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After they had trooped out, Clay unlocked his private office and focused his telescope on Judge Congdon’sThe Judge was hard at work, bullying someone on the telephone Clay put on his hat, bid his staff farewell, went down to the street, entered the Congdon Building, and rode the elevator to the top floor

Congdon kept hi half an hour When he did allow him into his office, he said, “I’m busy Make this quick”

“This may be my last report in person for a while,” said Clay

Somehow, Isaac Bell had survived Clay bla assassins instead of doing the job himself and he had no option but to pay the price

“What’s wrong?” Congdon demanded

“Suffice it to say that events are on schedule”

30

Isaac Bell reported to Joseph Van Dorn in Van Dorn’s office twenty minutes after the Pennsylvania Railroad ferry landed at Twenty-third Street

“I’ot stabbed The blade missed his vitals, but it was a shock to his system, and he’s out of commission for weeks”

“Stabbing Aloysius Clarke used to be near impossible I’ve warned the man a hundred times that drink would slow him down”

“Not drink,” Bell answered coldly “He took a knife meant for me”

Van Dorn lowered his gaze “Sorry, Isaac I should not have said that He’ll be OK?”

“I found hio”

“The agency will pay for it”

“I already have”