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making it hard for me to breathe. It had been this way since the night she
disappeared, almost a year ago.
And then, for the first time, I admitted to myself that she was gone. I would
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never see her again. The thought caught like a shard of glass in my
throat. Tears welled in my eyes. I love you. I whispered to no one. I love
you so much and I miss you terribly.
I said a few more prayers, then I finally rose from the long wooden pew and
silently made my way toward the doors of the vestibule. I didn t see the woman
crouching in a side row. She startled me with a sudden movement.
I recognized her from the soup kitchen. Her name was Magnolia. That was all I
knew about her, just an odd first name, maybe a made-up one. She called out to
me in a loud voice. Hey, Peanut Butter Man, now you know what it s like.
Chapter One Hundred and Six
Jones and Sandy Greenberg, from Interpol, had helped get the other three
Horsemen under surveillance. The net being cast was large, as the catch could
be, if we succeeded.
The huge potential scandal in England was being carefully watched and
monitored by the Security Service. If four English agents were murderers
involved in a bizarre game, the fallout would be widespread and devastating
for the intelligence community.
Shafer dutifully went to the embassy to work on Wednesday and Thursday. He
arrived just before nine and left promptly at five. Once inside, he stayed out
of sight in his small office, not even venturing out for lunch. He spent hours
on America Online, which we monitored.
Both days, he wore the same gray slacks and a double-breasted blue
blazer. His clothes were uncharacteristically wrinkled and unkempt. His thick
blond hair was combed back, looked dirty and greasy, and it resisted the high
winds flowing through Washington. He looked pale, seemed nervous and fidgety.
Was he going to crash?
After dinner on Friday night, Nana and I sat out in back of the house on
Fifth Street. We were talking, and spending more time together than we had in
years. I knew she was concerned about me, and I let her help as much as she
wanted. For both our sakes.
Jannie and Damon were washing the dishes inside and they managed not to
squabble too much. Damon washed while Jannie dried. Damon s tape deck played
the beautiful score from the movie Beloved.
Most families have a washer and dryer these days, Nana said, after she d
taken a sip of her tea. Slavery has ended in America, Alex. Did you happen to
hear about that?
We have a dishwasher and dryer, too. Sounds like they re in good working
order. Low maintenance, low cost. Hard to beat.
Nana clucked. See how long it lasts.
If you want a dishwasher we can buy it, or are you just practicing the fine
art of being argumentative before you launch into something more deserving of
your talents? As I remember, you are a fan of Demosthenes and Cicero.
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She nudged me with her elbow. Wiseapple, she said. Think you re so smart.
I shook my head. Not really, Nana. That s never been one of my big
problems.
No, I suppose not. You re right, you don t have a big head about yourself.
Nana stared into my eyes. I could almost feel her peering into my soul. She
has an ability to look very deeply into things that really matter. You ever
going to stop blaming yourself? she finally asked. You look just terrible.
Thank you. Are you ever going to stop nagging me? I asked, and finally
smiled at her. Nana could always bring me out of the doldrums, in her own
special way.
She nodded her small head. Of course I will. I ll stop one day. Nobody lives
forever, grannyson.
I laughed. You probably will, though. Live longer than me or the kids.
Nana showed lots of teeth - her own, too. I do feel pretty good, considering
everything, she said. You re still chasing him, aren t you? That s what
you re doing nights. You and John Sampson, that Englishman, Andrew Jones.
I sighed. Yeah, I am. And we re going to get him. There may be four men
involved in a series of murders. Here, in Asia, Jamaica, London.
She beckoned to me with a bent, crabbed forefinger. Come closer now.
I grinned at her. She s such a soft touch really, such a sweetie, but such a
hardass, too. You want me to sit down on your lap, old woman? You sure about
that?
Good Lord, no. Don t sit on me, Alex. Just bend over and show some respect
for my age and wisdom. Give me a big hug, while you re at it.
I did as I was told, and I noticed there wasn t any fuss or clatter coming
from the kitchen anymore.
I glanced at the screen door, and saw my two little busybodies were watching,
their faces pressed against the mesh wire. I waved them away from the door,
and their faces disappeared.
I want you to be so very, very careful. Nana whispered as I held her
gently. But I want you to get him somehow, some way. That man is the worst of
all of them. Geoffrey Shafer is the worst, Alex, the most evil.
Chapter One Hundred and Seven
The game had never really ended - but it had changed tremendously since the
trial in Washington.
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