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I want you to know something； she had said。 If I never see you again； I'll shrivel up and die。
But you're going now； he had replied； his heart breaking。 Back to Tony D。 He had seen tears standing in her amber eyes。 It would help if you gave me the procedure for contacting the Nishiki network。
That was Dom's only legacy； the perpetuation of all his power。 I won't jeopardize it … even for you。
Now； standing in the doorway in jeans； cowboy boots； and a stylish leather jacket； she seemed far more beautiful than he remembered her。 Her face； with its prominent nose； wide tips； and unusual amber eyes； filled him with the kind of joy so unexpected it was akin to pain。
〃Mom。 Hi。〃
〃Hi； sugar。〃 Margarite grinned at her daughter。 〃How you doing？〃
〃Super！〃 She clung to Croaker with a childlike joy。
Croaker stood with his hands on Francie's shoulders； reluctant to let go of her。 Why？ Was she a shield for his intimate feelings or the connective tissue that bound him to Margarite？
Looking from one adult to the other； Francie said； 〃I'm gonna get some lunch。 Anyone else； get hungry； the kitchen's that way。〃 She gestured to a hallway to the left before disappearing down it。
Margarite came into the living room； threw down her： purse and car keys on one of the facing sofas。
〃I didn't know you were back from Japan。 How long …〃
〃Couple of months。〃
〃I see。〃 Her head went down。 〃And in all this time not even a phone call。〃
〃Margarite …〃 He took a step toward her； then froze； the knowledge of what he was doing flooding through him。 Since she had returned from Tokyo； he had had her under surveillance。 Nicholas had given him the name of an operative whom the pany used from time to time in New York to keep the corporate spies at bay。 As soon as Croaker had returned to New York several weeks ago； he had taken up much of the surveillance himself。 What he was looking for was anything out of the ordinary in Margarite's routine。 He knew she must make periodic contact with a member of the Nishiki network that Okami had set up to provide Dominic Goldoni with dirt on prominent Washington figures。 And she would go about it via the same procedure her brother before her had used。 The mechanisms had been in place for some time； they wouldn't be changed now。
He loved her and he was spying on her while trying to keep out of Tony D。's way。 Again； he asked himself the basic question： How could he be in love with someone on the opposite side of the law？ But then he supposed she must ask herself the same question。
〃How is Tony D。 treating you？〃
〃Oh； Lew； don't let's spoil this moment by talking about him。〃
Instantly； he was on guard。 〃Is he hurting you？〃
〃No；〃 she said at once。 〃Thank God that's over。〃 She attempted a smile。 〃I think he's trying to turn over a new leaf。 He wants Francie back home； he wants our marriage to be the way it once was。〃
Croaker felt as if an iceberg were moving through him。 〃And you believe him？〃
Now her smile was genuine； warm。 〃I haven't believed anything he's said for years。〃
He took another step toward her； and it was as if he were magnetized to the polestar。 One foot in front of the other and he just kept ing until he had wrapped her in his arms and his mouth came down over hers。 Her lips opened and he heard her sigh； felt the tension melt out of her。
〃Oh； God；〃 she whispered； 〃I thought。。。〃 She closed her eyes。 〃I don't want to say what I thought。〃
〃I'll never stop loving you。〃 His hand stroked her hair。 〃No matter what happens。〃
She was weeping silently。 〃I never believed in hell； but that's where I feel I am now。 I know you want me to tell you about Nishiki； but it's the one thing I can't give you。 Is there some way you'll find to make me do it？ I don't know； but I feel sure you'll try。 I don't want you as an adversary； it's killing me。 I feel as if I'm being torn in half。〃
They clung wordlessly to one another。 What could he reply？ Anything he would say would be a lie； so he chose silence。
Both of them longed to be alone； but it was impossible … Margarite had only an hour to spare； and Croaker needed to check the logs and go over her movements for the last twenty…four hours … and； in any event； there was Francie to think of。 Instead； they went into the kitchen and had lunch together； all of them pretending there was no subtext； nothing odd； no hidden agenda； and in that way the real world was； for the moment； kept at bay。
The next morning； he was parked on the east side of Park Avenue at Forty…seventh Street； and yesterday's encounter felt like a dream。 Movement at the corner of his eye brought him to full attention。 Two cars behind him； a woman had stepped into the street to hail a cab。 She was a handsome woman in her midforties； affluent； as attested to by her suede and fox…fur coat and black patent…leather Chanel handbag。 As she raised her hand； a rail…thin black man on a bicycle lowered his helmeted head and； his thighs pumping； put on a sudden burst of speed。 He swerved to his right； cutting off a car； whose horn blared angrily。 At the point be was abreast of the woman； his hand hooked out； snatching the Chanel bag off her shoulder。 She spun around； slamming her hip into the bumper of a parked car； went down on one knee。
The cyclist was just hitting his stride when Croaker flung his door open right into the bicycle's front fender。 The cyclist went flying and Croaker was out of the car； sprinting along the tarmac。 He kicked aside the bike； bent down to reach for the bag。 The cyclist rolled over； grabbed the bag； and in the same motion； slashed upward with a switchblade。
〃Motherfucker； you want this back； you betta be ready to die for it。〃
Croaker struck out with his left hand； luminous blue and matte black。 The blade of the knife struck two fingers and sparks flew； metal on metal； and the cyclist's eyes opened wide。
〃Oh； mama！〃
Croaker curled his titanium and polycarbonate fingers inward； trapping the blade。 With a quick twist of his wrist； he flung the knife from the cyclist's grip。 Then he placed his hand in front of the man's strained face； slowly extruded the wicked…looking stainless…steel nails。 He placed the tips against the cyclist's shirt； scored five rents in the fabric。
〃Hand me the bag；〃 he rasped； 〃or I'll pat these right through you。〃
〃Okay； okay；〃 the cyclist said； throwing the bag at Croaker。 He slithered up； never taking his eyes from Croaker's hand。 〃What the fuck is that thing； anyway？〃
〃If you've got to ask； you don't want to know。〃
The cyclist went warily to pick up his bicycle； but Croaker put a heavy foot on the rear wheel。 〃This is mine now。〃
'〃Hey； chill out； I'll lose my job without it。 This my livelihood； man。〃
〃You should have thought of that before you snatched this。〃
Croaker watched the man slink off； then walked back to where the woman was staring at a run in her Fogal stocking。 〃I believe you lost this； ma'am。〃
〃You should have beat the shit out of that animal；〃 the woman said； taking her Chanel bag。 Her gray eyes were already searching for a taxi。 〃Damnit； now I'm late for my meeting at Sotheby's。〃
〃You're wele； I'm sure；〃 Croaker said； getting back into his car。 He left the bicycl