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Do you like Venice？〃
〃Yes。。。。〃
〃Good。 I'll pay you for your time； and we'll have a little holiday together。〃 He was staring out the window again。
〃I know a lovely hotel there。 The Cipriani。〃 Years ago he and Susan had stayed at the Royal Danieli； but he had been back since； and it had bee sadly run down； and the beds were impossible。 The only thing that remained of the hotel's former elegance was Luciano； at the reception desk。
〃It will cost you a thousand dollars a day。〃 She was ready to settle for five hundred。
〃It's a deal。〃 Robert said。 He counted out two thousand dollars。
〃We'll start with this。〃
Pier hesitated。 She had a premonition that something was wrong。
But the start of the movie she had been promised a bit part in had been delayed； and she needed the money。
〃Very well；〃 she said。
〃Let's go。〃
Downstairs； Pier watched him scan the street carefully before stepping out to hail a taxi。 He's a target for somebody； Pier thought。
I'm getting out of here。
〃Look；〃 Pier said； 〃I'm not sure I should go to Venice with you。
I…〃
〃We're going to have a great time；〃 Robert told her。 Directly across the street he saw a jewelry store。 He took Pier's hand。
〃e on I'm going to get you something pretty。〃
〃But…〃 He led her across the street to the jewelry store。 The clerk behind the counter said； 〃Buon giorno； signore。 Can I help you？〃
〃Yes；〃 Robert said。
〃We're looking for something lovely for the lady。〃 He turned to Pier。
〃Do you like emeralds？〃
〃I…yes。〃
Robert said to the clerk； 〃Do you have an emerald bracelet？〃
〃Si； signore。 I have a beautiful emerald bracelet。〃 He walked over to a case and took out a bracelet。
〃This is our finest。 It is fifteen thousand dollars。〃
Robert looked at Pier。
〃Do you like it？〃
She was speechless。 She nodded。
〃We'll take it；〃 Robert said。 He handed the clerk his ONI credit card。
〃One moment； please。〃 The clerk disappeared into the back room。 When he returned； he said； 〃Shall I wrap it for you； or…？〃
〃No。 My friend will wear it。〃 Robert put the bracelet on Pier's wrist。 She was staring at it； stunned。
Robert said； 〃That will look pretty in Venice； won't it？〃
Pier smiled up at him。
〃Very。〃
When they were out on the street； Pier said； 〃I…I don't know how to thank you。〃
〃I just want you to have a good time；〃 Robert told her。
〃Do you have a car？〃
〃No。 I used to have an old one； but it was stolen。〃
〃Do you still have your driver's license？〃
She was watching him； puzzled。
〃Yes； but without a car； what good is a driver's license？〃
〃You'll see。 Let's get out of here。〃 He hailed a taxi。
〃Via Po； please。〃
She sat in the taxi； studying him。 Why was he so eager for her pany？ He had not even touched her。 Could he be…？
〃Qui！〃 Robert called to the driver。 They were a hundred yards away from Maggiore's Car Rental Agency。
〃We're getting out here；〃 Robert told Peer。 He paid the driver and waited until the taxi was out of sight。 He handed Pier a large bundle of bank notes。
〃I want you to rent a car for us。 Ask for a Fiat or an Alfa Romeo。 Tell them we'll want it for four or five days。 This money will cover the deposit。 Rent it in your name。 I'll wait for you in the bar across the street。〃
Less than eight blocks away； two detectives were questioning the hapless driver of a red truck with French license plates。
〃Vous me faites chier。 I have no idea how the fuck that card got in the back of my truck；〃 the driver screamed。
〃Some crazy Italian probably put it in there。〃
The two detectives looked at each other。 One of them said； 〃I'll phone it in。〃
Francesco Cesar sat at his desk； thinking about the latest development。 Earlier the assignment had seemed so simple。
〃You won't have any trouble finding him。 When the time es； we will activate the homing device； and it will lead you right to him。〃 Someone had obviously underestimated mander Bellamy。
Colonel Frank Johnson was seated in Goneral Hilliard's office； his huge frame filling the chair。
〃We have half the agents in Europe looking for him；〃 General Hilliard said。
〃So far； they've had no luck。〃
〃It's going to take more than luck；〃 Colonel Johnson said。
〃Bellamy's good。〃
〃We know he's in Rome。 The sonofabitch just charged a bracelet for fifteen thousand dollars。 We have him bottled up。 There's no way he can get out of Italy。 We know the name he's using on his passportArthur Butterfield。〃 Colonel Johnson shook his head。
〃If I know Bellamy； you haven't a clue about what name he's using。 The only thing you can count on is that Bellamy won't do what you count on him to do。
We're after a man who's as good as the best in the business。 Maybe better。 If there's any place to run； Bellamy will run there。 If there's any place to hide； he'll hide there。 I think our best bet is to bring him out in the open； to smoke him out。 Right now； he's controlling all the moves。 We have to take the initiative away from him。〃
〃You mean； go public？ Give it to the press？〃
〃Exactly。〃
General Hilliard pursed his lips。
〃That's going to be touchy。 We can't afford to expose ourselves。〃
〃We won't have to。 We'll put out a release that he's wanted on a drug…smuggling charge。 That way we can get Interpol and all the police departments in Europe involved without tipping our hand。〃
General Hilliard thought about it for a moment。
〃I like it。〃
〃Good。 I'm leaving for Rome；〃 Colonel Johnson said。
〃I'm going to take charge of the hunt myself。〃 When Colonel Frank Johnson returned to his office； he was in a thoughtful mood。 He was playing a dangerous game。 There was no question about it。 He had to find mander Bellamy。
Robert listened to the phone ring again and again。 It was six A。M。
in Washington。 I'm always waking the old man up； Robert thought。
The admiral answered on the sixth ring。
〃Hello〃
〃Admiral； I…〃
〃Robert！ Wha~？〃
〃Don't say anything。 Your phone is probably bugged。
I'm going to make this fast。 I just wanted to tell you not to believe anything they're saying about me。 I'd like you to try to find out what's going on。 I may need your help later。〃
〃Of course。 Anything I can do； Robert。〃
〃I know。〃
〃I'll call you later。〃
Robert replaced the receiver。 No time for a trace。 He saw a blue Fiat pull up outside the bar。 Pier was at the wheel。
〃Move over；〃 Robert said。
〃I'll drive。〃 Pier made room for him as he slid in behind the wheel。
〃Are we on our way to Venice？〃
Pier asked。
〃Uh…huh。 We have a couple of stops to make first。〃 It was time to spread some more chaff around。 He turned onto Viale Rossini。 Ahead was the Rossini Travel Service。 Robert pulled over to the curb。
〃I'll be back in a minute。〃
Pier watched him walk into the travel agency。 I could just drive away； she thought； and keep the money； and he would never find me。 But the damn car is rented in my name。 Cacchio！
Inside the agency； Robert walked up to the woman behind the counter。
〃Good day。 May I help you？〃
〃