“That’s interesting. It could be very useful. What is the mission?”
“A temporal anomaly involving Caesar. There’s a chance hemay not be assassinated on schedule. They think the S.O.G. might be involved.”
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s very possible.”
“That could make things difficult We can’t afford any disruptions.”
“Tell me about it. But I also can’t afford being busted.”
“Is that what he intends to do?”
“He says no. but I don’t trust him. He’s still playingcowboy. like he always did. Him and his psychotic mentor, Carnehan. He’s notconvinced the adjustment team can insure that Caesar will get killed onschedule, SO he’s managed to buddy up to Caesar and get offered a tribuneshipwith the legions Caesar’s planning to take on a campaign to Parthia. That way,if Caesar doesn’t die when he’s supposed to. Steiger’s going to take him outhimself during the campaign, just to prove to Forrester that it couldn’t havebeen done without a covert wet work specialist on the scene. If he decided tobring me in. as well, it would be an added bonus for him. They’d interrogate meabout my contacts in the Underground and my involvement with the Network wouldbe exposed.”
“We can’t have that, can we? Where is he?”
“Not so fast. About the contract. It’s still on. isn’t it?”
“You think we’d cancel it after all that son of a bitch costus with his damned Internal Security Division? Not bloody likely. You take himout for us and you’ll get the money, any way you want it.”
“Not me,” said Marshall. “No way I’m going up againstSteiger by myself. Why do you think I called you?”
“You want to set him up for the hit, that’s fine. too.”
“I’ll still get the money?”
“You’ll still get the money. Provided Steiger’s dead.”
“That adjustment team might complicate things,” Marshallsaid.
“Who are they?”
“Priest. Delaney, and Cross,” said Marshall.
“That can’t be. Col. Priest is dead.”
“Well, he’s a pretty lively looking corpse, if you ask me.”
“You actually saw him?”
“Only several hours ago.”
“You’re certain it was Priest?”
“Well, that’s who Steiger said it was. I don’t know the man,myself, so I suppose it could be someone else. But why would he tell me it wasPriest?”
“I don’t know. Unless he suspects you and he’s planning something.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t suspect me,” Marshall said. “If he knewI was tied up with the Network, you think I’d be here talking to you?”
Simmons hesitated “I don’t know.” He glanced around cautiously,and his hand went toward his shoulder holster. “You’re certain you weren’tfollowed’?”
“I had his wine laced with a sleeping draught.” saidMarshall. “He’ll be out like a light till dawn. You think I’d take any chanceswith him around?”
“I just don’t understand why they’d try to pass someone elseoff as Col. Priest,” Simmons said. “It doesn’t make any sense. If he doesn’tsuspect you, then why would he lie to you?”
“Maybe Col. Priest didn’t really die,” said Marshall.
“They inscribed his name on the Wall of Honor. Why would theyfake his death? Unless ….”
“Unless what?”
“Unless Forrester or Steiger are running their own covertoperation.”
“Then why would they tell me it was Priest’? I mean, if theywanted to make it look like he was dead. It makes no sense.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t. At least, not yet. But they’reobviously up to something. You’re absolutely certain that they don’t suspectyou?”
Marshall hesitated. “If they did, why wouldn’t they havebrought me in already?”
“Perhaps to smoke us out.”
“Why would they need to? If they knew about me. they couldarrest me. clock me back to Plus Time, put me through the wringer, and find outeverything I know before the Network even realized that I’d been busted. Thenthey could simply pick up all my contacts one at a time.”
Simmons nodded. “Yes, that makes sense. But the rest of itdoesn’t. We’ll have to be very careful. There’s obviously something going onhere we don’t know about. We’ll have to bring some people in.”
“What do you want me to do?”
For the time being, play along. For your sake. Marshall, Ihope you’re right about their not suspecting you Because we can’t afford tohave you taken in.”
Marshall tensed. “You’re saying that if they arrest me. I’ma dead man? You’ll have me hit?”
“If they try to arrest you. you know what to do.”
“And if I don’t you’ll do it for me. Is that it’?”
You know how the game is played. Marshall.”
Marshall sighed. “Shit. So I’m stuck right in the fucking middle.”
“It’s your own fault for not covering your tracks better. IfSteiger knew about your old contacts in the Underground. you should have brokenoff with them. You have only yourself to blame for allowing him to find you.Incidentally. if you’re entertaining any thoughts about taking off again. Iwouldn’t advise it. Then you’d have both us and the T.I.A. looking foryou.”
“Hey, I’ve always done my part. haven’t I?” said Marshall. “IfI was thinking of going on the lam. would I have sent for you?”
“No. I suppose you wouldn’t have.”
“Damn right. You guys tried to take Steiger out in Plus Timeand you couldn’t do it. Well, I’m giving you a chance to hit him when: he won’texpect it and I intend to collect on that contract.”
“You do your part and I’ll see to it you get the money. Butbe careful, Marshall. Don’t tip him off.”
“Don’t worry. I know what’s at stake.”
“Where is Steiger now?”
“Asleep at my house. It would be the perfect time to do it.”
Simmons shook his head. “No, not with a potential temporaldisruption going down. We simply can’t take the chance.”
“So what the hell am I supposed to do’?”
“Hang tight and don’t lose your cool. I’ll bring some peoplein to cover you. In fact. I’ll take charge of this myself. I’d like to see thisso-called Col. Priest.”
“You know him?”
“We’ve met. We’ll move in close and keep an eye on things.Let Steiger and the adjustment team do what they have to do. Then once thetemporal threat is over with, we’ll take care of Steiger.”
“What about the adjustment team?”
“Do they know about you’!”
“I don’t think so. Steiger’s playing his own game, close tothe vest, as usual.”
“Then they may not be a problem. With any luck, we might beable to pull it off without them catching on. But if they get in the way, it’llbe just too bad for them.”
“So what you’re saying is that I’m supposed to hang out inthe breeze until Caesar’s been assassinated, one way or the other.”
“Or until they’ve neutralized the S.O.G.”
Marshall grimaced. “Terrific. So we’ve got Steiger, the adjustmentteam, the fucking S.O.G., and me right in the middle of it all, out in theopen. Damn it. I want some protection!”
“Take it easy. I said we’d cover you. If they don’t suspectyou, then all you’ve got to do is continue to cooperate with them. Long as youdon’t lose your nerve, you should be okay.”
Marshall moistened his lips and nodded. “All right. But ifthey make a move on me. someone had better be there.”
“Don’t worry. They will be. I’ll be in touch.”
Simmons clocked out and disappeared.
Marshall reached into the folds of his toga and took out apack of cigarettes. Normally. he never took the chance of taking them outsidehis room, where he could smoke with the door bolted and the wood braziermasking the smell, but his nerves were on edge and he really needed one. As helit up, carefully hiding the flame with his hand and holding the cigarette withhis palm cupped around it, he thought about the laser pistol he had hidden in asecret drawer in his room
The trouble with Roman clothing was that it wouldn’t hide itvery well. A tunic wouldn’t hide it at all, the bulge would be easilydetectable beneath the drape of his toga and he couldn’t very well walk aroundwearing a cloak all the time. He’d have to leave it where it was and count onhis dagger to protect him, which any Roman male could wear openly withoutarousing any suspicion. But the thought of going up against Steiger withnothing but a dagger made his stomach churn. He had no doubt what the outcomeof that would be. He wouldn’t stand a chance unless he took Steiger completelyby surprise. Get him while he’s asleep, thought Marshall, and drive the son ofa bitch up to the hilt into his kidney. Either that or cut his throat. Helooked out over the rippling, moonlit surface of the Tiber and exhaled heavily.He wished there was another way. but there simply wasn’t. Steiger had himbacked into a corner. Damn cowboy, he thought. This wouldn’t have happened ifhe’d just gone along with the others in the organization. Or if he’d simplykept his mouth shut. But no, he had to get up on his white horse and take onthe Network. Had to form the I.S.D. just to clean out all of the so-called “corruption.”As if there was any harm in people trying to make a little money on the side.