Niceville

place, giving each car and every person in the area a careful appraisal.
    He slipped into the car, leaving the door open, keeping one foot on the curb. The interior of the car smelled of Chinese cigarettes, which smelled exactly the way he figured they would smell.
    “We’re supposed to meet at the Marriott.”
    Dak nodded his head, glancing briefly at the back of the driver’s head, a cannonball head that rode on a hairy neck as wide as a tree stump.
    “Yes. That was the arrangement. And I am sorry to alter it. May I ask, do you have the item with you at this time?”
    Deitz looked around the black leather interior of the car, thinking mikes and wires.
    “I have no knowledge of any
item
, Mr. Dak.”
    Dak squirmed in his seat, indicating his extreme embarrassment and discomfort.
    “Quite right. I misspoke. I refer only to the meeting which we have arranged. As you know, time is important here. Our Learjet waits at Mauldar Field. We must take flight on Monday morning.”
    “What if we’re going to need more time than that?”
    “Sadly, not possible. The deadline is fixed. Urgent business takes us to Dubai. Accordingly, my people are anxious to have this … consultation … take place as soon as it can.”
    “How did you find me?” asked Deitz, cutting in.
    “Your car is most singular, Mr. Deitz.”
    “Horseshit. I don’t get this. Why show up here, and why show up now?”
    Something flitted across Dak’s face, and it changed in a subtle but memorable way. Deitz was suddenly glad he had one foot on the curb and a Sig Sauer in his belt. What Zachary Dak looked like was less than what he was.
    “Please get in and shut the door,” he said.
    Deitz got in and shut the door. The car immediately accelerated into traffic. Deitz was watching Dak’s hands but did not see how the Glock got there. It was just there.
    “This is only a precaution,” said Dak, “so that you might listen with attention and do nothing rash. We are aware that you have had a problem with the item. We are aware that you cannot produce it.”
    Deitz managed to keep his expression steady. Dak smiled and went on.
    “This upsets you. I understand. This is upsetting to us as well. But there is no point in being disputatious, as our interests happily coincide. You wish to regain the item promptly. We wish it to be promptly regained.”
    “OnStar,” said Deitz, having worked it through. “You’ve had my truck phone hacked. You’re inside the OnStar system. You heard me get a call about the … item.”
    Dak looked pleased.
    He literally beamed.
    “The People’s Republic has made heroic strides in opening up certain areas of the communications systems of several of our trading partners. There is no hostility in this. It is simply prudent to know the positions of your good friends in business. To illustrate, we know that you are acting in perfect faith and that the theft of the object was as unexpected and distressing to you as it was to us. You share our sense of urgency. You are making energetic inquiries, as is your associate, Mr. Holliman.”
    Christ
, thought Deitz.
They know how to turn on the OnStar microphone even if I’m not on it. They’ve heard everything I’ve said in the truck
.
    “We are here to help, in any way we can, which is why we have come out into the field to assist you.”
    “Moving around Niceville in this limo will just attract attention. The best thing you could do is to go back to the Marriott and wait. I’ll get the thing. You can count on it.”
    “We do count on you, Mr. Deitz. But we must still have it in our possession by Sunday evening at the very latest. To properly analyze the device will take several hours, and its extraction from the Slipstream vaults must never be discovered. You must return it without discovery, or the entire project will lose much of its value. Many millions are in play. Much effort has already been expended. I must answer to my superiors. We have discussed this matter of the robbery among ourselves. Have you reached any conclusions?”
    “Yeah,” said Deitz. “I have.”
    Dak inclined his head, glanced at the driver, and then brought his attention back. “They are?”
    “It was partly an inside job. I’m sure of it. So far I’ve eliminated the banker—”
    “The unfortunate Mr. Llewellyn?”
    “You heard that?”
    Dak smiled.
    “A most vigorous interrogation. We gather he had drugged himself? He is recovered, we hope?”
    “I dropped him off at his