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〃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 on Mr。 Lanigan's body。 That is what happened。 I had no idea it would cause serious burns。〃
There was a pause as Underhill glanced at Oliver and Oliver glanced at Underhill。 Blatant disbelief。 Stephano simply sneered at them。
〃How long did this go on？〃
〃Five to six hours。〃
They looked at a file and whispered something。 Underhill asked him some questions about the identification process； and Stephano described the fingerprinting。 Oliver struggled with the time sequences； and spent almost an hour pinning down exactly when they grabbed him and how far they drove him and how long they interrogated him。 They grilled Stephano about the trip out of the jungle to the airstrip at Conception。 They probed and fished and covered everything else； then they huddled for a moment and returned to the crucial question。
〃During the interrogation of Mr。 Lanigan； what did you learn about the money？〃
〃Not much。 He told us where the money had been； but it had been moved。〃
〃Can we assume he told you this under extreme duress？〃
〃Safe assumption。〃
〃Are you convinced he didn't know where the money was at that time？〃
〃I wasn't there。 But the man who conducted the interrogation has told me that； without a doubt； he believes that Mr。 Lanigan did not know the exact location of the money。〃
〃The interrogation wasn't recorded either by video or audio？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Jack said； as if he had never thought about it。
〃Did Mr。 Lanigan mention an acplice？〃
〃Not to my knowledge。〃
〃What does that mean？〃
〃Means I don't know。〃
〃How about the man who conducted the interrogation？ Did he hear Mr。 Lanigan mention an acplice？〃
〃Not to my knowledge。〃
〃So； as far as you know； Mr。 Lanigan never mentioned an acplice？〃
〃That's correct。〃
They shuffled files again； and whispered between themselves； then took a long pause； one that became profoundly unsettling for Stephano。 He had told two lies in a row…no recording and no acplice…and he still felt safe with them。 How could these guys know what was said in the jungles of Paraguay？ But they were the FBI。 So he fidgeted； and waited。
The door opened suddenly； and Hamilton Jaynes walked through it； followed by Warren； the third interrogator。 〃Hello； Jack；〃 Jaynes said loudly as he took a seat on one side of the table。 Warren sat near his buddies。
〃Hello； Hamilton；〃 Stephano said； fidgeting even more。
〃Been listening in the next room；〃 Jaynes said with a smile。 〃And I'm suddenly wondering if you're being truthful。〃
〃Of course I am。〃
〃Of course。 Look； ever heard the name Eva Miranda？〃
Stephano repeated it slowly； as if totally confused by it。 〃Don't think so。〃
〃She's a lawyer in Rio。 A friend of Patrick's。〃
〃Nope。〃
〃Well； see； that's what bothers me； Jack； because I think you know precisely who she is。〃
〃I've never heard of her。〃
〃Then why are you trying to find her？〃
〃I don't know what you're talking about；〃 Stephano said rather weakly。
Underbill spoke first。 He was looking directly at Stephano； but he spoke to Jaynes。 〃He's lying。〃
〃He certainly is；〃 said Oliver。
〃No question about it；〃 Warren added。
Stephano's eyes darted from voice to voice。 He started to say something； but Jaynes showed him his palms。 The door opened； and one more rade from the Underbill…Oliver…Warren school walked in just far enough to say； 〃The voice analysis shows sufficient proof of lying。〃 His announcement over； he withdrew immediately。
Jaynes picked up a single sheet of paper and summarized from it。 〃This is a story appearing in a Rio paper this morning。 It tells of the kidnapping of a Mr。 Paulo Miranda。 His daughter is Patrick's friend； Jack。 We've checked with the authorities in Rio。 No ransom demand。 Nothing from the kidnappers。〃 He slid the paper in the direction of Stephano； but it stopped out of his reach。
〃So where is Mr。 Miranda？〃
〃I don't know。 I don't know what you're talking about。〃
Jaynes looked at the other end of the table。
〃Still lying；〃 Underbill said。 Oliver and Warren nodded their agreement。
〃We had a deal； Jack。 You would tell us the truth； and we would drop the charges against you。 And； as I recall； we agreed not to arrest your clients。 Now what I am supposed to do； Jack？〃
Stephano was looking at Underbill and Oliver； who seemed ready to pounce on his next utterance。 They； in turn； stared coldly at him； missing nothing。
〃She knows where the money is；〃 Stephano said in resignation。
〃Do you know where she is？〃
〃No。 She fled Rio when we found Patrick。〃
〃No sign of her？〃
〃No。〃
Haynes looked at his truth squad。 Yes； he had stopped the lying。
〃I agreed to tell you everything；〃 Jack said。 〃I did not agree to do anything else。 We can still look for her。〃
〃We didn't know about her。〃
〃Too bad。 If necessary； we can review our agreement。 I'll be happy to call my lawyer。〃
〃Yes； but we've already caught you lying。〃
〃I'm sorry。 It won't happen again。〃
〃Lay off the girl； Jack。 And release her father。〃
〃I'll think about it。〃
〃No。 You'll do it now。〃
THE BEACH HOUSE was a modern tri…level in a row of seemingly identical structures along a freshly developed strip of the Coast。 October was off…season。 Most of the houses appeared to be empty。 Sandy parked behind a shiny generic four…door with Louisiana plates； a rental car； he presumed。 The sun was low on the horizon； inches off the top of the flat water。 The Gulf was deserted； not a boat or a ship could be seen。 He climbed the steps and followed the wraparound deck until he found a door。
Leah answered his knock with a smile； a short one forced through because she was at heart a warm person； not given to the dark mood swings which now plagued her。 〃e in；〃 she said softly； and locked the door behind him。 The living room was large and vaulted； with glass on three sides and a fireplace in the center。
〃Nice place；〃 he said； then caught a delicious aroma floating in from the kitchen。 He had skipped lunch； thanks to Patrick。
〃Are you hungry？〃 she asked。
〃Starving。〃
〃I'm cooking a little something。〃
〃Wonderful。〃
The authentic hardwood floors creaked a little as he followed her to the dining room。 On the table was a cardboard box； and beside it were papers neatly arranged。 She had been working。 She paused by the table and said； 〃This is the Aricia file。〃
〃Prepared by whom？〃
〃Patrick； of course。〃
〃Where has it been for the past four years？〃
〃In storage。 In Mobile。〃
Her answers were short； and each gave rise to a dozen quick questions Sandy would have loved to throw at her。 〃We'll get to it later；〃 she said； and dismissed it with a casual wave。
In the kitchen； there was a whole roasted chicken on the cutting board by the sink。 A pan of brown rice mixed with vegetables was steaming on the stove。 〃It's pretty basic；〃 she said。 〃I find it hard to cook in someone else's kitchen。〃
〃Looks delicious。 Whose kitchen is this？〃
〃It's just a rental。 I have it for the month。〃
She sliced the chicken and directed Sandy to pour th