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Meanwhile, the investigation into the murders of the Banodyne scientists was dead in the water In fact, that second NSA task force had been dismantled Obviously, the Soviets had hired outsiders for those hits, and there was no way to find out whouy in white shorts and Top-Siders passed Lem and said, "Beautiful day!"

"Like hell," Le, Travis walked into the kitchen to get a glass offit, but he did not think much of it Nora, even quicker than Travis to worry about the retriever’s welfare, was also unconcerned In California, the pollen count peaks in spring and autumn; however, because the climate permits a twelve- in the woods, the situation was exacerbated

That night, Travis akened by a sound he could not identify Instantly alert, every trace of sleep banished, he sat up in the dark and reached for the shotgun on the floor beside the bed Holding the Mossberg, he listened for the noise, and in a ain: in the second-floor hallway

He eased out of bed without waking Nora and went cautiously to the doorway The hail, like ht-light, and in the pale glow Travis saw that the noise ca near the head of the stairs, coughing and shaking his head

Travis went to hi of the tale: Yes

He stooped and ruffled the dog’s coat "You sure?"

Yes

For apetted Then he turned away frohed a couple of times, and went downstairs

Travis followed In the kitchen, he found Einstein slurping water fro emptied the dish, the retriever went to the pantry, turned on the light, and began to paw lettered tiles out of the Lucite tubes

THIRSTY

"Are you sure you feel well?"

FINE JUST THIRSTY NIGHTMARE WOKE ME

Surprised, Travis said, "You dream?"

DON’T YOU?

"Yeah Too much"

He refilled the retriever’s water dish, and Einstein eain, and Travis filled it a second tih Travis expected hi went upstairs instead and settled in the hall by the door of the bedroom in which Nora still slept

In a whisper, Travis said, "Listen, if you want to coht"

That hat Einstein wanted He curled up on the floor on Travis’s side of the bed

In the dark, Travis could reach out and easily touch both the shotgun and Einstein He took greater reassurance froun

6

Saturday afternoon, just two days after Thanksgiving, Garrison Dilworth got in his Mercedes and drove sloay from his house Within two blocks he confirreen Ford, Probably the sa They stayed well back of him, and they were discreet, but he was not blind

He still had not called Nora and Travis Because he was being followed, he suspected his phones were being tapped as well He could have gone to a pay phone, but he was afraid that the NSA could eavesdrop on the conversation with a directional ed to record the push-button tones that he produced by punching in the Cornells’ nuits and trace the nu Sur He would have to resort to deception to contact Travis and Nora safely

He knew he had better act soon, before Travis or Nora phoned hiy available to theins as fast as Garrison would be able to warn Travis that the line was tapped

So at two o’clock Saturday afternoon, chaperoned by the green Ford, he drove to Della Colby’s house in Montecito to take her to his boat, the A Grace, for a lazy afternoon in the sun At least that hat he had told her on the phone

Della was Judge Jack Colby’sShe and Jack were Garrison’s and Francine’s best friends for twenty-five years before death broke up the foursome Jack had died one year after Francine Della and Garrison reether, went dancing and walking and sailing Initially, their relationship had been strictly platonic; they were simply old friends who had the fortune-or misfortune-to outlast everyone they most cared about, and they needed each other because they shared so ood times and er anyone left hoo, when they suddenly found theether, they had been surprised and overwhel on their spouses, though Jack and Francine had died years ago The guilt passed, of course, and now they were grateful for the co passion that had unexpectedly brightened their late-autumn years

When he pulled into Della’s driveway, she came out of the house, locked the front door, and hurried to his car She was dressed in boat shoes, white slacks, a blue- and white-striped sweater, and a blue windbreaker Although she was sixty-nine, and though her short hair was snohite, she looked fifteen years younger

He got out of the Mercedes, gave her a hug and a kiss, and said, "Can we go in your car?"

She blinked, "Are you having trouble with yours?"

"No," he said "I’d just rather take yours"

"Sure"

She backed her Caddy out of the garage, and he got in on the passenger’s side As she pulled into the street, he said, "I’ed, and I don’t want theot to tell you"

Her expression was priceless

Laughing, he said, "No, I’ve not gone senile overnight If you’ll keep an eye on the rearviewfollowed They’re very good, very subtle, but they’re not invisible"