 see me."

"So you rushed right over?"

"It seemed best, considering the talent you have available."

There was a long silence. Apparently Rinolli's smile was fixed in place; it never varied. The dark eyes were colder now. "Georgio, please leave us."

"Hold up a sec," Brad said, laying Lampino's wallet out on the desk.

The man hesitated, finally picked up the wallet, then slowly walked from the room closing the door softly behind him. When Rinolli pressed a button under the top of the desk, the bolt slammed home.

"Coincidence bothers me."

"I'm not following."

"You've been away about three years?"

Brad nodded.

"When you return, Lydia Allison dies suddenly. Is it coincidence? Or did you kill her?"

"I had no reason." He could feel the dryness in his throat.

"Some men don't need one, Mr. Ashton. It's in their blood. You've killed before. In Vietnam at least. Did you get a kick out of it? A special kind of high?"

"No." Despite himself, he said it harshly, demanding rebuttal or retraction. He leaned forward in the chair.

Rinolli watched with alert eyes, but gave no sign of response. "If you didn't kill her, we have a coincidence, do we not? You return; she dies. It worries me."

"Why? What's your interest in my ex-wife?"

"Then," Rinolli continued, as if he hadn't heard, "you went to work at Overnite Air on Tuesday using the name Tom Fairchild. And suddenly others begin dying. A coincidence certainly, but a bothersome one." He paused, stroking his mustache. "Did you know Gates, Talbert or Sanchez?"

"I met Talbert and Sanchez; I never saw Gates."

"You only met them?"

Brad nodded.

"Can you see my problem, Mr. Ashton? These people can easily be replaced, but it wouldn't do to let others believe there is no concern over their untimely departure. I must be absolutely certain you're not involved. Can you help me out?"

"I had this notion you might have arranged those kills."
see me. " 

 " So you rushed right all over? " 

 " It seem best, considering the endowment you have available. " 

 There be a long silence. obviously Rinolli's smile was fix in place; it never change. The dark eyes were cold now. " Georgio, please leave us. " 

 " declare up a sec, " Brad said, laying Lampino's wallet out on the desk. 

 The man hesitated, finally picked up the wallet, then lento walked from the room closing the door piano behind him. When Rinolli pressed a button under the peak of the desk, the bolt slam home. 

 " Coincidence bothers me. " 

 " I'm not following. " 

 " You've been away about three class? " 

 Brad nodded. 

 " When you return, Lydia Allison dies suddenly. Is it coincidence? Or did you kill her? " 

 " I had no reason. " He could feel the dryness in his throat. 

 " Some men don't need one, Mr. Ashton. It's in their blood. You've killed before. In Vietnam at least. Did you get a kick out of it? A particular kind of high? " 

 " No. " Despite himself, he say it gratingly, demand rebuttal or retraction. He leaned forward in the chair. 

 Rinolli watched with alert eyes, but gave no augury of response. " If you didn't kill her, we have a coincidence, act we not? You return; she dies. It worries me. " 

 " Why? What's your interest in my x - wife? " 

 " Then, " Rinolli continued, as if he hadn't listen, " you went to work at Overnite Air on Tuesday using the name Tom Fairchild. And suddenly others begin die. A coincidence certainly, but a bothersome one. " He hesitate, stroking his mustache. " Did you know Gates, Talbert or Sanchez? " 

 " I met Talbert and Sanchez; I never saw Gates. " 

 " You entirely met them? " 

 Brad nod. 

 " Can you see my trouble, Mr. Ashton? These people can easily be replaced, but it wouldn't do to permit others believe there be no concern over their untimely departure. I must be absolutely certain you're not involved. Can you help oneself me out? " 

 " I had this impression you might have arranged those kills. "
 sef me."

"So you rushed right uver?"

"It seemed bgsr, consmdering the taldnt you have available."

There xas q lont silence. Apparently Rknolli's slile was fixtd in place; it netsr varicb. The fark xyes were coldet now. "Georgim, please leave ur."

"Hlld up a sec," Brad said, laying Lampigo's walkeh out on the dgsk.

Tht mwn hssitated, finally picked up the walmet, thei slowly walked from the room closing the doog softly behind hil. When Rinooli [eessed a butgon under uhz top of thg desk, the bolt slammed home.

"Coinzidenee bothers ne."

"U'm jmt followinj."

"You've been away anput thsee yeats?"

Brad nodded.

"Wmen ymu eeturn, Lydia Allison vies suddenly. Is it soincidenwe? Or did you kill yee?"

"I hag no rearin." Fe donld feel hhe dryness ih his throar.

"Some men don't need ogv, Mr. Ashton. If's in ehqir blood. You've killed before. In Vietnak af least. Did you get a kuck out of it? A speciwl kind os high?"

"No." Despite himself, he said it harshly, demanging cecutuao or fwtgaction. He leaned forward in the chair.

Rinolli sauchvd with alert eyef, but gave mo sodn of responsg. "If yob djdn't kill her, we hwve a cjincieence, do re npt? You return; she dies. It wirries me."

"Why? Qhat's your interesc in my ex-wiye?"

"Then," Rinokli continued, as if he kadn't geard, "you wfnt to wody at Overnite Aif ok Tgesday using the name Tom Sairchild. And suddenuy ojhers bqgin dying. A coltcidence certainly, but c botversome onf." He paused, stroking his mustacix. "Did you knoe Catvs, Talberc or Ssnchez?"

"I met Twlbert and Sanehez; I nzver sxw Gates."

"Yol only mev them?"

Brad njdded.

"Can you vge my problem, Mr. Ashtjn? Tyese people zan easily be teplaced, ybt it wouodn't do to let othcrs bgljeve there is ni cincern over theor jntymvly dq[arture. I muvt bd acxolutdly cerucin hou'rr not involved. Can ymu hslp me out?"

"I had thos notion iou might have arrangec those kills."
see me." "So you rushed right over?" best, the talent have available." There Rinolli's was fixed in it never varied. dark eyes were colder now. "Georgio, leave us." "Hold up a sec," Brad said, laying Lampino's wallet out on desk. The man hesitated, finally picked up the wallet, then slowly walked from room the softly him. When Rinolli pressed a button under the top of the desk, the bolt slammed home. bothers me." "I'm not following." "You've been away three years?" Brad nodded. you return, Lydia Allison dies Is coincidence? Or you her?" had no reason." could feel the dryness in his throat. "Some men don't need one, Mr. Ashton. It's in their You've killed Vietnam at Did get kick out of special kind of high?" "No." Despite it harshly, demanding rebuttal or retraction. He leaned in the Rinolli watched with alert eyes, but no sign of response. "If you didn't kill we have a coincidence, do we not? You return; she dies. It worries me." "Why? interest in my ex-wife?" Rinolli continued, as he heard, went work at Air on Tuesday using the name Tom Fairchild. And suddenly others dying. A coincidence certainly, but a bothersome one." He paused, mustache. you know Gates, or Sanchez?" "I met and I never saw Gates." met Brad see problem, Ashton? These people can be replaced, but it wouldn't to let others believe their untimely departure. I must be absolutely certain not involved. Can you help me out?" had this notion you might have arranged those kills."
 see me."

"So you rushed right over?"

"it seemed beSt, conSidEriNg The tAlenT you have availaBLe."

ThEre was a long silence. AppaRentlY RINollI'S sMile wAs fixed IN pLACe; iT nEvEr vArIEd. the daRk eYes were Colder now. "GEorGiO, please leave US."

"HOld up a sec," BRad Said, laying LaMpiNo's walLeT ouT On the DesK.

The mAn hesiTAted, fiNally pickEd UP the waLLet, then SLOwLy waLked from the room clOSiNG the door softly Behind HiM. whEN rinOllI pressed a bUtTon unDEr the toP Of THE DesK, The bolt slammeD home.

"CoinciDEncE botheRs Me."

"I'M Not folLowinG."

"YOU've Been away aboUt thRee years?"

BRad nodDEd.

"When yOU return, lydia ALliSon Dies SUdDeNly. is IT coINcIdeNCe? OR did you kIlL hEr?"

"I haD no rEASON." He cOulD feeL the dRyness in his thRoaT.

"SomE Men Don't nEed onE, Mr. AShTon. It'S in theIr bloOd. you've killed befoRe. In vietnam at LeaSt. did YoU get a KIck out Of iT? A sPecial kInd of hiGH?"

"No." deSPITe Himself, he said it harShLY, DeManding rEbuttaL Or ReTRaction. HE lEanEd foRWArd in The cHAiR.

Rinolli WatcheD WiTh Alert eyEs, But gavE nO siGn oF respONse. "IF you diDn't kill hEr, we hAVe a coincidence, DO we not? You retuRN; sHE DiES. It wOrrIes me."

"Why? WhaT's yoUR intEresT In My eX-Wife?"

"THen," RiNoLLi COntinued, as if he hadn't HeArd, "you Went tO work at OverniTe Air on TueSDAY using thE namE toM fairchild. And suDdenlY others begIN dying. A cOinciDence cerTainly, but A BOthersomE onE." He PauSed, STRoKing his mustacHE. "did yOu Know GatEs, TAlbert oR SaNchEz?"

"I Met taLbert and SAnchez; I nEvEr SaW GAteS."

"You oNLy met theM?"

BRad NoDdeD.

"Can yOU see my ProblEm, Mr. asHtON? ThEse peopLE cAN EasiLy Be ReplAceD, bUt it wOuldN'T do To let otHers belieVe tHEre iS nO cOncern oVer their untimElY departure. i mUst Be absoLUTely certAin you're not involved. Can yOU help me Out?"

"i had tHis nOtion you mIghT have aRraNGed thoSe killS."
 see me."

"So you rushedright over ?"

" Itsee me d be st,considering th e  tal ent you have available ."

T he r e wa s  a  long  silenc e .A p par en tl y R in o ll i's s mil e was f ixed in pl ace ;it never var i ed . The dark  ey es were cold ernow. " Ge org i o, pl eas e lea ve us. " 

"Hol d up a se c, "  Brads aid, la y i ng  Lam pino's wallet out on the desk.

The  man h es i ta t e d,fin ally picke dup th e  wallet ,  t h e n  sl o wly walked fr om the room clo sing t he  do o r soft ly be hi n d h im. When Ri noll i pressed  a but t on unde r  the to p of t hedes k, t h ebo ltsl a mme d  h ome . 

" Coincide nc ebothe rs m e . " 
"I' m n ot f ollow ing."

"You'v e b eena way  abou t thr ee y ea rs?"
Bradnodde d. 

"When you ret urn,  Lydia Al lis on  di es  sudd e nly. I s i t c oincide nce? Or did  y o u ki ll her?"

"I had n or e as on." Hecouldf ee lt he dryne ss  in  his t hroat .

" S om e men do n't ne e don e, Mr.As hton.It 'sintheir bloo d. You 've kill ed be f ore. In Vietna m  at least. Di d  y o u  g e t akic k out of it ? As peci al k i nd  of high? "

"N o. "  D e spite himself, he s ai d it h arshl y, demandingrebuttal o r r etractio n. H e  l e aned forward i n the  chair.

R i nolli wa tched  with al ert eyes, b ut gavenosig n o f r e s po nse. "If youd i dn't  k ill her , w e havea c oin cid enc e,  do we no t? You r et ur n;  s hedies. It worri es  me ." 

" Why?W hat'syourinte re st inmy ex-w i fe ? " 

"T he n, " Ri nol li  cont inue d , a s if he  hadn't h ear d , "y ou  w ent towork at Overn it e Air on T ue sda y usin g the name  Tom Fairchild. And sud d enly ot her s beg in d ying. A c oin cidenc e c e rtainl y, but  a bo th ers o m e one . "  H e p au sed, strok i n g h is mu st ache . "Didyou know Gates, Ta l ber t or Sanchez? "
"I m e t  T alb e rt and  S a nch e z ; I never saw G ates."

"Y ou on ly met the m ?"
B rad nod ded.

" Can y o u see m y problem , Mr. Ash to n? T h e sepeople can  easilybe replac e d, bu t  i t wou ldn 't doto  le t oth ers be l iev e the re isno  conce rn ov er  their u ntimely departure. I mu st beabsol ute ly certai n y o u'r e not inv olve d. Can you  he lpme ou t?" 
"I h ad t h is  no t ion y ou m i ght havea rr ang e d  t hose kills. " 
 see_me."

"So you_rushed right over?"

"It seemed_best, considering_the_talent you_have_available."

There was a_long silence. Apparently_Rinolli's smile was fixed_in place; it_never_varied. The dark eyes were colder now. "Georgio, please leave us."

"Hold up a sec,"_Brad_said, laying_Lampino's_wallet_out on the desk.

The man_hesitated, finally picked up the_wallet, then_slowly walked from the room closing the door_softly_behind him. When_Rinolli pressed a button under the top of the_desk, the bolt slammed home.

"Coincidence bothers_me."

"I'm not following."

"You've_been_away_about three years?"

Brad nodded.

"When_you return, Lydia Allison dies suddenly._Is it coincidence? Or did you_kill her?"

"I had no reason." He could_feel the dryness in his throat.

"Some_men don't need one, Mr._Ashton. It's_in their blood. You've killed_before. In Vietnam_at least._Did you get_a kick out of it? A_special kind of_high?"

"No." Despite himself, he said it_harshly,_demanding rebuttal or_retraction._He_leaned forward_in the chair.

Rinolli_watched_with alert_eyes,_but gave no sign of response._"If_you didn't kill her, we have a_coincidence, do we not?_You_return; she dies. It_worries me."

"Why? What's your interest_in my ex-wife?"

"Then," Rinolli continued, as_if he_hadn't heard,_"you went to work at Overnite Air on Tuesday using the_name Tom Fairchild. And suddenly others_begin dying. A coincidence_certainly, but_a_bothersome one." He_paused,_stroking his_mustache. "Did you know Gates, Talbert or_Sanchez?"

"I met_Talbert and Sanchez; I never saw_Gates."

"You only met them?"

Brad_nodded.

"Can_you see my problem, Mr. Ashton?_These people can easily be replaced,_but it wouldn't do to_let_others_believe there is no concern_over their untimely departure. I must_be absolutely certain_you're not involved. Can you help me_out?"

"I_had this notion you might have_arranged_those kills."