'Fascinating.' Diana purred, then continued with her story:
'After a few months I began to notice something else about this girl.
For us, you see, the game is a business, a way to make a living. But for her it was clearly more. She got something special out of it.
Exactly what, I'm not quite sure, but I think I'd be safe if I called it … pleasure. You see, Lieutenant, she genuinely liked the work, liked every single aspect of it. The power to seduce, the power to control.
She even enjoyed writing on their skins.' Diana looked knowingly at Janek. 'I assume you know what I'm talking about?'
'I do. But we won't discuss it.'
Diana grinned. 'Of course not!' She settled back. 'This girl also had a special way of writing. She could write in mirror-reverse as quickly as any of the others could write in normal script. Amazing when you think about it.' Diana paused. 'She's the one you're looking for.'
Janek nodded. 'Where do I find her?'
'I don't know. She left me, set up shop for herself.'
As Diana spoke, her manner changed. Whatever grace she'd displayed before gave way to a deeply felt fury. It was as if, Janek thought, a terrible blizzard had begun to blow in the middle of a summer day. He had no difficulty imagining Diana smiling as she raised a razor to punish one of her girls for recalcitrance.
'You resented that, of course,' he said.
'She became a competitor. How would you have felt?'
'Probably the same.'
'Disloyalty's disloyalty.' Diana bit off the word. 'Once she'd sucked me dry, she left without a fare-thee- well.'
It was such a quaint expression, Janek could only smile. But Diana didn't notice; she was reliving Gelsey's betrayal.
'At first I was glad to be rid of the bitch. I like a girl with a good professional attitude. This one was just too passionate-if you know what I mean.'
'Could you mean… too smart?'
She hummed. 'Perhaps that, too.'
'Look, Ms. Cassiday, it's urgent I talk to her. Why don't you just tell me where she lives?'
'You don't believe me, Lieutenant? The truth is I really don't know.
She was secretive about almost everything, especially her address. She even refused to give me her telephone number. I told her that wouldn't do, that she couldn't work for me unless she was reachable day or night.
But in the end it worked out. If I asked her to call and confirm an appointment, she never let me down.' Diana shook her head. 'A strange girl. Unique. She's obsessed with mirrors. That's where all that mirror writing comes from. She can't pass a mirror without gazing into it. But, funny thing, when she does, I don't think she looks at herself. '
'What does she look at?'
'The rest of us. I think she likes to look at us in mirrors rather than deal with us as we are.' 'And how are we?' Janek asked.
Diana laughed. 'You're asking how I view my fellow man? This interview is turning out to be more interesting than I expected.'
'So, what's your answer?'
Diana pondered. As she did, her eyes, it seemed to him, enlarged. 'I suppose I see the world as a fairly pitiless place,' she said carefully,
'where, in any encounter, one must move quickly for advantage knowing the other person most likely is doing the same. I admit it's not a pleasant vision, but I believe it's accurate. The will to power-or should I say overpower?-is, in my view, the most potent drive we have.'
She paused. 'Now that I've answered, do you mind if I ask a question of my own?'
'Go ahead.' She paused. 'There're rumors about this man who was killed downtown.
What was his name?'
'Dietz.'
'Yes, Dietz. There's a rumor.'
Janek went on guard. 'What rumor?'
'That he was carrying something… valuable. Is it true?'
Janek shrugged. He decided to annoy her. 'Where did you hear that?'
'It's all over town.' Oh, you're slick. 'What is?'
'The rumor.'
Diana twitched. 'That Gelsey took something valuable off of Dietz.'
'What kind of ''?'
'Whatever – -.'
'Is that why you think we're looking for her?'
'Is it?'
'Is that your question?'
'Not really.'
Diana twitched again. He was happy to see he'd tied her in knots. Now he imagined she was calculating just how far she could push.
Janek searched her eyes. 'Just what is your question, Ms. Cassiday Diana paused. 'What did she take?'
'is that important to you?'
'I'm curious.'
Janek stared at her, then he smiled. 'Sorry,' he said, 'tonight I ask questions, I don't answer them.'
In an instant her eyes went hard. She recoiled farther against the seat.
She was not, this tightened posture made clear, accustomed to being denied.
'Perhaps if you'd tell me why it's so important..
'Christ!' she exploded. 'What's the big deal?'
'Is it a big deal? Is that why you're upset?'
'I'm not upset.'
'You sound a lot more than curious.'
'God, you're impossible! Do you have to be such a fucking-cop!'
He laughed. He'd broken her calm. 'I think it's time for me to get out.'
'Long past.' She lifted the phone intercom from her console, ordered Kim to stop.
When Janek looked out the window he saw that they'd crossed to the East Village and were now at Tenth and Avenue C. It was not a good neighborhood, but he was happy to be making his escape. The car was too cold, Diana's perfume was too cloying and the lady had shown herself to be detestable.
He opened the door, stepped into the street, then leaned back in. Diana, deep inside her fur, glared at him from the far corner like a lynx.
'I'd be careful of my curiosity if I were you,' he told her.
'Really?' Her eyes flashed. 'Is that a warning?'
'Sometimes when people ask questions they give themselves away. Mr.
Thatcher should have told you that.'
Diana stared at him a moment, then rapped on the partition. Kim gassed the engine and the great limousine leaped forward, leaving him alone in the middle of the street.
When he arrived home he found a message on his answering machine. Aaron begged him to phone, no matter the hour, to tell him how the meeting had gone. It was a typical Aaron request. When Janek called, Aaron picked up on the first ring.
'Frank?'
'Yeah, it's me.'
'How'd it go?' 'Chilly,' Janek said.
'She's bad news, huh?'
