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air of staff cars side by side。 The carved front door was high enough for a basketball player to enter without stooping。
Croaker's insistent ring on the bell was answered by a young woman in her twenties。 She was dressed in a neat Donna Karan suit。 A string of pearls around her neck set off the color of her skin； which was the hue of hot chocolate。 Her large black eyes regarded Croaker with a mixture of curiosity and good humor。 Her thick hair was woven into a series of sinuous braids that wrapped around her head。
〃May I help you？〃
He showed her his federal badge。 〃I'd like to see the senator。〃
The young woman looked from the badge to Croaker's face。 She had taken the time to read the thing； which impressed him。 Most people didn't； they were too intimidated by the trappings of authority。
〃Won't you e in？〃 She took a step backward。 〃I'll see if the senator is out of bed yet。〃
She led him through a vast oval entryway； floored in white marble blocks。 It was dominated by a crystal chandelier and a wide； curving teak staircase that was obviously new and custom…made。 A small ebony table； its shape echoing the larger oval； stood beneath the chandelier。 On it； an evocative Bennett Bean sculpture in granite； stainless steel； and fired clay rose to just beneath the lowest crystal。
〃Would you care for some coffee or tea？〃 the woman asked him as they went down a short hallway。
〃Coffee would be my choice。〃
She smiled at him over her shoulder。 〃I think I'll join you。〃
She was well built； with a narrow waist and good legs。 The contours of her shoulders and upper torso； visible beneath the suit as she moved； were square； the muscles well developed。 Croaker found himself wondering whether he was being escorted by one of the senator's security contingent。
She led him into an enormous kitchen； painted in a pale yellow enamel that reflected the myriad copper pots hanging from French…style metal ovals chained to the ceiling。 A professional Garland stove was plemented by a stainless…steel refrigerator with glass doors for which many a restaurateur would sell his soul。
The young woman poured two cups of steaming coffee from a plex maker on one of the many counters。 She brought it over to him in a glass set into a metal holder。 Very European。 She had a wide； flat face with inquisitive eyes and a ready smile。 She was as alert as if it were three in the afternoon instead of a quarter to seven in the morning。
The entire rear of the kitchen was a series of windows and French doors leading out to a lawn dotted with a progression of curving flower beds。 These earthen cutouts were； arrayed with the architectural precision one found in the gardens of the chateaux of France。 They were splendid even in the dead of winter。
〃Magnificent； isn't it？〃 The young woman had moved beside Croaker as he stared out at the empty gardens。 〃Gardens are so austere in winter； and rather melancholy； I think。〃
〃I don't know。 I don't have enough experience with them to have an opinion。〃
She turned to him and extended a hand。 〃My name is Marie。〃
He took it； found it cool and firm。 Exactly as he had expected。 〃Lew Croaker。〃
Marie nodded。 〃It's awfully early to see the senator。〃
〃My business with him is urgent。 Will I get to see him？〃
〃He'll be down in five minutes。〃 Croaker did not know how she could know this or even how she had conveyed his presence to Dedalus。 〃I'll be with the two of you during the interview。〃
〃Are you his lawyer？〃
She laughed。 〃The senator doesn't need a lawyer。 He is one。〃
He studied her carefully。 If she was carrying a weapon； he couldn't detect it。 〃Don't you trust me？ I'm with a federal agency。 The senator's agency。〃
〃Mr。 Croaker； I am paid an exorbitant amount of money to be suspicious。 Believe me； it's nothing personal。〃
〃Terrific。 I feel a whole lot better now。〃
She had a good chuckle； deep and genuine。 Even better。 He liked people with a sense of humor。 〃You been with the senator long？〃
〃I'm too young to have been with him long。 Just over a year。〃
〃What happened to your predecessor？〃
Marie showed him a set of magnificent white teeth。 〃He wasn't as good as I am。〃
〃Uncle。〃 Croaker raised his hands palm forward。
〃Marie； have you been entertaining our friend？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Croaker turned to see a tall； rangy man with white hair and a long； lugubrious face。 The kitchen； large as it was； had changed its aspect the moment he strode into the room。 He did not move like an old man； but rather with the enviably practiced step of the sailor upon a pitching deck。 He was slightly stooped as if any space he occupied was too cramped for his personality。 He had dear blue eyes； a large nose； and a wide slash of a mouth。 Dressed in casual slacks； a flannel shirt； and a melton wool coat； he seemed more the gentleman farmer than one of the most high…powered men in the capital。
〃He went through the electronics；〃 Marie said。 〃No weapons； no bugs。 He's clean。〃
Dedalus nodded； then stuck out a hand； pumped Croaker's aggressively。 〃Richard Dedalus； Mr。 Croaker。 I understand you're from the agency。〃
So there were microphones throughout the house； probably closed…circuit video cameras； as well； 〃Yes and no；〃 Croaker said。
〃Oh？〃
〃The fact is； Mr。 Lillehammer hired me to look into the murder of Dominic Goldoni because he was being suspicious of someone inside the agency。〃
Dedalus nodded。 〃Probably worried about Leon Waxman； his director。 Quite right； actually。 Waxman was a mistake。〃
That was the understatement of the century； Croaker thought； since Leon Waxman had turned out to be the supposedly deceased Johnny Leonforte。
〃If you're finished with your coffee； I need to take a look at the tennis court。 This wet weather is playing havoc with the surface。〃
The three of them moved toward the door。 〃Is Marie's presence necessary？〃
〃After the debacle with Waxman； I'm very much afraid it is。〃
They went out into the misty morning。 Marie kept several paces back； her eyes constantly moving from the two of them to the landscape through which they walked。 In the distance； Croaker could see the gardener。 He had stopped his golf cart and was bending over to tend to an evergreen beside one end of the fenced…in tennis court。
〃Better to talk about certain matters out of earshot；〃 the senator said； though whose earshot he didn't make clear。 Perhaps he was referring to his own electronic surveillance system。 If so； that would be interesting。
〃I'm looking for a woman；〃 Croaker said； 〃and since she works for the agency … or did when Lillehammer was alive … I've e to you。〃
〃Her name？〃
〃Vesper Arkham。〃
The senator continued on； walking vigorously； but Croaker could see by the clouds of exhalation that he had begun to breathe hard。
〃And what would be the nature of your business with Ms。 Arkham？〃
〃It's all connected with my ongoing investigation of Dominic Goldoni's murder。〃
The senator stopped abruptly。 〃Good God； man； Lillehammer is dead more than three months。 Who gave you orders to continue？〃
〃No one ordered me to stop。〃
Dedalus peered at him through the mist。 〃You intrigue me； Mr。 Croaker。〃 He began to walk again。 〃Not many men would be so tenacio