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Eventually they came to a scenic overlook； where Haines pulled off the road and parked beside a car from which four garishly dressed tourists were emerging。 Vince parked； too； and Walked to the iron railing at the outer edge of the escarpment； where there was a truly magnificent view of the coastline and of waves breaking thunderously on the rocky shore more than a hundred feet below。
The tourists； in their parrot shirts and striped pants； finished exclaiming Over the sights； took their last pictures； discarded their last bits of litter； and departed； leaving Vince and Haines alone on the cliff。 The only traffic on the
highway was an approaching black Trans Am。 Vince was waiting for the car to pass。 Then he was going to take Haines by surprise。
Instead of going by； the Trans Am pulled off the road and parked beside Haines's Mercedes； and a gorgeous girl； about twenty…five； got out。 She hurried to Haines。 She looked Mexican but with a measure of Chinese blood； very exotic。 She was wearing a white halter top and white shorts； and she had the best legs Vince had ever seen。 She and Haines moved farther along the railing； until they were about forty feet from Vince； where they went into a clinch that made Vince blush。
For the next few minutes； Vince edged along the railing toward them； leaning out dangerously now and then； craning his neck to gawk down at the crashing waves that threw water twenty feet into the air…saying 〃Whooo boy！〃 when a particularly big breaker hit the craggy outcroppings of stone… trying to make it look as if his movement in their direction was entirely innocent。
Though they had turned their backs to him； the breeze carried bits of their conversation。 The woman seemed worried that her husband might find out that Haines was in town； and Haines was pushing her to make up her mind about tomorrow night。 The guy was shameless。
The highway cleared of traffic again； and Vince decided he might not get another opportunity to nail Haines。 He closed the last few feet between him and the girl； grabbed her by the nape of the neck and the belt of her shorts； plucked her off the ground； and threw her over the railing。 Screaming； she plummeted toward the rocks below。
It happened so fast that Haines didn't even have time to react。 The instant the woman was airborne； Vince turned on the startled doctor and punched him in the face； twice； splitting both his lips； breaking his nose； and knocking him unconscious。
As Haines crumpled to the ground； the woman hit the rocks below； and Vince received her gift even at that distance： Ssssnap。
He would have liked to lean over the railing to take a long look at her shattered body on the rocks down there； but unfortunately he had no time to spare。 The highway would not long be free of traffic。
He carried Haines back to the Ford and put him in the front seat； letting him slump against the door as if sleeping peacefully。 He made sure the man's head tipped back to let the blood from his nose trickle down his throat。
From the coast highway； which was twisty and frequently in poor repair for such a major route； Vince followed a series of lesser unpaved roads； each narrower and more rugged than the one before； traveling from gravel to dirt surfaces； heading deeper into the rain forest； until he came to a lonely dead end at a green wall of immense trees and lush vegetation。 Twice during the drive； Haines had begun to regain consciousness； but Vince had quieted the doctor by thumping his head against the dashboard。
Now； he dragged the unconscious man out of the Ford； through a gap in the brush； and deep under the trees； until he found a shady clearing floored with hairy moss。 Cawing and trilling birds fell silent； and unknown animals with peculiar voices moved off through the underbrush。 Large insects； including a beetle as big as Vince's hand； scuttled out of his way； and lizards scampered up tree trunks。
Vince returned to the Ford； where he had left some interrogation equipment in the trunk。 A packet of syringes and two vials of sodium pentothal。 A leather sap weighted with lead pellets。 A hand…applied Taser that resembled a remote…control device for a television set。 And a corkscrew with a wooden handle。
Lawton Haines was still unconscious when Vince returned to the clearing。 His breath rattled in his broken nose。
Haines should have been dead twenty…four hours ago。 The people who had employed Vince for three jobs yesterday had expected to use another freelancer who lived in Acapulco and operated throughout Mexico。 But that guy had died yesterday morning when a long…awaited air…mail package from Fortnum & Mason in London surprisingly contained two pounds of plastic explosives instead of assorted jellies and marmalades。 Out of desperate necessity； the outfit in Los Angeles had given the job to Vince； though he was getting to be dangerously overworked。 It was a big break for him； for he was sure this doctor must also be connected with Banodyne Laboratories and could provide more details about the Francis Project。
Now； exploring the rain forest around the clearing where Haines lay； Vince found a fallen tree from which he was able to pull off a loose； curved section of thick bark that would serve as a ladle。 He located an algae…mottled stream and scooped up nearly a quart of water in the bark vessel。 The stuff looked foul。 No telling what exotic bacteria thrived in it。 But； of course； at this point the possibility of disease would not matter to Haines。
Vince threw the first ladle of water in Haines's face。 A minute later he returned with a second scoopful from which he forced the doctor to drink。 After a lot of spluttering； choking； gagging； and a little vomiting； Haines was at last clearheaded enough to understand what was being said to him； and to respond intelligibly。
Holding up the leather sap； the Taser； and the corkscrew； Vince explained how he'd use each of them if Haines was uncooperative。 The doctor…who revealed himself to be a specialist in brain physiology and function…proved more intelligent than patriotic； and he eagerly divulged every detail of the top…secret defense work in which he was engaged at Banodyne。
When Haines swore there was no more to be told； Vince prepared the sodium pentothal。 As he drew the drug into the syringe； he said； conversationally； 〃Doctor； what is it with you and women？〃
Haines； lying on his back in the hairy moss with his arms at his sides； exactly as Vince had told him to lie； was not able to adjust quickly to the change of subject。 He blinked in confusion。
〃I been following you since lunch； and I know you got three of them on a String in Acapulco…〃
〃Four；〃 Haines said； and in spite of his terror a visible pride surfaced。 〃That Mercedes I'm driving belongs to Giselle； the sweetest little…〃
〃You're using one woman's car to cheat on her with three others？〃
Haines nodded and tried to smile； but he winced as the smile sent new waves of pain through his ruined nose。 〃I've always 。 。 。 had this way with the ladies。〃
〃For God's sake！〃 Vince was appalled。 〃Don't you realize these aren't the sixties or seventies any more？ Free love's dead。 It's got a price now。 Steep price。 Haven't you heard abou