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There were alcoves where the visitors could step off the paths to stop and admire the calcium formations that looked like huge birds and strange animals and trees。 There were pools of darkness along the dimly lit paths； and it was into one of these that Tracy disappeared。
Daniel Cooper hurried forward； but she was nowhere in sight。 The press of the crowd moving down the steps made it impossible to locate her。 He had no way of knowing whether she was ahead of him or behind him。 She is planning something here； Cooper told himself。 But how？ Where？ What？
**********
In an arena…sized grotto at the lowest point in the caves； facing the Great Lake； is a Roman theater。 Tiers of stone benches have been built to acmodate the audiences that e to watch the spectacle staged every hour； and the sightseers take their seats in darkness； waiting for the show to begin。
Tracy counted her way up to the tenth tier and moved in twenty seats。 The man in the twenty…first seat turned to her。 〃Any problem？〃
〃None； Gunther。〃 She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek。
He said something； and she had to lean closer to hear him above the babel of voices surrounding them。
〃I thought it best that we not be seen together； in case you're being followed。〃
Tracy glanced around at the huge； packed black cavern。 〃We're safe here。〃 She looked at him； curious。 〃It must be important。〃
〃It is。〃 He leaned closer to her。 〃A wealthy client is eager to acquire a certain painting。 It's a Goya； called Puerto。 He'll pay whoever can obtain it for him half a million dollars in cash。 That's above my mission。〃
Tracy was thoughtful。 〃Are there others trying？〃
〃Frankly； yes。 In my opinion； the chances of success are limited。〃
〃Where is the painting？〃
〃In the Prado Museum in Madrid。〃
〃The Prado！〃 The word that flashed through Tracy's mind was impossible。
He was leaning very close； speaking into her ear； ignoring the chattering going on around them as the arena filled up。 〃This will take a great deal of ingenuity。 That is why I thought of you； my dear Tracy。〃
〃I'm flattered；〃 Tracy said。 〃Half a million dollars？〃
〃Free and clear。〃
The show began； and there was a sudden hush。 Slowly； invisible bulbs began to glow and music filled the enormous cavern。 The center of the stage was a large lake in front of the seated audience； and on it； from behind a stalagmite； a gondola appeared； lighted by hidden spotlights。 An organist was in the boat； filling the air with a melodic serenade that echoed across the water。 The spectators watched； rapt； as the colored lights rainbowed the darkness； and the boat slowly crossed the lake and finally disappeared； as the music faded。
〃Fantastic；〃 Gunther said。 〃It was worth traveling here j to see this。〃
〃I love traveling；〃 Tracy said。 〃And do you know what i I've always wanted to see； Gunther？ Madrid。〃
**********
Standing at the exit to the caves； Daniel Cooper watt Tracy Whitney e out。
She was alone。
BOOK THREE
Chapter 28
The Ritz Hotel； on the Plaza de la Lealtad in Madrid； is considered the best hotel in Spain； and for more than a century it has housed and fed monarchs from a dozen European countries。 Presidents； dictators； and billionaires have slept there。 Tracy had heard so much about the Ritz that the reality was a disappointment。 The lobby was faded and seedy…looking。
The assistant manager escorted her to the suite she had requested； 411…412； in the south wing of the hotel on Calle Felipe V。
〃I trust this will be satisfactory； Miss Whitney。〃
Tracy walked over to the window and looked out。 Directly below； across the street； was the Prado Museum。 〃This will do nicely； thank you。〃
The suite was filled with the blaring sounds of the heavy traffic from the streets below； but it had what she wanted： a bird's…eye view of the Prado。
Tracy ordered a light dinner in her room and retired early。 When she got into the bed； she decided that trying to sleep in it had to be a modern form of medieval torture。
At midnight a detective stationed in the lobby was relieved by a colleague。 〃She hasn't left her room。 I think she's settled in for the night。〃
**********
In Madrid； Dirección General de Seguridad； police headquarters； is located in the Puerto del Sol and takes up an entire city block。 It is a gray building with red brick； boasting a large clock tower at the top。 Over the main entrance the red…and…yellow Spanish flag flies； and there is always a policeman at the door； wearing a beige uniform and a dark…brown beret； and equipped with a machine gun； a billy club； a small gun； and handcuffs。 It is at this headquarters that liaison with Interpol is maintained。
On the previous day an X…D Urgent cable had e in for Santiago Ramiro； the police mandant in Madrid； informing him of Tracy Whitney's impending arrival。 The mandant had read the final sentence of the cable twice and then telephoned Inspector André Trignant at Interpol headquarters in Paris。
〃I do not prehend your message；〃 Ramiro had said。 〃You ask me to extend my department's full cooperation to an American who is not even a policeman？ For what reason？〃
〃mandant； I think you will find Mr。 Cooper most useful。 He understands Miss Whitney。〃
〃What is there to understand？〃 the mandant retorted。 〃She is a criminal。 Ingenious； perhaps； but Spanish prisons are full of ingenious criminals。 This one will not slip through our net。〃
〃Bon。 And you will consult with Mr。 Cooper？〃
The mandant said grudgingly； 〃If you say he can be useful； I have no objection。〃
〃Merci； monsieur。〃
〃De nada； se？or。〃
**********
mandant Ramiro； like his counterpart in Paris； was not fond of Americans。 He found them rude； materialistic； and naive。 This one； he thought； may be different。 I will probably like him。
He hated Daniel Cooper on sight。
〃She's outsmarted half the police forces in Europe；〃 Daniel Cooper asserted； as he entered the mandant's office。 〃And she'll probably do the same to you。〃
It was all the mandant could do to control himself。 〃Se？or； we do not need anyone to tell us our business。 Se？orita Whitney has been under surveillance from the moment she arrived at Barajas Airport this morning。 I assure you that if someone drops even a pin on the street and your Miss Whitney picks it up； she will be whisked to jail。 She has not dealt with the Spanish police before。〃
〃She's not here to pick up a pin on the street。〃
〃Why do you think she is here？〃
〃I'm not sure。 I can only tell you that it will be something big。〃
mandant Ramiro said smugly； 〃The bigger the better。 We will watch her every move。〃
**********
When Tracy awakened in the morning； groggy from a torturous night's sleep in the bed designed by Tomás de Torquemada； she ordered a light breakfast and hot； black coffee； and walked over to the window overlooking the Prado。 It was an imposing fortress； built of stone and red bricks from the native soil； and was surrounded by grass and trees。 Two Doric col