office； keeping his eyes focused at an angle toward the door leading to the corridor。
A uniformed receptionist appeared at the threshold and pointed in Victor's direction。 A tall man nodded； eased past her； and approached。 Victor gestured to a chair opposite the desk and began muttering in a one…way conversation with the dial tone。 It was an old interrogation ploy that gave him an uninterrupted minute to inspect a witness or suspect and mentally construct a profile。 Most important； it was an opportunity to observe habits and odd mannerisms that could be used for leverage later。
The male seated across from Victor was about thirty…seven or thirty…eight； approximately six foot three； weight 185； give or take five pounds； black hair tending to be a bit wavy； with no indication of gray。 Skin darkened from year…round exposure to the sun。 Eyebrows dark and slightly bushy。 Straight； narrow nose； lips firm with corners turned up in a slight but fixed grin。 Wearing light blue sports coat and off…white slacks； pale yellow polo shirt with collar open。 Good taste； casual but not ultraexpensive； probably purchased at Saks rather than a plush 'men's store。 Nonsmoker； as there was no evidence of cigarette package bulge in coat or shirt。 Arms were folded； suggesting calm and indifference； and the hands were narrow； long and weathered。 No rings or other jewelry； only an old orange…faced diver's watch with a heavy stainless steel band。
This one didn't follow the general pattern。 The others who had sat in that chair turned fidgety after a while。 Some masked nervousness with arrogance； most restlessly stared around the office； through the windows； at pictures on the walls； at the other officers working their cases； changing position； crossing and recrossing their legs。 For the first time Victor could recall； he felt unfortable and at a disadvantage。 His routine was sidetracked； his act rapidly washing out。
The visitor wasn't the least bit ruffled。 He stared at Victor with bemused interest through opaline green eyes that possessed a mesmeric quality。 They seemed to pass right through the detective； and finding nothing of interest； examined the paint on the wall behind。 Then they dropped to the telephone。
〃Most police departments use the Horizon munications System；〃 he said in an even tone。 〃If you wish to speak to someone on the other end； I suggest you push a button for an open line。〃
Victor looked down。 One of his four buttons was lit but not punched 〃You're very astute； Mr。 。 。？〃
〃Pitt； Dirk Pitt。 If you're Lieutenant Victor； we had an appointment。〃 〃I'm Victor。〃 He paused to replace the receiver in its cradle。 〃You were the first person inside the control car of the Prosperteer blimp？〃
〃That's right。〃
〃Thank you for ing in； especially so early on a Sunday。 I'd appreciate your cooperation in clearing up a few questions。〃
〃Not at all。 Will it take long？〃
〃Twenty minutes； maybe half an hour。 Do you have to be somewhere？〃
〃I'm booked on a plane for Washington in two hours。〃
Victor nodded。 〃I'll get you on your way in plenty of time。〃 He pulled open a drawer and took out a portable tape recorder。 〃Let's go somewhere more private。〃
He led Pitt down a long hallway to a small interview room。 The interior was spartan； only a desk； two chairs； and an ashtray。 Victor sat down and fed a new cassette into the recorder。
〃Mind if I put our conversation on tape？ I'm a terrible note taker。 None of the secretaries can decipher my handwriting。〃
Pitt shrugged agreeably。
Victor moved the machine to the center of the desk and pressed the red Record button。
〃Your name？〃
〃Dirk Pitt。〃
〃Middle initial？〃
〃E for Eric。〃
〃Address？〃
〃266 Airport Place； Washington； D。C。 20001。〃
〃Telephone where you can be reached？〃
Pitt gave Victor the phone number of his office。
〃Occupation？〃
〃Special projects director for the National Underwater and Marine Agency。〃
〃Can you describe the event you witnessed on the afternoon of Saturday； October 20？〃
Pitt told Victor of his sighting the out…of…control blimp during the sailboard marathon race； the mad ride while clinging to the mooring line； and the last…second capture only a few feet away from potential disaster； ending with his entry into the gondola。
〃Did you touch anything？〃
〃Only the ignition and battery switches。 And I laid my hand on the shoulder of the corpse seated at the navigator's table。〃
〃Nothing else？〃
〃The only other place I might have left a fingerprint was on the