After the tone Elliot said, “ ‘Queen takes pawn, Mate,’“ and read off the pay phone’s number, hanging up immediately. Then he followed the seconds on his watch.
Sixty-seven seconds later the telephone rang; Elliot picked up immediately. Another voice, now male, said, “Joseph Rabinowitz?”
“Yes,” said Elliot. “I can talk freely?”
“We believe this line secure. How can we help you?”
“Would there be any difficulty in putting me through to Chin?”
“Please hold while I try to relay you.”
Elliot turned up his collar uselessly; rain still ran down his neck.
In about another minute, a familiar voice came on and said,
“Joseph?”
“Hello, Chin.”
“When did you last see me?”
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“Yesterday afternoon,” said Elliot.
“Oh, yes. Our private chat.”
“No, I was with Lorimer.”
“How’s your health?”
Elliot pondered this last query for a moment, then replied,
“Not bad. But—do you have anything for clogged sinuses?”
“What can I do for you, Joseph?” Chin asked.
“Information. Are you sure we’re secure?”
“Relax. What’s on your mind?”
“First,” said Elliot, “I need an identity check. Lorimer.”
“I can’t give you her name without her permission. The best I can do is confirm or deny a name you give me.”
“Check this, then. Deanne Powers.”
“It checks,” Chin said.
“She’s really the FBI chief’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re sure she’s on your side?”
Elliot could hear Chin’s dry chuckle. “My friend, she has a higher psychometric loyalty rating than you.”
“I don’t recall taking any tests,” said Elliot.
“What do you think your entire visit to Aurora was?”
“Uh—never mind. Next point. I want to find out if the friends—the allies—who arranged my visit to Aurora are okay. I don’t know their Cadre names. Should I give you their real names?”
“No,” Chin said. “They’re listed in your file as your sureties. Wait a moment.” In a little while, Chin said, “Stay away from their apartment. It’s been captured.”
“But are they okay?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you anything over this line.”
Elliot swallowed a lump that had been building since yesterday. The Grosses were dead—they had to be dead.
“All right,” Elliot said slowly. “Okay. Has there been any progress about my—family?”
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Chin’s voice was even gentler. “There have been no new entries in your file since you left, Joseph.”
“Okay.”
“Are you staying at the place I recommended?” Chin asked.
“Yes. Very nice people.”
“Fine. I’ll record that in your file so if we lose relay prematurely we can get word to you there. Laissez-faire.”
On the way back, Elliot stopped at a grocery store, picking up a supply of cold cuts, sandwich makings, fruit, soft drinks, and a tube of toothpaste. He paid for them with vendies and the few remaining ration tickets he had in his wallet. A little farther east on Fourteenth Street he stepped into another store for a few minutes, again paying with vendies, walking out with a smaller purchase.
When he got back to the apartment, drenched to the bone, Lorimer was still on the couch, reading. After hanging his overcoat on the showerhead to dry, Elliot brought the second bag into the living room. “Catch,” he said, tossing Lorimer a strange-looking roll.
She caught it. “What’s this?”
“A hot bialy,” he said.
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Chapter 17
He found the advertisement classified in The New York Times under “Services Available.”
It read:
How good is your security system? If we can’t crack it, no one can. Money-back guarantee. Confidential free consultations, no appointment necessary. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, Empire State Building, New York, N.Y. 10001
Lorimer dropped the clipping onto the bed table. “That’s where you’re heading today?”
Elliot, still undressed, sat down on the bed next to her.
“There and also to the Times building, where I’ll drop off my reply to another ad. Come with me?”
“Just for company?”
Elliot shook his head. “Whoever is looking for us individually won’t be thinking about a couple. I also get the feeling you’re pretty up on cloak-and-dagger.”
Lorimer shrugged. “Something rubs off, I guess.” She hesitated. “That’s what my appointment today was supposed to be about. I’ve been told Merce Rampart thinks I could make a good operative.”