enemy. It was a strange business they were in.
'Before I go, is there anything else you can tell us about the Harpooner?' Hood asked.
'Anything you might have seen or heard while you were looking for him? Anything Moore or Thomas might have said?'
'No,' Battat said. He took a sip of tea. It was stronger than he was used to. It was like a shot of adrenaline.
'All I know is that someone put me in a choke hold from behind. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground. As for Moore and Thomas, they were as mystified as I was.'
'Because--?'
'The Harpooner had let me live,' Battat said.
'Assuming it was the Harpooner,' Hood said.
'Listen. Use the time you have to rest. We don't know where the Harpooner may turn up or how much time you may have to get to him. But we need you to be ready to move out.'
'I'll be ready,' Battat said. Hood thanked him and hung up. Battat placed the phone on the night table. Then he took another swallow of tea. He still felt weak, but he was trembling a little less than before. The young woman walked over with a plate for him. Battat watched her as she set the plate on his legs and placed a cloth napkin and utensils on the night table. She looked tired.
'My name is David Battat,' he said.
'I know,' she said.
'And you are--?' he pressed.
'In Baku, I am Odette Kolker,' she said. There was finality in the young woman's voice. It told him two things. First, that she was definitely not an Azerbaijani recruited by the Russians. And second, that Battat would not be getting her real name. Not from her, anyway.
'I'm pleased to meet you,' Battat said, extending his hand.
'I'm also extremely grateful for everything you've done.'
'You're welcome,' she said. The young woman shook Battat's hand firmly but perfunctorily. As she did, Battat noticed several small bloodstains on the sleeve of her off-white police blouse. There were no lacerations on her hand or forearm. The blood did not appear to be hers.
'Are you really a policewoman?' Battat asked.
'Yes,' she replied.
'Were you working the night shift?' he asked.
'No,' she replied.
'I was called in to do this.' She smiled slightly.
'And I cannot collect overtime for it.' Battat sipped more tea and smiled back.
'I'm sorry they had to wake you.' He moved the plate to the night table and started to throw off the cover.
'I probably shouldn't be taking your bed--'
'No, it's all right,' she said.
'I'm expected on duty in less than an hour. Besides, I'm accustomed to having unexpected guests.'
'A hazard of the business,' he said.
'Yes,' Odette observed.
'Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to eat. You should do the same. Eat and then rest.'
'I will,' Battat promised.
'Do you need salt or anything else?'
'No thank you,' he said. Odette turned and walked slowly toward the kitchenette. Less than an hour ago, she had killed a man. Now she was serving Battat breakfast. This was a strange business. A very strange business indeed.
Washington, D.C. Tuesday, 12:10 a.m.
'Hello, Paul.' Sharon's voice was thick and cold on the other end of the phone. Hood glanced at the clock on his computer.
'Hi,' he said warily.
'Is everything okay?'
'Not really,' she replied.
'I just got back from the hospital.'
'What happened?'
'The short version,' she said, 'is that Harleigh freaked out about ninety -minutes ago. I called an ambulance--I didn't know what else to do.'
'You did the right thing,' Hood said.
