I want to come, Vanessa said. Yes. When we got to Twelfth and Pennsylvania Avenue we turned right, drove a block, and started looking for a place to park. The house number that Audrey had given me was in the middle of a block that so far had resisted the renaissance of Capitol Hill which seemed bent on turning the area into another Georgetown. The renaissance meant, in effect, that a house that a speculator bought for $15,000 in 1970 would, with a little renovation, command an $80,000 price today. She broke off with chattering teeth. Why should I? Some of them went down with that slide which followed the rain and some of them caved in when the contractor was taking out dirt on the Claffin property. So how did they work the signals before me? Did he just use a different method? At ten this evening. Heres the address. He handed him a slip of paper. And the wife? It was the start of a brand new career for you. What happened to the guy who killed him? Cowl basically told the cops the system went down. Theres no evidence to give them. He made that happen. Not yet. But she might remember. Sally wasnt supposed to know what Max was up to either, but she must have put it together. Sally was smart. Very smart. Well, Audreys not exactly dumb either so whoever killed Max and Sally just might decide to make it a clean sweep. You look very fit, she said, running her gaze over him so slowly and provocatively that he felt like he was naked. The lawyer took a deep breath, said more calmly,People are watching us. Nod your head as though the contents of that letter were just what you expected. No, Stone admitted. I was about to ring again when I heard his voice ask,Who is it? He didnt open the door to just anyone. Not many people in Washington do, other than my sister. But Slick had grown especially wary since the time he reluctantly had opened it to a soft-spoken young couple who claimed to be Jehovahs Witnesses. They had promptly bopped him overthe head and made off with about $2,000 in cash and valuables. Never mind, Mason said. Get up here. About eight-fifteen, daylight saving time. I dont know the exact time. Thats right, you told them you were in the military. A Ranger..