Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

always within the speed limits.”
    â€œYou know very well what I am referring to,” Croft said.
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t, Colonel. Where is my wife? May I see her?”
    â€œI haven’t decided,” Croft said.
    â€œI assure you my wife is entirely a law-abiding resident of St. Marks.”
    â€œDoes your wife have computer skills, too, Mr. Pepper?”
    â€œShe can just barely handle e-mail, I’m afraid.”
    â€œBut you—you are an absolute whiz with computers, aren’t you?”
    â€œI’m the chief technology officer for the casino,” Pepper replied. “Computers are an important part of my job.”
    â€œDescribe your duties, please.”
    â€œAs chief technology officer, I write or supervise the writing of computer software which allows people all over the world to participate in online gaming, thus injecting many millions in tax dollars into the economy of St. Marks. May I call my boss, the chief executive officer of my company, please?”
    â€œNo, you may not,” Croft replied. “What is your interest in Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Weatherby and Mr. Robertson?”
    â€œI’m sorry, I’m not acquainted with anyone of those names.”
    â€œThen why were you attempting to obtain information about them from the computers at the Department of the Interior?”
    â€œColonel, it is a legitimate part of my work to obtain information about clients and prospective clients, but the only reason I would have to obtain any information at all about anyone would be a perfectly normal check of employment and credit records, before establishing a line of credit for a new customer. In the event that the applicant was a St. Marks citizen or resident, one of my staff would seek confirmation of the contents of the credit application. I expect that must be what you are referring to.”
    â€œAnd would that search for information include attempting to download applications for permission to purchase a residence on St. Marks?”
    â€œIt might. Since the credit bureau on St. Marks is fairly limited in its operation, my staff might look for other sources to confirm the address and credit-worthiness of an applicant. The ownership of property is always desirable when we are extending credit to a new customer.”
    â€œAnd do you have signed applications for credit from those three gentlemen?”
    â€œAll our transactions with our customers and with applicants are conducted online, so we don’t have paper records.”
    â€œBut you could produce printouts of online applications from Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Weatherby?”
    â€œI’m afraid that our company policies prevent the disclosure of any information about any of our customers or applicants, Colonel. The home office was made aware of our policies and procedures when our business was first established in St. Marks, and so were the home secretary and, of course, the prime minister. Sir Winston takes a very great interest in companies wishing to do business on St. Marks.” Pepper was aware that both of these gentlemen took very great bribes, as well.
    â€œMr. Pepper, do you see the door immediately to your right?”
    Pepper looked and found the door. “Yes, Colonel.”
    â€œGo and open the door and look into the next room.”
    â€œAs you wish, Colonel.” Pepper got up, walked to the door and opened it. A trickle of fear ran down his bowels. The room was smaller than the office in which he had been sitting, but it was better equipped; it contained a heavy wooden chair bolted to the floor and equipped with thick leather straps for restricting the movement of whoever might sit in it.
    Next to the chair was a large table on which were arrayed a variety of knives, pliers and other hardware that might be used for other than their original purpose.
    On the other side of the chair, resting on two sawhorses, was a freshly constructed wooden coffin, with its lid lying on the floor next to it.
    Pepper closed the door and returned to his chair.
    â€œNow,” Colonel Croft said, “let us begin again.”

33
    L ance Cabot was waiting in the director’s reception area when she arrived at work at 8 A.M . He felt awful, having been up all night, and he was anxious about this meeting.
    Kate Lee regarded him closely. “Something wrong, Lance?” she asked.
    â€œMay I speak with you in your office, Director?”
    â€œOf course;