Chapter 14

           `YournameisHenryDorsettCase.’Sherecitedtheyearandplaceofhisbirth,hisBAMASingleIdentificationNumber,andastringofnameshegraduallyrecognizedasaliasesfromhispast.

           `Youbeenhereawhile?’Hesawthecontentsofhisbagspreadoutacrossthebed,unwashedclothingsortedbytype.Theshurikenlaybyitself,betweenjeansandunderwear,onthesand-tintedtemperfoam.

           `WhereisKolodny?’Thetwomensatsidebysideonthecouch,theirarmscrossedovertannedchests,identicalgoldchainsslungaroundtheirnecks.Casepeeredatthemandsawthattheiryouthwascounterfeit,markedbyacertaintelltalecorrugationattheknuckles,somethingthesurgeonswereunabletoerase.

           `Who’sKolodny?’

           `Thatwasthenameintheregister.Whereisshe?’

           `Idunno,’hesaid,crossingtothebarandpouringhimselfaglassofmineralwater.`Shetookoff.’

           `Wheredidyougotonight,Case?’Thegirlpickedupthepistolandresteditonherthigh,withoutactuallypointingitathim.

           `JulesVerne,coupleofbars,gothigh.Howaboutyou?’Hiskneesfeltbrittle.Themineralwaterwaswarmandflat.

           `Idon’tthinkyougraspyoursituation,’saidthemanontheleft,takingapackofGitanesfromthebreastpocketofhiswhitemeshblouse.`Youarebusted,Mr.Case.Thechargeshavetodowithconspiracytoaugmentanartificialintelligence.