"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?"
"Poison."
"Figures. She tell you anything?"
"Not much. But maybe more than she thought. I've got an idea." He paused. "It's a long shot."
"Well, ain't they all, Frank," Aaron said. "And don't we always bet on them anyway?"
The next morning, with the squad assembled, Janek played back his tape of the Diana interview. Everyone was enthralled by the woman's voice.
"Very smooth," Sue commented.
"Smooth and toxic," Janek said. "So, what does she tell us?"
"She's too eager near the end," Sue said. "You toy with her and she doesn't pull back. You drive her nuts, and she still doesn't let go."
"How'd she know Dietz was carrying something? We've held that close,"
Ray said, stroking his mustache.
"Why do you think she's so eager?"
"Maybe… Kane." "Go on," Janek said.
Ray was excited. "If I were Diana and Kane got my name out of Kirstin, then came and offered me money to lead the way to Gelsey-I'd be desperate to know why."
"What would you think?"
"I'd think that if Gelsey had something worth killing for, I ought to cut myself in on the deal."
Janek nodded. "The way Diana acted with me doesn't prove she's been in touch with Kane, but it sure points that way. Remember the other day I said Kane had jumped ahead? Now I don't think he has. It's more like we're all at the same spot." I "Looking for Gelsey," Ray said.