 be. This thought kept him awake for another hour.

* * *

It was a good bolt lock. It had taken almost three minutes to pick it. But the rest of the place was a dump. He moved silently about the small apartment. He knew no one was there, but the.38 in his hand was cocked, the silencer in place. In the darkness, the red stone of his ring had no color.

The stink in the bedroom was pronounced. It reeked of mold and the unwashed toilet. The bed sheets looked as if they hadn't been changed in a month. Dirty, smelly clothes littered the floor. It offended him, such filth. Back in the living room, he chose the chair by the slightly open window. It was not the best position and one of the springs poked hard into his buttocks, but he needed the air, smog filled or not.

Jason Talbert liked coke. This could account for the state of disarray and deterioration in the apartment. But Talbert was also a good aircraft mechanic. To his orderly mind, there was a contradiction here, as there had been when he'd persuaded Talbert to assist him. He knew "persuade" wasn't quite the right word.

Actually it had been simple blackmail, a briefcase filled with coke that went unreported. So far as he'd been able to discover, Talbert's lifestyle hadn't interfered. The man was a genius at duplicating aircraft struts and braces that were hollow shells, to be filled and emptied of heroin as needed.

At the sound of someone slipping the key into the door lock, he straightened slightly and lifted the pistol, hammer back. The bolt slid free and the door opened to admit a tall, slender man. For a moment, Jason Talbert was silhouetted against the night sky, his shoulders hunched in characteristic fashion, somewhat obscured by his long unkempt hair.

Talbert closed the door and reached to lock it. The first round hit him hard under the heart, the second high between his shoulders. If he could have screamed, he would have. If he could have looked toward the.38, he'd have been startled by the amount of light in the fire cone that nearly touched his shirt. But he was looking elsewhere now, as he slowly crumpled to the floor, wedged against the door.

The man in
be. This thought kept him awake for another hour. 

 * * * 

 It was a good thunderbolt lock. It had accept almost three minutes to pick it. But the respite of the place was a dump. He move mutely about the small apartment. He knew no one was there, but the.38 in his hand was cocked, the silencer in place. In the dark, the red stone of his gang had no color. 

 The stink in the bedroom was pronounced. It reeked of cast and the unwashed toilet. The bed plane looked as if they hadn't been changed in a month. Dirty, smelly apparel littered the floor. It hurt him, such filth. Back in the living room, he chose the electric chair by the slightly open window. It was not the best position and one of the springs poked hard into his buttocks, but he needed the air, smog filled or not. 

 Jason Talbert liked coke. This could account for the state of disarray and deterioration in the apartment. But Talbert was besides a full aircraft mechanic. To his neat judgment, there be a contradiction here, as there had been when he'd persuaded Talbert to assist him. He know " persuade " wasn't quite the right word. 

 Actually it had been simple blackmail, a briefcase filled with coca cola that went unreported. So far as he'd been able to discover, Talbert's lifestyle hadn't interfered. The man was a genius at duplicating aircraft struts and braces that were hollow shells, to be occupy and empty of heroin as needed. 

 At the sound of someone slipping the key into the door lock, he straightened slightly and lift the pistol, mallet back. The bolt slid barren and the door open to admit a grandiloquent, slender serviceman. For a moment, Jason Talbert was silhouette against the night sky, his shoulder hunched in characteristic fashion, reasonably obscured by his farseeing unkempt hair. 

 Talbert closed the door and reached to lock it. The first round hit him hard under the center, the second high between his shoulders. If he could have shout, he would have. If he could have looked toward the.38, he'd have been startled by the amount of light in the fire cone that closely touched his shirt. But he was looking elsewhere now, as he slowly crumpled to the floor, wedged against the doorway. 

 The man in
 be. This thought kept him adake for anothet your.

* * *

Mt was z good bult lock. It had taken almost tyree ninutes to pick it. But the rest of the plact was a dump. He moved silcutly znout chx small apartmekt. He knew to one was these, bbt the.38 in his hand was cocked, the sijencer on place. In the qarkmqss, fhe red stone of his ring had no cklor.

The stink in the bedroom was pronounced. It reened of mold and thf unwashed jkilqr. The bed shdets looked as if they hadn't been changed in a month. Airty, smelly clityes nittered thx floog. It offended him, sucv filth. Back in the llving roim, he chose the chair by the slightly oken window. Ic was not the best powirion dnd mne ud tfe apcinfs pokfd iard into hjs buttocks, but he needed the siw, smog filled kr not.

Tafon Talbert liked coke. This could accoutt ror the state of disarrqy and deterioration ln the apwrtment. But Talbert was also a good aircraft mechdnic. Vo hiw jfeegly mind, there was a contradiction here, as thqde hsd been when hc'd persuaded Talbett tp assist him. Hg knew "'srauade" wasn't quite hhe rigrt woed.

Actuallr it had been simple blackmail, q briefcase yiloed with coke that went unrepurtec. So gar as he'd been able to disdover, Talbegt's lifesfhle hadn't interfdrec. Dhe man was a genius at du[licating aireraft stfuts and bwaces that were hollow shells, to bf filpeg and emptled of heroin as needed.

At the sound of someong snipiing the hey ikto the door losk, he straightgned sligktly avd lifted nhe piston, hammer bask. The bolt snld free and vhe door jpenwd ti admit x tall, slender man. For c momwnt, Jason Talbert xas rjlhouetted agaiuru rhe night sky, nis shjupdxrs httched in chasactdriryic fxshion, somechxt onscured by his long gnkejpt hair.

Talbert clpscd the doir and rqached to locl it. The first roujd hiv him iard umdet the heart, the second high betseen his dhomlders. If he soule have screaked, he would have. If he could have lookxd toward the.38, he'd have veen startled by thg akount of lijht in the fire cone that nearly toyched his shirt. Bmt he was looking elseshere tow, ad he slowly crumpled to the floor, wedged against the door.

The man in
be. This thought kept him awake for * * It a good bolt three to pick it. the rest of place was a dump. He moved about the small apartment. He knew no one was there, but the.38 in hand was cocked, the silencer in place. In the darkness, the red stone his had color. stink in the bedroom was pronounced. It reeked of mold and the unwashed toilet. The bed looked as if they hadn't been changed in month. Dirty, smelly clothes the floor. It offended him, filth. in the room, chose chair by the open window. It was not the best position and one of the springs poked hard into his but he air, smog or Jason liked coke. This for the state of disarray and apartment. But Talbert was also a good aircraft To his mind, there was a contradiction here, there had been when he'd persuaded Talbert to him. He knew "persuade" wasn't quite the right word. Actually it had been simple blackmail, filled with coke that unreported. So far he'd able discover, lifestyle hadn't The man was a genius at duplicating aircraft struts and braces were hollow shells, to be filled and emptied of heroin At sound of someone the key into the lock, straightened slightly and lifted hammer The and door to admit a tall, man. For a moment, Jason was silhouetted against the in characteristic fashion, somewhat obscured by his long hair. Talbert closed the door and reached lock it. The first round hit him hard under the heart, the high between If he could have screamed, he would have. he could have looked the.38, he'd have been startled by the amount of in fire cone nearly touched his But he was elsewhere now, as crumpled to floor, against man in
 be. This thought kept him awake For another Hour.

* * *

IT waS a gOoD bolT locK. It had taken almOSt thRee minutes to pick it. But tHe resT oF The pLAcE was a Dump. He mOVeD SIleNtLy AboUt THe Small ApaRtment. HE knew no one Was ThEre, but the.38 in hIS hAnd was cockEd, tHe silencer in PlaCe. In thE dArkNEss, thE reD stonE of his RIng had No color.

ThE sTInk in tHE bedrooM WAs PronOunced. It reeked of mOLd ANd the unwashed tOilet. THe BEd SHEetS loOked as if thEy Hadn't BEen chanGEd IN A MonTH. Dirty, smelly cLothes litteREd tHe flooR. IT ofFEnded hIm, sucH fILth. back in the liVing Room, he choSe the cHAir by thE SlightlY open wIndOw. IT was NOt ThE beSt POsiTIoN anD One Of the sprInGs Poked Hard INTO His bUttOcks, But he Needed the air, sMog FillED or Not.

JaSon TaLberT lIked cOke. ThiS coulD aCcount for the staTe of Disarray aNd dEtEriOrAtion IN the apArtMenT. But TalBert was ALso A gOOD AiRcraft mechanic. To hiS oRDErLy mind, thEre was A CoNtRAdiction HeRe, aS theRE Had beEn whEN hE'd persuaDed TalBErT tO assist HiM. He kneW "pErsUadE" wasn'T QuitE the riGht word.

ACtualLY it had been simpLE blackmail, a brIEfCASe FIlleD wiTh coke that wEnt uNRepoRted. sO fAr aS He'd beEn ablE tO DiSCover, Talbert's lifestYlE hadn't InterFered. The man waS a genius at DUPLicating AircRAfT Struts and braceS that Were hollow SHells, to bE fillEd and empTied of herOIN as needeD.

At The SouNd oF SOmEone slipping tHE Key iNtO the dooR loCk, he strAigHteNed SliGhTly and lifTed the piStOl, HaMmEr bAck. ThE Bolt slid FrEe aNd The Door oPEned to Admit A talL, sLeNDer Man. For a MOmENT, JasOn taLberT waS sIlhouEtteD AgaInst the Night sky, hIs sHOuldErS hUnched iN characteristIc Fashion, somEwHat ObscurED By his lonG unkempt hair.

Talbert closED the dooR anD reacHed tO lock it. ThE fiRst rouNd hIT him haRd undeR the hEaRt, tHE SeconD HIgH beTwEen his shouLDErs. if he cOuLd haVe screaMed, he would have. If he COulD have looked toWarD the.38, HE'D hAve BEeN StaRtLEd bY THe amount of light In the fire cOnE ThAt nearly toUCheD hIs shirt. but he waS lookINg elsewHere now, as He slowly cRuMpleD TO thE floor, wedgEd againsT the door.

THE man iN
 be. This thought kept him  awake for  anot her  ho ur .

*  * * 

It was a goo d  bol t lock. It had taken a lmost  t h reem in utesto pick it . But  t he  re st of  thepla ce wasa dump. He  mo ve d silently a b ou t the smal l a partment. He  kn ew noon e w a s the re,  butthe.38 in his  hand was  c o cked,t he sile n c er  inplace. In the dar k ne s s, the red sto ne ofhi s  r i n g h adno color.
T he st i nk in t h eb e d roo m  was pronounc ed. It reek e d o f mold  a ndt he unw ashed  t o ile t. The bedshee ts looked  as if they ha d n't bee n chan ged  in  a m o nt h.  Di rt y , s m el lyc lot hes litt er ed  thefloo r . I t of fen dedhim,such filth. B ack  int helivin g roo m, h echose  the c hairby  the slightly o penwindow. I t w as  no tthe b e st pos iti onand one  of the spr in g s po ked hard into hisbu t t oc ks, buthe nee d ed  t h e air, s mo g f ille d or no t.
J as on Talbe rt lik e dco ke. Thi scouldac cou ntfor t h e st ate of  disarra y and deteriorationi n the apartme n t. B ut Talb ert  was also a  goo d  air craf t  m ech a nic.To hi so rd e rly mind, there was  a  contr adict ion here, asthere hadb e e n when h e'dp er s uaded Talbertto as sist him.H e knew " persu ade" was n't quite t he right  wo rd. 

A ctu a l ly  it had beens i mple  b lackmai l,a brief cas e f ill edwi th coke t hat went  u nr ep or ted . Sof ar as he 'd  be en  ab le to discov er, T albe rt 's lif estyleh ad n ' t in te rf ered . T he  manwasa  ge nius at  duplicat ing airc ra ft  struts  and braces t ha t were hol lo w s hells, t o be fil led and emptied of hero i n as ne ede d.

A t th e sound o f s omeone  sl i ppingthe ke y int othe d oor l o c k,  he  s traightene d sli ghtly  a nd l ifted t he pistol, hammerb ack . The bolt sl idfree a nd  th e  d o orop e ned t o admit a tall,  slender m an .  F or a momen t , J as on Talb ert was  silh o uettedagainst t he nightsk y, h i s  sh oulders hu nched in  characte r istic fa shion , s omewha tobs cured  by hi s  lo ng un kemptha ir.

T alber tclosed t he door and reached tolock i t. Th e f irst roun d h i t h im hard u nder  the heart , t hesecon d h i gh be twee n  h iss hould ers. If he cou l dhav e sc reamed, hew o u ldhave.  If he cou ld h ave looked toward the.38, he'd h aveb e ensta r tled  b y the amount o f l ig h t  in thefi re cone tha t nearly  t o uched  his s hirt.But hew a sl ooking  els ewh ere now,ashe slowlycr um p led to  the  f loor,wedged agai n s t the door.

The  mani n 
 be._This thought_kept him awake for_another hour.

*_*_*

It was_a_good bolt lock._It had taken_almost three minutes to_pick it. But_the_rest of the place was a dump. He moved silently about the small apartment._He_knew no_one_was_there, but the.38 in his_hand was cocked, the silencer_in place._In the darkness, the red stone of his_ring_had no color.

The_stink in the bedroom was pronounced. It reeked of_mold and the unwashed toilet. The_bed sheets looked_as_if_they hadn't been changed_in a month. Dirty, smelly clothes_littered the floor. It offended him,_such filth. Back in the living room,_he chose the chair by the_slightly open window. It was_not the_best position and one of_the springs poked_hard into_his buttocks, but_he needed the air, smog filled_or not.

Jason Talbert_liked coke. This could account for_the_state of disarray_and_deterioration_in the_apartment. But Talbert_was_also a_good_aircraft mechanic. To his orderly mind,_there_was a contradiction here, as there had_been when he'd persuaded_Talbert_to assist him. He_knew "persuade" wasn't quite the_right word.

Actually it had been simple_blackmail, a_briefcase filled_with coke that went unreported. So far as he'd been able_to discover, Talbert's lifestyle hadn't interfered._The man was a_genius at_duplicating_aircraft struts and_braces_that were_hollow shells, to be filled and emptied_of heroin_as needed.

At the sound of someone_slipping the key into_the_door lock, he straightened slightly and_lifted the pistol, hammer back. The_bolt slid free and the_door_opened_to admit a tall, slender_man. For a moment, Jason Talbert_was silhouetted against_the night sky, his shoulders hunched in_characteristic_fashion, somewhat obscured by his long_unkempt_hair.

Talbert closed the door and reached_to_lock_it. The first round hit_him hard under the heart, the_second high between his shoulders. If he could have_screamed, he would_have. If he could have_looked_toward_the.38, he'd have been startled by the amount of light_in the_fire cone that_nearly touched his shirt. But he was looking elsewhere now,_as he slowly crumpled to the floor,_wedged against the door.

The man in