He heard the knock as Vince opened thedoor to admit Braun.

The visitor looked small besideLombardi's muscular bodyguard, but had a livid red scar on his left cheek andan air of menace about him that suggested he was equally as dangerous.

"Mr. Braun to see you, Mr.Lombardi."

"Leave us, Vince."

The door closed and Lombardi came aroundslowly from behind his cluttered desk to greet his visitor. The office blindswere drawn, cutting@ out the view of the East River and docks beyond thewindow, but the light was on overhead, and when Lombardi had shaken the man'shand, he said gruffly, "You wanna drink?"

"Scotch."

Lombardi poured two Scotches from achrome cabinet by the window and threw in some ice cubes. He came back andhanded Braun his drink before he sat down.

"You want the story on thebroad?"

"That's why I'm here."

"You mind if I ask a personalquestion? What The fuck is up?

You got me watching her for months now.She does nothin'."

Braun sipped his Scotch, sat back in hischair and said sharply, "Just give me the story, Lombardi. That's why youget paid."

Lombardi sighed and reached toward adrawer and pulled out a large brown envelope, clusters of gold rings on his fatfingers. As he looked back up he smiled and said, "The new girldownstairs, you see her?"

"I saw her."

Lombardi smiled and gripped his crotch."She's as green as cow shit but she's a fucking rodeo in the hay. She alsolikes it rough, know what I mean?"

Braun didn't smile. "Tell me whatyou have for me."

That's what I like about you. Mr. Braun.Everything is click-click. Direct and to the point. Busy man. Places to go,things to do." Lombardi handed across the envelope. "It's all writtenup the way you wanted it. Nothin- much new, except the girl had avisitor."

"Who?"

"A guy. Stayed one night at theCarlton, off Lexington Avenue. Name of Massey. Took the girl there too. Sheleft after a couple of hours. That's all I know from shit." Lombardinodded to the envelope. "It's all in there, anyway. Including thepics."

Braun opened the envelope and examinedthe contents briefly, looking at the photographs, then closed it again and puthis hand in his inside pocket, took out another envelope and handed it across."For you."

"Amigo, I thank you from the bottomof my black heart."

Lombardi took the envelope in his fathand and looked at Braun. "So what's with the Russian broad?"

"Who says she's Russian?"

"Mister, I've had my guys watchingher for over two months. You think I don't ]know nothing?"

Braun smiled, a cold smile, but didn'treply. Lombardi's fat hand stuffed the envelope into a drawer and banged itshut, "OK, you pay the tab so we play it your way. As long as I don't getno Feds crawling up my ass with a hot poker."

"You won't. Just keep watchingher." Braun finished his drink and stood. "It's been a pleasure doingbusiness, Lombardi."

"Sure."

Lombardi looked up at his visitor'sscar-red face . "Seeing as I got to keep you happy, you want a girl beforeyou go? No charge for the hick from Illinois if she's what you want."

This time Braun smiled back. "Whynot?"

It was almost ten when Braun arrived backat the one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. He climbed the stairs to the fourthfloor and let himself in, leaving the lights off as he closed the door. Thecurtains were open and he went into the kitchen to the refrigerator and pickeda bottle of beer off the shelf.

As he came back into the front room hesaw the man sitting in the shadows by the window. He wore an overcoat and hatand smoked a cigarette, a full glass in his hand. In the faint wash of lightfrom the windows, Braun saw the smile on the man's face. The man said,"Working late. Greaot-?" Braun let his breath out and said,"Christ ... I wish you wouldn't do that, Akashin."

The man named Akashin lau-he'd and stoodup. "I helped myself to some of' your excellent Scotch. I hope you don'tmind."

Feliks Akashin was short and stocky. Hisfleshy cheek" were limp and shallow, small eyes hard in a weathered face.It wasn't a handsome face; there was a large dark mole on his left _jaw, tuftsof beard- sprouting from the blemish, and his skin had the texture of"leather. At forty-eight he was an attache with the Soviet Mission to the UnitedNations in New York. In reality he held the rank of major in the KGB. Braunlooked at him.

"You're taking risk coming here. Youcould have been followed."

Akashin smiled. "They tried asusual. And as result] I lost them in the subway. A wily old fox will alwayslose the hunter, my dcai- Gregor. Besides, I quite like the thrill of thechase."

Braun crossed to the window. The lightsof New York dazzled beyond the glass and as he stood there he drank, from thebottle and smoked his cigarette.

"So why the visit@?"

"You have the report on thewoman?"

Braun raised his eyebrows, a trace ofanger in his voice. "Is that all'?

You could have waited until you picked itup from the drop tomorrow."

"There's been a directive fromMoscow on the woman in today's diplomatic bag. I need to make a decisiontonight."

Braun looked back, surprise on his face."What directive?"

"Let's hear your report first,Gigegoig."

Braun told him and Akashin scratched themole on his jaw and raised his eyebrows.

"Interesting. You trustLombardi?"

"I'd sooner trust the devil himself.Moscow may secretly contribute to his union, but he has his fat fingers in alot of pies, most of them ilegal. And that's dangerous."

Akashin shrugged. "We have no choicebut to use him. If the Americans discovered US Mounting Our own surveillanceoperation, there would be hell to pay. In this way, we keep every thing atarm's length. Besides, Lombardi owes us. Without our help he'd still be a unionsteward."

"So who do you think this man Masseymight be?"

Akashin Put down his glass. For a longtime he seemed to have difficulty making up his mind about something, then hesaid, "Who knows" The photographs Lombardi's men took are not thebest quality, amateurish really, but they may help. I'll have our people checkand see if any of our station officers recognize him."

'."And in the meantime'!"

"in the meantime you tell Lombardiyou want the woman watched more closely. A twenty-four-hour operation. And tellhim you may have a job for him soon that will pay well."

Akashin grinned. "I'm sure Lombardiwill appreciate that."

"What sort of job?"

Akashin looked across and smiled."You know Moscow doesn't like it when the Americans slight us, Gregor. Weneed to let them know they can't make fools of us."

"Is she that important""

"No, but it's a question ofprinciple."

"So what does Lombardi have todo,?" Arkashin said, "When the time is right we're going to take thegirl back to Moscow. We'll need Lombardi to kidnap her. You think he'll doit?"

" He'll do anything you tell him formoney. But taking her back to Moscow is going to be difficult."

Akashin put down his glass and Stubbedout his cigarette.

Lombardi controls the docks. Getting heron board the Soviet vessel shouldn't be difficult. But we have another optionShould it prove impossible."

"And what's that'.)"

"A repeat performance of the one youcarried out so well in Switzerland." Arkashin smiled. "You killher."