possibilities?’
‘Hey,’ Jack said, noting Volta’s testiness, ‘I’m convinced.’
‘I think I’m too old for this, Jack. And I think I’m glad.’
‘I second them emotions. Take me with you.’
‘Sure, if there’s anything left of us when this one’s done. Till then, I’ll wait for another phone call, you and whoever you need can surround our cryptographic Canadian, keep Jean open for assignment, and let Ellison handle the rest. I’m assuming the code was blown, but it might have been a hole in the cover. Run it backwards just in case. Put Ashley Bennington on that. And Lyle.’
‘Anything else?’
‘Not that I can think of. You?’
‘Nothing to
Volta knew what it was. ‘Jack, you don’t have to be coy.’
‘Did Daniel happen to mention how he pulled it off?’
‘I inquired. He said, and I quote entirely, “I used my imagination.”’
‘I’m really looking forward to retiring with you. Just drifting in a boat on a good trout lake while I listen to you tell me all about magic and the secrets of the art.’
‘I’ll tell you everything I can.’
‘Uh-huh,’ Jack said. ‘And after that I’ll have to use my imagination?’
‘I’ll ask Daniel when he calls,’ Volta said.
Roshi Igor, whose real name was Roger Kingman, was eating pizza – a Navajo Jumbo, the specialty of the hotel: salami, pepperoni, anchovies, and sausage, smothered with thinly sliced garlic under a half-pound of blue cheese. Roshi Igor was enjoying it immensely. Dredneau, on the other side of the table, was not. He looked up from the security diagrams. ‘Really, Roger; my eyes are beginning to water.’
‘Sorry, boss,’ Igor grunted. He moved over to the couch.
Dredneau sipped his claret. He’d figured out how Isaiah Kharome had gotten by the guards. The nerve gas had evidently caused total amnesia as well as paralysis. He didn’t know how he’d negotiated the alarms, but Dredneau’s electronic specialists had assured him any alarm could be bypassed. That left the vault, and for that he needed more information. Keyes had said the Seabrooke designer would arrive by midnight. It was already nine minutes past. And his radio monitors hadn’t called, which meant dead air. If the code or frequencies had been rotated he’d need a compelling explanation for his sudden loss of deductive powers. He didn’t like that prospect. Irritably, he opened his gold-and-ivory snuffbox and inhaled a delicate pinch. The phone rang just as he sneezed into his pale silk handkerchief. He let it ring again before he answered, ‘Paul-Paul Dredneau.’
It was the desk clerk. The Seabrooke man was downstairs.
‘Indeed,’ Dredneau said. ‘He may ascend.’
‘The vault guy?’ Igor asked. He licked the last bit of sauce from his fingers.
‘He’ll be up in a moment. And Roger – do keep in mind there’s no reason to overplay your part.’
‘It’s boring being dumb.’
‘I’m sure. But persevere.’
Igor jerked his head at the knock. ‘You want me to get it?’
‘No. Intimidation serves no purpose here. Sit and listen.’
‘Paul-Paul Dredneau?’ Gurry Debritto smiled uncertainly, blinking behind his horn-rimmed glasses.
‘I am,’ Dredneau bowed. ‘And you must be the long-awaited Mr Sahlin.’
‘Yes sir. From Seabrooke.’ He lifted the black attache case in his hand a few inches, as if offering proof.
Dredneau introduced Igor, offered refreshments, and suggested they work at the table. As he sat down, Dredneau said, ‘I assume you’ve examined the vault?’
‘Yes sir, a few hours ago.’ Debritto, still standing, set the attache case on the table and worked the combination.
‘Any preliminary conclusions?’
‘I have my notes and some photographs, but it might be useful to match them with the blueprints you requested.’
‘Of course. Excuse my impatience, but the president expressed some urgency.’
Debritto opened the case lid, removed a thin folder, and handed it to Dredneau, explaining, ‘These are the bare structural blueprints and these’ – he reached into the case – ‘include the alarms.’
Dredneau flipped open the folder. Before he could react to the blank page, Debritto knocked him unconscious with a sharp chop to the neck.
Igor was still uncoiling from the couch when the slug from the silenced .357 shattered his skull. He swayed uncertainly for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to sit back down, then toppled backward onto the couch as another bullet tore into his chest. He was still trying to rise when Debritto quickly crossed the room and finished him off.
When Dredneau opened his eyes ten minutes later the first thing he saw was the attache case turned to face him. Neatly strapped on the upraised lid was a gleaming row of instruments – scalpels, pliers, scissors, and long stainless-steel acupuncture needles. In the bottom of the case, beside an assortment of vials and syringes, was a
