failed to go by the book when the rules became too
constricting. Lou had extracted her promise to behave on this case, and
she did not want anyone else getting her into a jam when she was trying
so hard not to.
"No, Steve, I am not a rogue. I am here alone, but
with Interpol's knowledge. Since I seem to have been seriously
uninformed, however, I hope you will agree to assist me, as we
discussed earlier."
Steve felt her stomach tighten a little. She had
already decided to have him checked out, and maybe they could help each
other find Underwood. It was the man, Falcon, not the agent, who made
her question the sensibility of such a plan. He made her feel and think
things she had consciously chosen to shut out since her divorce. "You
mean for the duration?"
"It is reasonable."
Several times on the
way to Las Vegas, Steve contemplated starting a conversation and
changed her mind. For one thing, Falcon did not show any interest in
talking. For another, she was not at all sure she wanted to promote
communication with a man who made her remember that she was a woman.
Lastly, if he was not really an agent, she did not care about anything
else he had to say because it would probably be a lie, too.
They
delivered the van to the phone company's service building in Las Vegas
and, after telling Falcon to wait for her outside, Steve found a pay
phone inside the building to call Dokes. It did not take long to bring
him up to date.
"I can't say I'm surprised," Dokes replied when
Steve finished speaking. "I warned you Underwood seems to have a sixth
sense about these things. When I made all my calls last night, I asked
everyone to let me know if they hear anything about a time or place
where he's expected to show up. Plus, I put out a few feelers in the
civilian corner today. Considering all the businesses he owns, there
must be something he attends to personally. Where can I call you if we
come up with anything solid?"
"Before I answer that, I need you to
check on something for me. The guy I described to you last night turned
up in the desert today. His ID says he's Interpol. Name, A. Falcon. I
tend to believe it, but I'd like confirmation. He's after Underwood,
too. Either I work with him or run the risk of his getting in my way,
unless he's not on the level."
She agreed to wait by the phone while
Dokes contacted Interpol. It took about a half-hour for Dokes to call
back, but Falcon never came inside to question the wait, a small favor
for which Steve was grateful.
Dokes confirmed Falcon's identity and
description. "The person I talked to didn't know him personally or very
much about his assignment. Apparently, it's highly confidential. In
fact, it sounds like you know more about what he's doing than they do.
I'd hate to see them get the drop on us on this one. Work with him,
Steve. It's the only recommendation I can make under the circumstances.
Since he suggested it to begin with, there should be no problem, but
keep a close eye on him anyway. Look at it this way, if anything goes
wrong, we can always blame Interpol!" Dokes laughed and Steve joined
him, knowing there was more than a grain of truth to his joke.
As
long as Falcon agreed with what she had already decided to do, she
concocted a way to keep her bird of prey under her wing. He might be
legitimate, and her little voice might tell her she was safe with him,
but that did not mean she could trust him not to double cross her.
Steve did not want to risk his taking off ahead of her, leaving her
holding nothing but excuses. If she returned home to San Francisco, he
would be free to go his own way.
"Listen, Lou, I have an idea or two
on how to handle this Falcon character, and I can accomplish it easier
if we stay here for tonight. Ill give you a call later to let you know
what hotel we're in. Hopefully, you'll come up with a new lead by
morning."
"Fine. Be good, Steve," he said with an unprofessional send-off.
Steve
made one more call to her mother to let her know she would not be
constricting. Lou had extracted her promise to behave on this case, and
she did not want anyone else getting her into a jam when she was trying
so hard not to.
"No, Steve, I am not a rogue. I am here alone, but
with Interpol's knowledge. Since I seem to have been seriously
uninformed, however, I hope you will agree to assist me, as we
discussed earlier."
Steve felt her stomach tighten a little. She had
already decided to have him checked out, and maybe they could help each
other find Underwood. It was the man, Falcon, not the agent, who made
her question the sensibility of such a plan. He made her feel and think
things she had consciously chosen to shut out since her divorce. "You
mean for the duration?"
"It is reasonable."
Several times on the
way to Las Vegas, Steve contemplated starting a conversation and
changed her mind. For one thing, Falcon did not show any interest in
talking. For another, she was not at all sure she wanted to promote
communication with a man who made her remember that she was a woman.
Lastly, if he was not really an agent, she did not care about anything
else he had to say because it would probably be a lie, too.
They
delivered the van to the phone company's service building in Las Vegas
and, after telling Falcon to wait for her outside, Steve found a pay
phone inside the building to call Dokes. It did not take long to bring
him up to date.
"I can't say I'm surprised," Dokes replied when
Steve finished speaking. "I warned you Underwood seems to have a sixth
sense about these things. When I made all my calls last night, I asked
everyone to let me know if they hear anything about a time or place
where he's expected to show up. Plus, I put out a few feelers in the
civilian corner today. Considering all the businesses he owns, there
must be something he attends to personally. Where can I call you if we
come up with anything solid?"
"Before I answer that, I need you to
check on something for me. The guy I described to you last night turned
up in the desert today. His ID says he's Interpol. Name, A. Falcon. I
tend to believe it, but I'd like confirmation. He's after Underwood,
too. Either I work with him or run the risk of his getting in my way,
unless he's not on the level."
She agreed to wait by the phone while
Dokes contacted Interpol. It took about a half-hour for Dokes to call
back, but Falcon never came inside to question the wait, a small favor
for which Steve was grateful.
Dokes confirmed Falcon's identity and
description. "The person I talked to didn't know him personally or very
much about his assignment. Apparently, it's highly confidential. In
fact, it sounds like you know more about what he's doing than they do.
I'd hate to see them get the drop on us on this one. Work with him,
Steve. It's the only recommendation I can make under the circumstances.
Since he suggested it to begin with, there should be no problem, but
keep a close eye on him anyway. Look at it this way, if anything goes
wrong, we can always blame Interpol!" Dokes laughed and Steve joined
him, knowing there was more than a grain of truth to his joke.
As
long as Falcon agreed with what she had already decided to do, she
concocted a way to keep her bird of prey under her wing. He might be
legitimate, and her little voice might tell her she was safe with him,
but that did not mean she could trust him not to double cross her.
Steve did not want to risk his taking off ahead of her, leaving her
holding nothing but excuses. If she returned home to San Francisco, he
would be free to go his own way.
"Listen, Lou, I have an idea or two
on how to handle this Falcon character, and I can accomplish it easier
if we stay here for tonight. Ill give you a call later to let you know
what hotel we're in. Hopefully, you'll come up with a new lead by
morning."
"Fine. Be good, Steve," he said with an unprofessional send-off.
Steve
made one more call to her mother to let her know she would not be
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