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* * *
Canidy said, “What the hell?”
And then his mind raced.
I thought that this Kappler guy was okay. That he wanted the war to end.
Hell, he was the one who tried hiding that Tabun here.
Amazing how fast the rules change in this game.
How the hell am I going to get to Kappler in Messina and take him out? By—what?—June sixth?
Maybe if I go through Müller?
Yeah! I could get them both at once, maybe with some C-2.
Or make it look as if Müller got Kappler, right before Kappler shot him.
Everyone hates that sonofabitch.
“Message back: Wild Bill’s orders received and understood—”
There suddenly came from downstairs the unmistakable sound of a young woman screaming.
Again?
But now she sounds terrified, not angry. . . .
John Craig stared at Canidy, who was pulling out his .45 again as he explained, “Andrea. I left her in the kitchen.”
Then they could tell that Andrea’s screams were getting louder and closer—and that she was running up the stairs.
Canidy pushed the Sten within John Craig’s reach, then aimed his pistol toward the top of the stairs. As he strained to discern how many pairs of feet were pounding on the steps—sounds like it’s just her—he stuffed the decrypted message into his pants pocket.
Andrea then appeared, alone, at the top, wide-eyed and tears flowing.
“Are you okay, Andrea?” Canidy said.
“It is Mariano!” she cried.
Well, that’s what you get for not staying in the kitchen like I told you.
So much for being a tough girl.
She ran to Canidy, then buried her face in his shoulder and began sobbing.
Canidy looked at John Craig, who stared at Andrea.
“I think I’m dreaming again,” John Craig said. “My God, she is more beautiful than Tubes said.”
Andrea, her ample chest heaving, turned her head and dabbed her sleeve at her tears.
Then she seemed to notice John Craig for the first time.
She must have heard him mention Tubes.
“Andrea,” Canidy said, “this is John Craig, a friend of Tubes.”
