Chapter 24

           Shewasgone.HefeltitwhenheopenedthedooroftheirsuiteattheHyatt.Blackfutons,thepinefloorpolishedtoadullgloss,thepaperscreensarrangedwithacarebredovercenturies.Shewasgone.

           Therewasanoteontheblacklacquerbarcabinetbesidethedoor,asinglesheetofstationery,foldedonce,weightedwiththeshuriken.Hesliditfrombeneaththenine-pointedstarandopenedit.

           HEYITSOKAYBUTITSTAKINGTHEEDGEOFFMYGAME,IPAIDTHEBILLALREADY.ITSTHEWAYIMWIREDIGUESS,WATCHYOURASSOKAY?XXXMOLLY

           Hecrumpledthepaperintoaballanddroppeditbesidetheshuriken.Hepickedthestarupandwalkedtothewindow,turningitinhishands.He’dfounditinthepocketofhisjacket,inZion,whentheywerepreparingtoleavefortheJALstation.Helookeddownatit.They’dpassedtheshopwhereshe’dboughtitforhim,whenthey’dgonetoChibatogetherforthelastofheroperations.He’dgonetotheChatsubothatnight,whileshewasintheclinic,andseenRatz.Somethinghadkepthimawayfromtheplace,ontheirfiveprevioustrips,butnowhe’dfeltlikegoingback.

           Ratzhadservedhimwithouttheslightestglimmerofrecognition.

           `Hey,’he’dsaid,`it’sme.Case.’

           Theoldeyesregardinghimoutoftheirdarkwebsofwrinkledflesh.`Ah,’Ratzhadsaid,atlast,`theartiste.’Thebartendershrugged.

           `Icameback.’

           Themanshookhismassive,stubbledhead.