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"No, Oskar simply told him I was in the hospital recuperating from another illness."
"He was a better friend than you knew," Pitt said.
"He falsely identified a body on the Lax as yours. Dr. Hunnewell did it so that Kristjan Fyrie he knew wouldn't be implicated when he went to the authorities and spilled the damning facts about Hermit Limited. Unfortunately, evil triumphed over good.
Rondheim got to him first." Pitt shook his head sadly and sighed. "Then enter Dirk Pitt, stage left."
Kirsti shivered visibly. "that's why I insisted on meeting you. I had to express my gratitude for your attempt to save his life. I am still in your debt."
Pitt rolled the cool glass over his forehead. "Too late; it makes little difference now," he said wearily.
"It does to me. That's why I saved you from being beaten to pieces by Oskar." Her voice began to tremble.
"But I . . . I can't save you a second time. I must protect myself, Dirk. I am sorry. Please do not move and make me pull the trigger. You must wait until Oskar arrives."
Pitt shook his head again. "Don't look for Oskar to come bounding in here to rescue you. At this moment, your ex-slavemaster is lying unconscious, encased in half a ton of plaster in a hospital bed. Surrounded, I might add, by a bevy of National Intelligence agents.
They may have to push him to the gallows in a wheelchair, but walk or ride, he will surely swing."
The gun wavered a hair. "What do you mean?"
"It's done, over with. You're free. Hermit Limited and its management just went belly up."
Strangely, Kirsti didn't accuse Pitt of insanity. "I want to believe you, but how can I?"
"Pick up the phone and call Kelly, Marks, Von Hummel, or your friend Rondheim. Or better yet, search every room on the sixth floor."
"And what do you expect me to find?"
"Nothing, nothing at all. They've all been arrested." Pitt finished the drink and set it down. "You and I are the only ones left.
Courtesy of the N.I.A.
You're my bonus-a little side gift-for services rendered. Love it or hate it, your soul has passed from Rondheim to me."
The room swayed around Kirsti as the truth of Pitts words took hold. She had wondered why Rondheim hael not contacted her, why Kelly had not visited her as he had promised, why there had been no ring of the phone, no knock at the door for nearly two hours.
She steadied herself, quickly accepting the realization of what had taken place.
"But . . . what of me? Am I to be arrested also?"
"No, the N.I.A. knows of your new status. They put two and two together and figured that Rondheim was blackmailing you.
They considered taking you in as an accomplice, but I talked them out of it."
The gun was gently laid on the end table. An awkward silence descended. Finally Kirsti stared at Pitt and said, "There is a price; there always has to be a price."
"It's cheap enough considering your past mistakes . . . mistakes you can never buy back even with your fortune. But you can clean the slate and make a new life without outside intrusion. All I want is your guarantee for close and continued cooperation between Fyrie Limited and NUMA."
"And?"
"The memory banks in Kelly's computers contain enough data to build a new undersea probe. I speak for Aden Sandecke
r when I say he would like you to head up the project."
"That's all, nothing more?" she asked incredulously.
"I said the price was cheap."
