“Tell them that silicon is crap. Carbon atoms would be much better until we get a handle on a quantum computer. This carbon is molecular-level stuff. Then again, the Nannites may not want us cracking every riddle, depriving the universe of its mysteries. Quirky buggers, them. Quarky, for that matter-”
“Jason?”
“What?”
“I need to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
“Did you shoot your rocket launcher at a boat the other night?”
“Roberto wasn’t really clear on that. He told me it was a Nannite ship, but that was just to humor me. I did it for the tension release. It was a good-looking tub for a derelict. I told Roberto what he wanted to hear about blowing up the Nannites. You know, ho, ho, ho. They patronize me constantly.”
“Did you also shoot a cabin?”
“Cabin? Uh-uh.”
“The cabin on Sonoma Island.”
“Nope. Cabins were never on the menu.” Jason paused and she could hear whispers. “Here, Roberto wants to talk.”
“Hello? Anna?” Roberto said. “How are you?”
“Just fine. I was enjoying my talk with Jason.”
“I’ll put him right back on. We are still, you know, concerned about the mix-up. Especially about your friend. If he’s going to report Jason, then we should-”
“He’s not reporting anybody. Our only concern at this point is Jason and his welfare. I’d like to speak with him again, if you don’t mind.”
“Ah, well, I see that he’s wandered off to his workroom. You know how that goes. Call back about noon. He takes his midday break like clockwork.”
She was about to insist he put Jason on when the doorbell rang. Genevieve checked the video screen and inquired about the visitor.
“There’s a gentleman here to see you. His name is Shohei. He says he was sent by Sam of the Silverwind.”
Anna started to tell Roberto to forget about it, but he’d already hung up.
“Ask him how I can be sure Sam really sent him.”
There was a pause. “He’s talking to someone on a cell phone. Here, you listen.” Genevieve turned up the intercom.
“Sam says not to take a cold shower without his help, whatever that means.”
“Let him in.”
Sooner than she would have expected, a square-shouldered Japanese man perhaps five feet ten inches tall walked into her apartment.
“How did you get up here without the doorman announcing you?”
“He was occupied. I would have… let in myself… but I did not wish to startle you.”
“I’m Anna. Now how do you know Sam?”
“Call me Shohei. I see you do not know rules.”
“I thought I wasn’t supposed to tell strangers about him. Surely that doesn’t apply to you?”
“Ah, yes. Apply to me. Apply to everybody from sea to sea. But you seem, ah, troubled. What you want to know?”
“Everything.”
“That would be a lot. I will check make sure things okay. Then I will make rounds. There are men outside.”
“Men outside?”
“Yes. They are, I believe, from France.”
“How do you know that?”
“Wallet mainly. In amongst American dollars there was French currency. And the clothes. Particularly the shoes.”
“How did you look at their wallets?”
“One of them went to sleep.”
“Just like that, he took a nap?”
“Temporary lack of blood supply to brain. If you wish to leave apartment we will discuss. We will always have plan and you will always follow the plan.”
“What did Sam say to do if I want to do my own thing?”
“I say good-bye. Sam say good-bye.”
“You know that man has me over a barrel and I don’t like it.”
“Why you so angry? Relax. Listen to music. Burn incense. Sam is helping you. Believe me.”
“Tell me about this woman Spring who’s helping with my niece.”
“Spring is very smart lady. A psychologist. And Jill. Jill the challenger.”
“Does he work with Spring all the time?”
“Yes. When needed. Spring is Sam’s mother. But that is secret.”
“Oh. Now that is interesting.”
“Yes. And I say too much.”
As the day wore on, Shohei moved like a shadow that came and went with the movement of the sun. After a time she almost quit noticing him. Often he stayed outside.
She called Lane and concluded he was pissed because she couldn’t come and see him. The discussion didn’t end particularly well, which wasn’t surprising. Their relationship wasn’t ending well.
The rest of the afternoon she memorized lines, muttering scenes over and over, trying to get in a groove with her new character. For two hours she took no calls; at about 4:00 she began returning them. At 4:30 Joshua called. Although he had ended the Sam investigation, he had looked into Dr. Carl Fielding, the applied mathematician Jason had requested by name. Josh had used contacts in the securities industry to get to people close to Fielding, and he’d arranged for Fielding to meet Anna at the Carter Building at 9:30 in the morning. She made an appointment with her hairstylist for 10:45 A.M., as a cover story to feed Shohei.
“It’s time for a plan,” she said to Shohei.
“You go out?”
“Hair studio. Tomorrow at 10:45 A.M. After my first calls and the mail.”
“I see. What is the address?”
“Genevieve has it. It’s on Fifth Avenue.”
“We’re gonna have people following. You like disguise?”
Anna smiled. “I’m an actress. What do you think?”
Anna found herself enjoying Shohei. He was a smart man with a deep sense of humor. Shohei rocked her boat.
She tried on a big floppy hat and sunglasses, the old standby.
“Ah, Anna with a hat,” he said.
“How about we just let them follow us?”
“Fine by me. I call Sam.”
“Wait a minute. If we were going to call him anyway, why did we just have that conversation? I thought it was you and me. Shohei and Anna.”
“We make the plan but then we ask Sam.”
“Whatever. I’m gonna be late. Oh, and one more thing. I need to make a little stop at the Carter Building on the way. At nine-thirty A.M.”
Shohei’s eyes grew wide and he looked into hers. It wasn’t a stare but it wasn’t a vacant look either. It was tranquility. It was Sam’s look. She turned her eyes from his.
“It is to your credit that you cannot look at me,” he said.
“I can look at you,” she said, leveling her eyes on his. But in his countenance there was a certainty that she could not match. Somehow he knew she was hiding something. She suspected that he even knew what she was hiding.
“How did you know?” When he didn’t answer she thought for a moment. The same way that Sam knew I was checking him out.”
“You drop this little stop on me like big bomb. I’m not supposed to notice this, this… this… afterthought?”
“I need to drop something very important off at the building. It’s personal.”
“Your period is personal. We talk about the safety of my ass, lady.”
At that she laughed.
“Why don’t you cut funny business and tell me what is going on?”
“I just did. I’m going to give someone something at the Carter Building.”
“Who someone?”
“It’s private.”
“I be right back.”
Sixteen
Shohei stepped outside the apartment and used his cell phone to call the office.
“Call back. Tell the office to use safe-talk,” Sam said.
Shohei did it and updated Sam.
“Our rose wants to be watered. Hair, you know. Tomorrow morning at ten forty-five A.M. Oh, and she has little afterthought. She wants to stop for espionage at the Carter Building.”
“Carl Fielding. Physics guy. He’s good. I’d use him. John Weissman would be better. If we say no, she’ll be pissed?”
“You got that right.”
Sam seemed to pause to think. “Let her go to the Carter Building. Same with the hair appointment. I’m sure Gwen is still her hairstylist. She’s nearby. Try to find out what these shadows are about.”
“Hey, Boss, you pretty good. How you know about Gwen?”