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gether someday"

Austin inhaled the faint scent of lavender co from Nina's hair and wondered how ht"

Zavala came over "Sorry to interrupt Sandecker wants us in his office"

Austin bid Nina a reluctant goodbye, followed the others into the admiral's aerie, and took up a seat in one of the comfortable leather chairs Sandecker was behind his desk He leaned back in his swivel chair and puffed several tiar, which he had finally lit He was about to open discussion when his eye fell on Zavala, as puffing an identical stogie There was little in the known universe that Sandecker was unaware of, but one of themysteries in his life had to do with the huure out how Al Giordino lifted cigars from the box undetected

Sandecker pinned Zavala with a steely eye "Have you been talking to Giordino?" he said coolly

"In the elevator He and Pitt were leaving for a project in the Antarctic," Zavala replied with cherubic innocence "We had a brief chat about NUMA business"

Sandecker quietly harruiven in to Giordino, and he was da he was irritated or flummoxed

"Soency whose precinct is the ocean and what lies under it is in any way involved with a bunch of desert diggers," he said "The ence capacity in the world Many of these sites were reached by the ocean or rivers that run out to the sea, so technically we have a vested interest Well, gentlemen, ideas?"

Austin, who had watched the battle of the cigars with interest, turned his o over e know" Ticking the points off on his fingers, he said, "There is a pattern to the disappearances People don't sianized and equipped assassins The expeditions were all linked to art outfit called Ti to hide"

Yaeger interjected, "Could be they're just hiding assets fro to do with the murders?"

"We may well find that's the case," Sandecker said, "which is why I want you to keep digging Explore every possible angle"

"Did you ever get any leads on the hovercraft that tried a hit-and-run on Dr Kirov?" Zavala asked

"Slightly better luck," Yaeger said "Frolish outfit called Griffon Hovercraft Ltd Only so many were built of theIt's called an LCAC type"

"Navy jargon for landing craft air cushion, as I recall," Gunn said

"That's right It's a souped-up high-speed over-the-beach version of a coas turbines give her a speed of forty knots with payload Gun renade launcher, and M60 ot a few in the US Navy"