Hard Rain

to let him know that he was finally on the right
    track.
    "Well, just a second. Before we talk about that, I need to know, are
    you interested?"
    I looked at him. "Mr. Biddle, I'm sure you know that I'm selective
    about whose activities I'll "interfere" with. So without knowing who,
    I couldn't tell you whether I'd be interested or not."
    "It's a man. A principal."
    I nodded. "Good."
    "Good" meaning, you're interested?"
    "Meaning you haven't made me uninterested, so far."
    He nodded. "You know the person we're talking about. You met him
    recently, when he was following an acquaintance of yours."
    Only long-practiced discretion prevented me from showing my surprise.
    "Tell me," I said.
    "Kanezaki."
    "Why?"
    He frowned. "What do you mean, "why"?"
    "Let's just say that my unhappy history with your organization
    necessitates higher than usual levels of disclosure."
    "I'm sorry, I can't tell you more than I have already."
    "I'm sorry, you'll have to."
    "Or you won't take the job?"
    "Or I will take your life."
    He blanched, but other than that kept his composure. "I don't really
    think this conversation calls for threats," he said. "We're discussing
    a business proposition."
    "Threats," I said, my tone thoughtful. "I've survived for a long time
    by identifying and preemptively eliminating "threats." So here's my
    business proposition to you. Convince me that you're not a "threat,"
    and I won't eliminate you."
    "I don't believe this," he said. "Do you know who I am?"
    "Tell me, so we can get it right on the headstone."
    He glowered at me. After a moment, he said, "All right, I'll tell you.
    But only because it makes sense for you to know, not because of your
    threats." He took a sip from the china cup. "Kanezaki is a rogue.
    He's been running a secret program that could cause embarrassment on
    both sides of the Pacific if it were to get out."
    "Crepuscular?" I asked.
    His mouth dropped open. "You know ... how could you possibly know
    about that? From Kanezaki?"
    You dumb bastard, I thought. Whatever I knew, you just confirmed it.
    I looked at him. "Mr. Biddle, how do you think I've lasted as long as
    I have in this line of work? I make it my business to know what I'm
    stepping into and whether the reward is worth the risk. That's how I
    stay alive and my clients get their money's worth."
    I waited while he digested this new worldview.
    "What else do you know about this?" he asked after a moment, trying to
    be shrewd now.
    "Plenty. Now tell me why you've decided that Kanezaki has become a
    liability. From what I understand, up until now he's been your golden
    boy."
    He crinkled his nose as though at an offensive odor. "In his own mind
    he's golden. Forgive me, but simply having Japanese blood doesn't give
    someone special insights into this country."
    I shook my head to show him that of course his comment didn't offend
    me.
    "Insight into this country, any country, takes years of education,
    experience, sensitivity," he said. "But this kid, he thinks he knows
    enough to design and run his own damn foreign policy."
    I nodded to show that I was sympathetic to his point, and he
    continued.
    "All right, you know there was a program. But it was shut down six
    months ago. I don't necessarily agree with the shutdown, but my
    private thoughts on the matter are irrelevant. What is relevant is
    that Kanezaki has been continuing it on his own."
    "I can see where that would be a problem," I said.
    "Yes, well, it's a shame in some ways. He's got a lot of passion and
    he's not without talent. But this matter must be put to rest, before
    some real damage occurs."
    "What do you want me to do?" I asked.
    He looked at me. "I want you to ... look, I understand that you can
    arrange these things so that it looks as though the person did it
    himself?
    "That's true," I said, noting that he had initially spoken of what 'we'
    want and was now saying "I."
    "Well, that's what needs to be done. Is there a usual fee?"
    "For a CIA officer? The fee would be high."
    "All right. What is it?"
    He was eager enough so that I was half-tempted to bilk him. Make him
    pay up front, then Sayonara, asshole.
    And maybe I would. But I still had a few questions.
    "Let me ask you," I said, furrowing my brow in my best Columbo
    imitation. "How do you know about me? About my services?"
    "The Agency has a dossier on you," he said. "Most of it assembled
    through Holtzer's efforts."
    "Oh," I said. "Of course. That makes sense. And when you first
    started looking for me, was