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Croaker certainly did。 〃So Margarite and the senator got together。 What did they do？〃
Domino shook her head。 〃You first。 What do you want with Vesper？〃
Croaker wiped his mouth； took a swig of coffee while wondering how big a hole the acid was going to burn in his stomach。 〃I saw her last night。 At Moniker's。 She and Margarite took off in the black Nissan ragtop。〃
〃Where did they go？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃And Richie？〃
〃Margarite arrived at the strip joint in Senator Dedalus's limo。〃
〃So you're following Goldoni's sister。〃
〃No。 Someone else who was at Moniker's。〃 No way he was going to tell this woman the truth。 He had trusted Lillehammer up to a point and had been betrayed。
Domino turned her head toward the sunlight streaming into the room while she thought over his answers。 〃My sister worked for Leon Waxman before his death。〃
〃I worked for William Justice Lillehammer。〃
〃Really？ And you two never met？ Lillehammer worked for Waxman。〃
〃Right。 Same agency。 I was recruited in the field。 I never came to his office。 In fact； I didn't know he had one。〃
Domino pursed her lips。 〃You sure you came by the codes legitimately？ I'd hate to think I gave intelligence over to an interloper。〃
〃Lillehammer hired me as a freelance to look into Dominic Goldoni's death。〃
〃And you're still doing that？ I had heard Goldoni was murdered by a crazy Vietnamese with a grudge … Duck something。〃
Croaker couldn't help smiling。 〃Do Duc； yes。 But it's never been made clear just who hired Do Duc。 It's my belief that it was Waxman。〃
〃That would make sense since Waxman turned out to be Johnny Leonforte。〃
It was being clear that this woman was no dim…witted bureaucratic clerk。
Croaker thought a moment。 〃How did Dedalus e to hire Waxman in the first place？〃
〃He came highly remended。〃
〃By whom？〃
〃I wouldn't know。〃 She contemplated him for some time。 〃Maybe Vesper does。〃
〃Another reason why I need to see her。〃
She leaned across the table。 〃Who were you surveilling at Moniker's？〃
〃I'm afraid that's privileged information。〃
She stood up。 〃Then I can't help you with Margarite and the senator。〃
〃Sit down。 Please。〃
Reluctantly； she did as he asked。 It was dawning on him that this woman was outmaneuvering him。 That rankled him。 He knew he shouldn't feel that way。 If she had been a man； he'd see this merely as an interesting adversarial confrontation。 He wondered how to proceed。 Perhaps a modicum of the truth was called for。
〃The truth is Lillehammer brought me in because he was concerned about a traitor or traitors inside his agency。 He warned me to trust no one； so far it's been sound advice。〃
〃The trouble with it is； in order to get on with your investigation you've got to trust someone sometime。〃
She was right； of course； but he hated to admit it。 〃I am curious about Dominic Goldoni's relationship with Senator Dedalus。 On the face of it； it's odd enough to warrant investigation。〃
〃I agree。 But when you know that Dedalus was in charge of a submittee looking into reregulating interstate trucking regulations and municipal bidding for new construction； Goldoni's motivation for sucking up to the senator bees clear。〃
〃And Margarite is continuing the relationship。〃
〃I imagine so。 I can't think of any other reason she would want to see Dedalus。〃 She gave him a playful smile。 〃You see？ A little trust isn't such a terrible thing to give away； is it？〃
Nicholas opened his eyes into whiteness。 He blinked rapidly； tears ing to his eyes； as he became aware of his breathing： in； out； in； out。 The whiteness was everywhere； as if he existed； weightless； within a cloud。 He could hear his heart beating like the ki of the sky； the blood coursing through his arteries and veins like the wind。
The harsh cry of a seagull took him out of himself； the soft rolling susurrus of the surf stole into his consciousness。 He was very near an ocean； perhaps along a shoreline。 Where？
〃Have you ever had the recurring dream where you're in a building … an office or a private house； it doesn't matter which。 Anyway； there are people all about … you can't see them but you can feel them like lice on your skin； and you know you've got to hide from them。 You don't know why but you must。〃
〃I never have； no。〃
〃Well； I have … all the time。〃
Nicholas recognized Seiko's voice； but who had answered her？ A male voice； well modulated； educated。 They were speaking Japanese。
There was the soft clink of ice against glassware； and Nicholas was aware of sweat on his bare skin； the whisper of a thin cotton sheet covering him from the waist down。 White mosquito netting was tented over him so that he appeared suspended within a cloud。
〃What happens in your dream？〃 the male voice asked。
〃I'm desperate not to be seen。 I run through the rooms of the house； banging on the walls looking for a trapdoor。 Then； as I am about to be overtaken； I turn a corner； reach up to the ceiling； and find one。〃
〃So you're safe。〃
A soft sound of fabric； a whiff of perfume； and Nicholas knew Seiko was moving around。 〃No； they find me anyway in that dark； cramped space。〃
〃I'm no Freudian； but …〃
〃I know； I know； it's a birth dream。 That's one interpretation。〃
〃What's your interpretation？〃
〃I'm ashamed of what I am doing。〃
The man laughed。 〃Are you serious？〃
〃Perhaps not。 Someone once said that all dreams are jokes； anyway。〃
〃I should hope so。 Try as I may； shame is a sentiment I cannot connect with you。〃
Nicholas groaned。
Seiko caught her breath。 〃He's awake。 Thank God。〃
〃I told you it wouldn't take long。〃
〃And how would you know？〃 She reached the bed on which Nicholas was lying。 She looked down at him and smiled； obvious relief on her face。 〃Thank God；〃 she said again as her hand gently passed across his forehead。 She leaned down； pressed her lips against his。
〃Where am I？〃 Nicholas said hoarsely。
〃Give him a drink； for God's sake；〃 the male voice said； slightly vexed。 〃Kisses can e later。〃
Seiko； kneeling beside the bed； brought a tumbler of cold water to Nicholas's mouth。 He drank avidly。
〃I want to sit up；〃 he whispered。 He was aware of his cheek resting against Seiko's shoulder。 It was as cool as alabaster。
〃I don't think that would be a good idea。〃
〃Oh； stop mothering him；〃 the male voice said。 It was on the move； ing toward them。 〃He can do whatever he tells you he can do。 I told you that。〃
Nicholas felt rather than saw Seiko look up at this man。 He was curious about the stranger； but instinctively he did not want to look into his face until he was on his feet。
〃Where are we？〃 he said as Seiko helped him off the bed。
〃Never mind。 It's someplace perfectly safe。〃
He saw； much to his astonishment； that all he had on was a batik…print bathing suit。
〃Look at him；〃 the man said。 〃Whatever superficial scrapes and bruises he had are all but gone。〃
He was right； of course。 Just as strenuous physical exercise caused important chemical changes within the mind and body； so Tau…tau could manipulate the body's chemicals … endorphins； nucleopeptides … to aid the healing process。
Nicholas； on his feet； swung his head around。 〃Who the hell are you？〃
〃Nicho