Page 87 (1/2)

“What do you mean?”

“Chances are decent that Bondaruk is the only one who knoe look like”

“Oh, no, Sam”

He grinned “Rele”

Once certain there was no one about, Sam climbed the steps, lifted open the hatch, and had a look around He turned back to Remi “It’s a closet Come on”

He climbed up and held the hatch for Reh the open closet door was another space, this one a tack roo the baseboards They stepped through and out the opposite door and found theravel alleyway bordered on both sides by horse stalls Overhead was a high vaulted ceiling with inset exhaust fans and skylights through which palesoftly and shuffling in the stalls At the far end of the stable, perhaps thirty yards aas a set of double barn doors They walked to them and peeked out

Before them lay an acre-sized expanse of lush lawn surrounded by chest-high hedges and flickering tiki torches Multicolored silk banners fluttered on cross wires suspended over the lawn Dozens of tuxedoed and evening-gowned guests,and laughing Waiters in stark white unifor to offer hors d’oeuvres and cocktails The source of Sinatra’s “Suically placed around the lawn, now emitted a soft jazz number

To Saht they could see the upper floors of Bondaruk’s ainst the dark sky To the left, through an entrance gap in the hedges Sa lot packed with several hinis, and Maybachs

“We’re underdressed,” Remi muttered

“Severely,” Sareed “I don’t see him, do you?”

Re “No, but with the torchlight it’s hard to tell”

Sa”

They went back through the tack room trapdoor, retraced their steps down the tunnel, and took the east branch Almost immediately they found side tunnels spaced at twenty- to thirty-foot intervals along the north wall

“Storage chambers and other exits,” Sam said

Reht on her sketch “Bohuslav has these o”