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"That's because it never got off the ground," said Micky "I was told the development company behind the project decided to pull out Why, I never found out I signed a confidential agreement never to mention my work or reveal any inforo And since it has apparently died, I don'tmy friends the story over a lovely dinner"

"A fascinating tale," Loren acknowledged "I wonder as going to put up the financial backing?"

Micky took a sip of her port "My understanding was that part of the funding was to come from the Republic of China They've heavily invested in Central Around transportation systereat econohout North and South America"

Pitt and Loren looked at each other, a growing understanding in their eyes Then Loren asked Micky, "Who was the construction firm that hired you?"

"A huge international development outfit called Odyssey"

"Yes," Pitt said softy, squeezing Loren's knee under the table "Yes, it seems to me I've heard of it"

"There's coincidence for you," said Loren "Dirk and I were discussing Odyssey not o"

"An odd name for a construction company," said Summer

Loren smiled faintly and paraphrased Winston Churchill "A puzzle wrapped in a ma The founder and chairman, who calls himself Specter, is as far out as the formula for time travel"

Dirk looked thoughtful "Why do you think he broke off the project? Lack of money?"

"Certainly not the money," Loren answered "British economic journalists estimate his personal assets upward of fifty billion dollars"

"Makes you wonder," Pitt murmured, "why he didn't complete the tunnels, with so much at stake"

Loren hesitated; not so Giordino "How do you know he threw in the towel? How do you know he isn't secretly digging away under Nicaragua while we enjoy our port?"

"Not possible" Loren was blunt "Satellite photos would show construction activity There's no way he could hide an excavation of such initude"

Giordino studied his elass "A neat trick if he could hide millions of tons of excavated rock and muck"