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Wilder made a show of cracking his knuckles.“Let’s get back at it, then, shall we?”
“In the meantime, we’re waiting for the NRO to supply overhead coverage along each route they may have taken from where Z’s mobile was located.I’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything,” said Pinch, walking over to another group of agents.
“What about the car service?”I said to no one in particular.“Z hired one.”
Pinch looked up.“We’ve contacted every one of them in London, and no one had Z’s pick up on their schedule.”
“Can someone check to see if he had a preferred service?”I asked.
“I’ll ring Mrs.Udele,” offered Wilder.The woman had once been Wilder’s secretary, and until he resigned earlier today, she was Z’s as well.
I glanced at the time.Twenty-three thirty.Which meant we were beyond four hours since Z got into a vehicle he’d believed would take him to my flat, then disappeared.
7
Z
“Ilost touch with Seshat when we graduated from Oxford,” Puck said when he returned to the room.“Two years ago, her Curriculum Vitae appeared on my desk along with several others.I interviewed her and recommended Pinch hire her.He did almost immediately.She’s bloody brilliant, you know?”I caught a ghost of a smile.
“You mentioned she was.”
“We were still at Oxford when I started calling her Seshat.”
This was a different side of Puck than I’d seen previously.Love was reflected in his eyes as he spoke of her.“What was the significance?”I asked.
“She’s the Egyptian goddess of writing, the written word, and libraries—which was where I’d always find her.I happened to be studying for an exam on gods and goddesses and stumbled on it.”His eyes met mine.“The Egyptians consider the word both sacred and magical.”
“She used it as her code name.”
I caught another glimpse of a smile.“She did.”
“You said you intended to propose at Christmas.Why didn’t you?”
Puck stared at the blank wall.“After Beak and Vulcan were killed, I had to get away.I wanted DeDe to come with me, but she was needed on Gozo to help with the victims.”He shook his head.“I reacted in anger, wanting her to choose.I wasn’t myself.I said horrible things.”
“Rather than return to Shere with Cayman, you opted to remain on Gozo?”
Puck shook his head.“I went to Malta with him first, then returned.I wanted to apologize for the way I acted…”
“What did you do instead, Sven?”
“I went to the beach.Where it happened.”He leaned against the wall, then slid down it before sitting on the floor with his head in his hands.His shoulders shook with silent sobs.
Few understood the man’s anguish better than I.Over the course of my career, I’d lost far too many agents.Each was a hit I still felt and always would.
Adding to my guilt was that I’d been the one to suggest Puck take over as temporary commander of the UK task force for the Gozo op.In that role, he’d recruited Beak and Vulcan.It was the first international mission either participated in, and both were killed.
Within days of their deaths, I’d recommended George be assigned to the UK task force, putting her at the same level of risk as Puck had put Beak and Vulcan.If something had happened to George because of that recommendation, I’d never forgive myself.
“Sven, I understand the guilt and anguish you feel,” I said when he shook his head.
“Seshat found me there.I tried to tell her how sorry I was for what I’d said, but it was too late.She ended things with me.”
“I’m sorry, Puck.”
“I loved her, you know?”He walked toward the door, knocked once, then glanced over his shoulder.“Isaac or Tyra.”
“Pardon?”
