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nd I was desperate to play ball。 I would gladly pay the million bucks。 I just needed some reassurance。〃
〃Where was the second town？〃
〃Sao Mateus； in the state of Espirito Santo； north of Rio on the coast。 It's a small town of sixty thousand； a pretty place with friendly people； and we spent a month there mingling and showing our photos。 The apartment arrangement was similar to the one in Itajai …two months' cash paid by a man named Derrick Boone； a Brit。 Without being bribed； the owner positively identified Boone as our man。 Seems as if Boone stayed over for a week without paying； so there was a bit of a grudge。 Unlike Itajai； though； Boone kept to himself and the owner knew nothing about his doings。 Nothing else turned up； and we left Sao Mateus in early March of this year。 We regrouped in Sao Paulo and Rio； and made new plans。〃
〃What were the new plans？〃
〃We withdrew from the north and concentrated on the smaller towns in the states near Rio and Sao Paulo。 Here in Washington； I got more aggressive with the boys from Pluto。 Their client was stuck on a million。 My client was unwilling to pay without verification。 It was a logjam； with both sides playing hardball but willing to keep talking。〃
〃Did you ever learn how their client knew so much about Lanigan's movements？〃
〃No。 We speculated for hours。 One theory was that their client was also chasing Lanigan； for some unknown reason。 It could've been someone in the FBI who needed cash。 That； of course； was a longshot； but we thought of everything。 The second theory； and the most likely； was that their client was someone Lanigan knew and trusted； who was willing to sell him out。 Regardless； my client and I decided we could not allow the opportunity to escape。 The search was now almost four years old； and going nowhere。 As we had learned； there are a million wonderful places to hide in Brazil； and Lanigan seemed to know what he was do…ing。〃
〃Did you break the logjam？〃
〃They did。 In August of this year； they ambushed us with another offer： current photos of Lanigan； in exchange for another fifty grand。 We said yes。 The money was wired offshore。 They handed me the photos in my office here in Washington。 There were three； black…and…white eight…by…tens。〃
〃Could I see them； please？〃
〃Sure。〃 Stephano pulled them from his perfectly organized briefcase； and slid them down the table。 The first was a shot of Lanigan in a crowded market； obviously taken at long range。 He wore sunglasses； and was holding what appeared to be a tomato。 The second was taken either a moment before or a moment after as he walked along a sidewalk with a bag of something in his hand。 He wore jeans and looked no different from any Brazilian。 The third was the most telling； Patrick in shorts and a tee shirt washing the hood of his Volkswagen Beetle。 The license plates could not be seen； nor could much of the house。 The sunglasses were off； and it was a clear shot of his face。
〃No street names； no license plates；〃 Oliver said。
〃Nothing。 We studied them for hours； but found nothing。 Again； as I said； there was a brain at work。〃
〃So what did you do？〃
〃Agreed to pay the million dollars…〃
〃When？〃
〃In September。 The money was placed in escrow with a trust agent in Geneva； to be held until both sides gave notice to move it。 Under our deal； their client had fifteen days to give us the name of the town； and the street address where he lived。 We chewed our nails for the entire fifteen days； then on the sixteenth； after verbal warfare； they came through。 The town was Ponta Pora； the street was Rua Tiradentes。 We raced to the town； then sneaked into it。 We had great respect for Lanigan by now； and we figured he was brilliant at moving forward while watching his back。 We found him； then watched him for a week just to make sure。 His name was Danilo Silva。〃
〃A week？〃
〃Yeah； we had to be patient。 He picked Ponta Pora for a reason。 It's a wonderful place to hide。 Local officials are cooperative if the money is right。 The Germans discovered it after the war。 One bad move； the cops get tipped； and they step in to protect him。 So we waited and schemed and finally grabbed him outside of town； on a small road with no witnesses。 A clean getaway。 We sneaked him into Paraguay to a safe house。〃
〃And there you tortured him？〃
Stephano paused； took a sip of coffee； and stared at Oliver。 〃Something like that；〃 he said。
Twenty…seven
PATRICK PACED and stretched at one end of the doctors' conference room while Sandy sat and listened and doodled on a legal pad。 A nurse had brought a tray of cookies； still untouched。 Sandy admired the cookies and asked himself how many capital murder prisoners got cookies delivered to them？ How many had their own team of bodyguards lurking nearby？ How many had the Judge stopping by for pizza？
〃Things are changing； Sandy；〃 Patrick said without looking at him。 〃We have to move fast。〃
〃Move where？〃
〃She won't stay here as long as her father is miss…ing。〃
〃As usual； I'm thoroughly confused。 The gaps are getting wider and the two of you speak in tongues。 But I'm just the lawyer。 Why should I know anything？〃
〃She has the files and records； and the story。 You have to go see her。〃
〃I just saw her last night。〃
〃She's waiting on you。〃
〃Really？ Where？〃
〃There's a beach house at Perdido。 She's there。〃
〃Let me guess。 I'm supposed to drop everything； and race over right now。〃
〃It's important； Sandy。〃
〃So are my other clients；〃 he said angrily。 〃Why can't you give me a little notice here？〃
〃I'm sorry。〃
〃I have court this afternoon。 My daughter's got soccer。 Is it asking too much for some warning？〃
〃I couldn't anticipate a kidnapping； Sandy。 You've got to admit the circumstances are somewhat unusual。 Try and understand。〃
Sandy took a deep breath and scribbled something。 Patrick sat on the edge of the table； very near him。 〃I'm sorry； Sandy。〃
〃What might we discuss at the beach house？〃
〃Aricia。〃
〃Aricia；〃 he repeated； then looked away。 He knew the basics； at least what he'd read in the papers。
〃It will take some time； so I'd pack for overnight。〃
〃Am I expected to stay at the beach house？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃With Leah？〃
〃Yes。 It's a big house。〃
〃And what exactly am I supposed to tell my wife？ That I'm shacked up in a beach house with a beautiful Brazilian woman？〃
〃I wouldn't。 Just tell her you're meeting with the rest of my defense team。〃
〃That's nice。〃 〃Thanks； Sandy。〃
UNDERHILL joined Oliver after a coffee break。 They sat next to each other with the video camera behind them； all eyes aimed down the table at Ste…phano。
〃Who interrogated Patrick？〃 Underhill asked Ste…phano。
〃I'm not required to give the names of my associ…ates。〃
〃Did this person have any experience with physical interrogation？〃
〃Limited。〃
〃Describe the means used。〃
〃I'm not sure…〃
〃We've seen the photos of the burns； Mr。 Stephano。 And we； the FBI； have been sued for injuries inflicted by your men。 Now； tell us how you did it。〃
〃I wasn't there。 I didn't plan the interrogation because I have little experience in that field。 I knew in general terms that a series of electrical shocks would be applied to various points o