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〃If he thinks the two of us are up to something； he'll eat us both for lunch。〃 She tossed her head。 〃Forget it。 I know him； you don't。〃
〃I know as much about him as I need to； I know what he wants most。〃
He was right and she knew it。 Perhaps it was a new feeling for this genius creature to acknowledge intelligence on her level in another person。 She must be so used to dominating people easily； he was counting on her being intrigued by someone else's manipulation of a man who was her enemy。
She signaled him by putting her hand on his back。 〃I must be mad to listen to a madman。〃
〃Mr。 Croaker；〃 Dedalus called； 〃I've shown you quite enough of my patience for one day。 Get down here and tell me what you've done with my nuclear theorist。〃
〃I'm afraid Dr。 Serman is dead。 He has met with an unfortunate accident；〃 Croaker said as he leaned back and； extruding his stainless…steel nails； slit open Serman's wrist。 〃Smear yourself with the blood；〃 he whispered to Vesper。 To Dedalus he said； 〃He fell down the vertical shaft。 I'm having trouble bringing him down to you。〃
〃Forget him；〃 Dedalus said impatiently。 〃It's you I want〃
〃I'm afraid it won't be as simple as that；〃 Croaker said； and turning； twisted Vesper's arm behind her back。 She cried out at the force of it； which was the point。 〃Your agent Vesper is here with me； Senator。 You don't want her killed； do you？〃
Dedalus； leaning farther into the shaft's end； aimed the Beretta at them both。 〃Frankly； I don't give a rat's ass about her。 All my agents are expendable。 It's in their job description。〃
〃Nice old boy。 I am dearly going to love this；〃 Croaker murmured under his breath。 To Dedalus； he said； 〃I was expecting something like that from you； so here's the deal …〃
〃No fucking deal； Mr。 Croaker。 Slide out of there now； with or without Vesper； it's all the same to me。〃
〃The deal is you clear the area you're in and I'll e out …〃
Dedalus barked a laugh。
〃… and tell you where Mikio Okami is in hiding。〃
Dedalus laughed louder。 〃Oh； Mr。 Croaker； I already know Okami's in London。 In a matter of twenty…four hours his brains will be blown all over the map。 e out now and stop playing at James Bond。〃
Croaker took a deep breath。 Here goes； he thought。 〃Okami knows all about you and Leonforte and Akinaga； Senator。 He's not in London anymore； but I know where he's gone。〃 It was a lie … a desperate one … and he could only hope that he was good enough to sell it to Dedalus； a born liar。
〃My information …〃
〃Is out of date； Senator；〃 Croaker said。 Timing was everything now。 He must not allow Dedalus time to think。 〃I met with Okami in Holland Park。 Shall I tell you exactly where？ Near Bird Lawn； right where …〃
〃I don't believe you。〃
Jesus； he was sweating now。 He was terrified it wouldn't work and terrified it would。 What a plan。 No wonder Vesper had called him mad。 And yet she had gone along with him； this gave him a modicum of hope。 But as Ben Franklin wrote； He that lives upon hope will the fasting。
〃Why do you think I went to London？ I was following a lead。〃
〃To Okami？ You're supposed to be investigating Dominic Goldoni's murder。〃
〃Okay； Senator； let's call a spade a spade。 We both know Do Duc killed Goldoni and we both know who hired him： Leon Waxman； your man running Looking…Glass。 But Wax…man was Johnny Leonforte； a major oversight in your vetting process。 In the course of that investigation I discovered that Goldoni and Okami were partners in a global business network。 Do Duc was hired to murder Okami as well； but as we know； he failed and Okami disappeared。 Are we beginning to speak the same language？〃
〃Perhaps。〃
〃You've been searching for Okami ever since； Senator。 That's why you didn't throw me off the job the moment you met me。 You figured since Goldoni's murderer had been killed and my investigation was still running； I must be after Okami； just like you。 And you were right。 Only； unlike you； I didn't lose track of him。 I know where he is now。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃But you already knew that； didn't you；〃 Croaker said； ignoring him。 〃Sure。 Johnny Leonforte was working for you。 If the father； why not the son？ It was Caesare's man who shadowed me in London。 I took care of him； but until now it didn't occur to me there might be more than one who saw Okami in Holland Park。 Caesare took the news of Okami's whereabouts right to you； didn't he； Senator？〃
〃Where is Okami； Mr。 Croaker？〃
〃Do we have a deal？〃
〃Jesus； Croaker；〃 Vesper whispered hoarsely。 〃What the hell are you going to tell him when we get out there？〃
〃Shut up and follow my lead。〃
〃I ask you again； Mr。 Croaker …〃
〃Do we have a deal； Senator？〃
Silence。 Then Dedalus disappeared from the end of the shaft。 Croaker took the opportunity to hustle them closer to the open vent aperture。
Dedalus reappeared and said； 〃They're gone。 e out of your hole； Mr。 Croaker。 Perhaps we do have something to discuss。〃
〃You'll pardon me if I don't believe you until I see for myself；〃 Croaker said； scuttling toward the senator。 〃And by the way； put down the Beretta。 It does nothing at all for my sense of trust in this deal。〃
Dedalus dropped the gun。 Pushing Vesper out the vent； Croaker tumbled out after her。 They stood in a small clearing along a densely wooded hillside。 There was no one else visible； but Croaker did not for a moment trust Dedalus。 The man dealt in lies the way others traded stocks or modities。 Croaker had known men like him and he knew their weakness： it was their lust for power。 Here and now； tracking down Mikio Okami represented the ultimate power to Dedalus。
〃Satisfied？〃 Dedalus asked in a neutral tone of voice。
〃Hardly。〃 Croaker had regained his grip on Vesper and with her face and shoulder smeared with blood； she looked just as he wanted her to。 The senator seemed concerned at the sight of her。 After all； he had sent her into the DARPA facility； and he was facing the consequences of that act。 It proved he was human； just like anybody else。
Dedalus peered at her。 〃Such a beautiful face。 Did he break your nose？〃
〃I think so；〃 she said in a peculiar nasal voice。 〃I can't feel anything。〃
〃Shut up！〃 Croaker said。
〃Let her go now；〃 Dedalus said； the stern father figure again。
〃I need to be sure of our deal。〃
〃I've done everything you asked。 What more do you want？〃
〃Reassurances； Senator。 Once I tell you where Okami is； I'll need all your help。 You know what happened to Do Duc。〃
〃You'll have my protection； provided the intelligence you give me is correct。〃
〃Don't worry about that； Senator。〃 Croaker was looking around。 〃Do you have transportation near here？ This place is starting to give me the creeps。〃
〃Just over that rise；〃 Dedalus said as he bent to retrieve the Beretta。
〃Empty it； Senator。〃
Dedalus did so without protest。 Vesper was eyeing the trees。 〃He's lying； Senator。〃
Dedalus looked up。 〃What？〃
Croaker shook her hard。 〃I told you to shut up！〃
〃Dr。 Serman is still alive。 That's when Croaker hit me； when I was trying to minister to him。 I think you'd better send some people in to get him。〃
〃But I've sent …〃
〃Senator； he'll die unless you do something。〃
Dedalus nodded。 He made a hand