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The driver slid from behind the wheel； walked to the front of the car and propped himself lazily against a fender。 He lifted his right hand and massaged his ear； wincing。 〃A clever tactic； Major。 It didn't e out of any book I know。〃
〃You should read more；〃 Pitt said。 〃Ramming an icepick through the eardrum into the brain of an unsuspecting victim is an old trick used by paid killers in gang wars long before either you or I were born。〃
〃A rather painful lesson I'm not likely to forget。〃
Pitt got out and pushed the front door of the car open to its stop and stood behind the interior panel； using it for a shield； the gun in his hand trained on the driver's heart。 〃You said you talked to Admiral Sandecker in Washington。 Describe him。 Size； hair； mannerisms； layout of his office…everything。〃
The driver needed no further coaxing。 He talked for several minutes and ended up by mentioning a few of Sandecker's pet slang terms； 〃Your memory is good…nearly letter…perfect。〃
〃I have a photographic memory； Major。 My description of Admiral Sandecker could have easily e from a file。 Take a rundown of yourself for example： Major Dirk Eric Pitt。 Born exactly thirty…two years； four months and twelve days ago at the Hogg Hospital in Newport Beach； California。 Mother's name Barbara； father George Pitt； senior United States Senator from your home state。〃 The driver droned on as if he might have been repeating a memorized spiel； as indeed he was。 〃No sense in going on about your three rows of bat ribbons which you never wear or your formidable reputation If you like； I can give you a plete account't of your actions since you left Washington。〃
Pitt waved the gun。 〃That will do。 I'm impressed； of course； Mr。…ah…〃
〃Lillie。 Jerome P。 Lillie the Fourth。 I'm your contact。〃
〃Jerome P。…〃 Pitt made a good try but couldn't sul）press an incredulous laugh。 〃You've got to be kidding… 〃 Lillie gestured helplessly。 〃Laugh if you will； Major； but the Lillie name has been highly esteemed in St。 Louis for nearly a hundred years。〃
Pitt thought for a moment。 Then it came to him。
〃Lillie Beer。 Of course； that's it。 Lillie Beer。 What's the slogan？ Brewed for the gourmet's table。〃
〃Proof that it pays to advertise；〃 Lillie said。 〃I take it you're another one of our satisfied customers？〃
〃No。 I prefer Budweiser。〃
〃I can see you're going to be a hard man to get along with；〃 Lillie moaned。
〃Not really。〃 Pitt released the derringer's hammer and threw the tiny gun to Lillie。 〃Be my guest。 You couldn't possibly be one of the bad guys and e up with a story that wild。〃
Lillie fielded the gun。 〃Your trust is warranted； Major。 I told you the truth。〃
〃You're a long way from the brewery； or is that another story？〃
〃Very dull and very time…consuming。 Some other time； perhaps； I'll pour out my biography over a glass of Dad's product。〃 He calmly retaped the gun to the inside of his cap as if it was an everyday occurrence。 〃Now then； you mentioned a third attempt on your life。〃
〃You offered to give me a detailed； hour…by…hour account of my actions since I left Washington。 You tell me。〃
〃Nobody's perfect； Major。 I lost you for two hours today。〃
Pitt did some fast mental arithmetic。 〃Where were you around noon？〃
〃On the southern shore of the island。〃
〃Doing what？〃
Lillie turned away and looked across the barren fields； his face empty of all expression。 〃At exactly ten minutes after twelve this afternoon I was pushing a knife into another man's throat。〃
〃Then there were two of you keeping an eye on The Grimsi？〃
〃The Grimsi？ Ah； of course…the name of your old boat。 Yes； I stumbled into the other guy quite by accident。 After you and the admiral and Miss Royal took off toward the southeast； I had a hunch your anchor would drop in the area where you and Dr。 Hunnewell crashed。 I drove across the peninsula and arrived too late…that damned old scow was faster than I thought…you were already sketching up a storm while Admiral Sandecker was playing the role of Izaak Walton。 The very picture of your contentment had me fooled pletely。〃
〃But not your petitor。 His binoculars were stronger。〃
Lillie shook his head。 〃A telescope。 One hundred and seventy…five power； mounted on a tripod； no less。〃
〃Then the glint I saw from the boat was from the reflecting mirror。〃
〃If the sun caught it right； a visible flash would be the obvious giveaway。〃
Pitt was silent for a moment as he lit a cigarette。
The click of the lighter seemed strangely loud in the open of the barren landscape。 He exhaled and looked at Lillie。
〃You say you knifed him？〃
〃Yes； it was unfortunate； but he left me no choice。〃 Lillie leaned over the hood of the Volvo and rubbed a palm over his forehead； seemingly at ease with his inner self。 〃He…I don't know his name； as there was no identification…was bent over the telescope talking into a portable transmitter when I crept around an outcropping of rock and literally bumped into him。 His attention and mine had been focused on your boat。 He didn't expect me； and I didn't expect him。 To his final re；ret； he acted first ；and without forethought。 Pulled a switchblade knife from a sleeve…rather old…fashioned； really…and leaped。〃 Lillie made a helpless shrug。 〃The poor guy tried to stab instead of slash…the sure sign of an amateur。 I should have taken him alive for questioning； but I got carried away during the heat of the moment and turned his knife against him。〃
〃Too bad you didn't get to him five minutes sooner；〃 Pitt said。
〃Why is that？〃
〃He'd already radioed our position so his buddies could close in for the kill。〃
Lillie stared at Pitt questioningly。
〃For what purpose？ Merely to steal a few sketches or a bucket of trash？〃
〃Something much more important。 A jet aircraft。〃
〃I know。 Your mysterious black jet。 The thought had occurred that you might go looking for it when I guessed your destination； but your report failed to pinpoint the exact…〃 Pitt interrupted； his voice deceptively friendly。 〃I know for certain that Admiral Sandecker has had no contact with you or your agency since he left Washington。 He and I are the only ones who know what's in that report 。 。 。〃 Pitt paused； suddenly remembering。 〃Except…〃
〃Except the secretary at the consulate who typed it；〃 Lillie finished； smiling。 〃My pliments； your mentary was well written。〃 Lillie didn't bother to explain how the consulate secretary passed him a copy and Pitt didn't bother to ask him。 〃Tell me； Major； how do you go about dredging for a sunken aircraft with nothing but a sketch pad and a fishing pole？〃
〃Your victim knew the answer。 He detected my air bubbles through his telescope。〃
Lillie's eyes narrowed。 〃You had diving equipment？〃 he asked flatly。 〃How？ I watched you leave the dock and saw nothing。 I studied you and the admiral from the shore and neither of you left the deck for more than three minutes。 After that I lost visibility when the fog rolled in。〃
〃The N。I。A。 doesn't have a monopoly on sneaky； underhanded plots；〃 Pitt said； shooting Lillie down in flames。 〃Let's sit in the car and make ourselves fortable and I'll tetl you about another ordinary garden variet