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That was a most foolhardy decision to make。 I cautioned him against any such act after you and I had our last talk。 But it seems as if Chosa is not a reasonable man when it es to the subject of Nicholas Linnear。〃
〃Apparently not；〃 Ushiba said； disheartened。 〃Is Shidare so vulnerable to such pressure？〃
Akinaga shrugged。 〃Undoubtedly。 He is quick…witted； ambitious； but young。 His mentor was an oyabun from Kumamote。 The sticks。 He cannot possess the power that Kozo had before him； and it will take him some time to consolidate his own。 Easier if he were to agree to align his clan with Chosa's at council。 He'd have instant access to Chosa's contacts and influence。 At least； I imagine that is what Chosa offered him。〃 Akinaga's bony hands turned over on the table。 〃It will take him a while to understand how he has been lied to。 But by then it will be too late。 He will have ceded too much control of the Yamauchi to Chosa； and Chosa will own him。〃
The pain in Ushiba's stomach flared so badly he was obliged to press his hand against it beneath the table。 〃Mikio Okami set up the inner council just so this kind of power grabbing could not happen；〃 he said。 〃The position of Kaisho was established to bring an end to the perpetual territorial wars between the major oyabun。 Now； it seems； without Okami to keep you in line； there will be war again。〃
〃Not if I have anything to say about it。 We have to deal with Shidare and Chosa； but in separate ways。〃
Ushiba nodded； bowing to the inevitable。 〃I have e to the same conclusion。〃
〃Now I am doubly glad you came to me with this matter；〃 Akinaga said warmly。 〃It is urgent； indeed。〃 He thought a moment。 〃Here is what I propose。 Let me deal with the youngster Shidare。 I'm afraid if I start meddling with Chosa at this delicate stage； he could easily bee hostile。 If he's in the midst of grabbing power； he'll be paranoid about any inquiries of any of the other oyabun of the inner council。〃
Ushiba was not happy； but he said nothing。 It was not his place。 While he was a respected senior member of the Godaishu； he was merely an adviser and ad hoc peacemaker to the inner council。 He had hoped to have Akinaga deal with Chosa because he did not care for the idea of doing it himself。 On the other hand； his anger at Chosa for continuing on a path that could wreck the entire Godaishu was intense。 How could Chosa have betrayed a trust that Ushiba considered sacred？ At the very least； he should have consulted Ushiba before he put his plan into play。 It made no difference that Chosa must have known what the Daijin's response would be。 He clearly did not want to be tempered。
Ushiba listened to the dull throbbing of the washing machines。 He consoled himself with the thought that there would be a measure of satisfaction in devising the method of bringing Chosa to heel。
He rose； thanked Akinaga for his time。 They worked out a timetable for their parallel missions； and promising to keep each other closely informed； they parted pany； Ushiba to return to his office at MITI； Akinaga to oversee the laundering and bundling of thousands of snowy white undergarments。
When Croaker returned to the hotel； he ascertained that Margarite still had not put in an appearance。 Neither had she checked out。 He picked up the agency hard copy waiting for him with the concierge。
He took the elevator to the floor below his； went down the corridor to Margarite's room。 He looked both ways； the corridor was clear。 He got out his set of picks； went to work on the lock； popped it without trouble。
Inside； the room was pletely spotless。 Two chocolate mints in gold foil lay on the coverlet of the unslept…in bed； along with a printed sheet for room service breakfast。 He went into the bathroom。 The soaps were unwrapped and the outer leaf of the toilet paper roll was still neatly folded。 Nothing had been used。 He went back into the room； crossed to the closet。 No luggage。 He pulled out the desk chair； sat on it thoughtfully。
Margarite had never been in here； her bags hadn't been brought up despite the fact that he had seen Dedalus's limo driver drop them off at the hotel。 Also； the driver had checked in for her。 That could mean only one thing： Margarite knew she was being followed from the moment his taxi had swung in behind the limo on the way from the airport。
He went out of the room； took the elevator up。 Back in his room； he splashed cold water on his face and ordered room service。 Then he lay down until the food arrived。 He still had two hours before he had to call Dedalus's office with the directions to his rendezvous with Vesper。
He closed his eyes but his heart was pounding so heavily he was obliged to sit up and take long； slow breaths。 His mind was filled with Vesper。 The more he learned about her the more fascinating … and dangerous … she seemed to him。 She was Dedalus's woman； it appeared； from the moment she set foot at Yale with Avalon's money。 It seemed to him that Avalon must be owned by the Godaishu。 But then what was she doing running Morgana？ Was there a connection between the two？
He licked his lips； they were salty。 That was when he realized that he was in trouble。 Thinking of Vesper Arkham； he had broken out into a cold sweat。 He hadn't done that since he had shot his first human being； an addict who had felled his partner with a vicious blow of a crowbar to the back of the head。 That had been his rookie year on the force； a long time ago。
The food came； and he wolfed it down while looking over the twelve sheets the phone pany had provided for Moniker's last three months of calls。
He didn't know what he had been looking for； but whatever it was； he hadn't found it。 There was nothing unusual。 No calls to Senator Dedalus； the president； or anyone connected with organized crime。 He had been most interested in calls that repeated both within any one month and from month to month。 There were a number of those； none of any immediate interest： caterers； carting； liquor distributor； laundry service； and the like。 Just what you'd expect in any legit business。 However； a series of calls to a number in London caught his attention。 According to the trace； it was listed to Malory Enterprises in Hammersmith。 It could be nothing； or。。。
Croaker glanced at his watch。 It would be late afternoon in London。 He picked up the phone； accessed an overseas line； dialed the number。
〃Malory；〃 a bright female voice with an English accent answered。
〃Oh； hello； this is Philip Marlowe。 I'm with Morgana； Inc。 Just e on board； in fact。 I was told to …〃
〃Hold a moment； won't you？〃
Silence； then； 〃Marlowe？ Philip Marlowe； like the American detective？〃 It was a deep； booming baritone with a mid…Atlantic accent； a bination of English and American；
〃Uh； that's right。 But no one gets us confused。〃 Croaker tried a small laugh。
〃I never heard of you； Marlowe。 When did you say you were hired on？〃
〃I didn't；〃 Croaker said； hanging up。 He stared down at the telephone records。 So Malory Enterprises was linked in some way to Morgana； Inc。 On a hunch； he opened the hard copy the woman he believed to be Vesper had given him。 The phone records matched except； as he had suspected； the Hammersmith numb