Chapter 2

           Afterayearofcoffins,theroomonthetwenty-fifthflooroftheChibaHiltonseemedenormous.Itwastenmetersbyeight,halfofasuite.AwhiteBrauncoffeemakersteamedonalowtablebytheslidingglasspanelsthatopenedontoanarrowbalcony.

           `Getsomecoffeeinyou.Looklikeyouneedit.’Shetookoffherblackjacket;thefletcherhungbeneathherarminablacknylonshoulderrig.Sheworeasleevelessgraypulloverwithplainsteelzipsacrosseachshoulder.Bulletproof.Casedecided,sloppingcoffeeintoabrightredmug.Hisarmsandlegsfeltliketheyweremadeoutofwood.

           `Case.’Helookedup,seeingthemanforthefirsttime.`MynameisArmitage.’Thedarkrobewasopentothewaist,thebroadchesthairlessandmuscular,thestomachflatandhard.BlueeyessopaletheymadeCasethinkofbleach.`Sun’sup,Case.Thisisyourluckyday,boy.’

           Casewhippedhisarmsidewaysandthemaneasilyduckedthescaldingcoffee.Brownstainrunningdowntheimitationricepaperwall.Hesawtheangulargoldringthroughtheleftlobe.SpecialForces.Themansmiled.

           `Getyourcoffee,Case,’Mollysaid.`Youreokay,butyou’renotgoinganywhere’tilArmitagehashissay.’Shesatcrossleggedonasilkfutonandbegantofieldstripthefletcherwithoutbotheringtolookatit.Twinmirrorstrackingashecrossedtothetableandrefilledhiscup.

           `Tooyoungtorememberthewar,aren’tyou,Case?’Armitageranalargehandbackthroughhiscroppedbrownhair.Aheavygoldbraceletflashedonhiswrist.`Leningrad,Kiev,Siberia.