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〃Do this for me；〃 I said。
〃What？〃 she asked。 〃Armand； I'll do anything。〃
〃Go to the piano now。 Play it for me。 Play the Appassionata〃
〃But the plan；〃 she asked in a small wondering voice。 〃The evil man； he's ing。〃
〃Leave this to Benji and me。 Don't turn around to look。 Just play the Appassionata。〃
〃No； please；〃 she asked gently。
〃But why not？〃 I said。 〃Why must you put yourself through such an ordeal？〃
〃You don't understand；〃 she said with the widest eyes。 〃I want to see it！〃
22
BENJI HAD JUST RETURNED below。 The distant sound of his voice； quite inaudible to Sybelle； instantly drove back the pain from all the surfaces of my limbs。
〃That's what I mean； you see；〃 he was talking away； 〃it's all underneath the dead body； and we don't wanna lift it； the dead body； and you being a cop； you know； you being Drug Enforcement； they said you would know how to take care of it。。。〃
I started to laugh。 He had really done himself proud。 I looked again at Sybelle； who was staring at me with a quiet resolute expression； one of profound intelligence and reflection。
〃Push this cover up over my face；〃 I said； 〃and move away； far away。 He's bringing us a regular prince of rogues。 Hurry。〃
She snapped into action。 I could smell the blood of this victim already； though he was still in the ascending elevator； talking to Benji in low guarded terms。
〃And all this you just happen to have in this apartment； you and she； and there's nobody else in on this？〃
Oh； he was a beauty。 I heard the murderer in his voice。
〃I told you everything；〃 Benji said in the most natural of little voices。 〃You just help with this； you know； I can't have the police ing in here！〃 Whisper。 〃This is a fine hotel。 How did I know this guy was going to die here！ We don't use this stuff； you take the stuff； just get the body out of here。 Now let me tell you…。〃
The elevator opened to our floor。
〃…this body is pretty messed up； so don't go all slobbering on me when you see it。〃
〃Slobbering on you；〃 growled the victim under his breath。 Their shoes made soft hastening sounds on the carpet。
Benji fumbled with his keys； pretending to be mixed up。
〃Sybelle；〃 he called out in warning。 〃Sybelle； open the door。〃
〃Don't do it；〃 I said in a low voice。
〃Of course not；〃 came her velvety answer。
The barrels of the big lock turned。
〃And this guy just happens to e up here and die on you with all this stuff。〃
〃Well； not exactly；〃 said Benji； 〃but you made a bargain with me； no； I expect you to stick to it。〃
〃Look； you little guttersnipe； I didn't make any bargain with you。〃
〃Okay； then maybe I call the regular police then。 I know you。 Everybody in the bar knows you； who you are； you're always around。 What are you going to do； big shot？ Kill me？〃
The door closed behind them。 The smell of the man's blood flooded the apartment。 He was besotted with brandy and had the poison cocaine in his veins as well； but none of this would make a particle of difference to my cleansing thirst。 I could scarce contain myself。 I felt my limbs tighten and try to flex beneath the coverlet。
〃Well； isn't she the perfect princess；〃 he said； his eyes obviously having fallen on Sybelle。 Sybelle made no answer。
〃Never mind her； you look there； under the covers。 Sybelle； you e here by me。 e on； Sybelle。〃
〃Under there？ You're telling me the body's under there； and the cocaine is under the body？〃
〃How many times I have to tell you？〃 asked Benji； no doubt with his characteristic shrug。 〃Look； what part don't you understand； I'd like to know。 You don't want this cocaine？ I give it away。 I'll be very popular in your favorite bar。 e on； Sybelle； this man says he will help； then he won't help； talk； talk； talk； typical government sleaze。〃
〃Who are you calling a sleaze； kid？〃 demanded the man with mock gentleness； the fragrance of the brandy thickening。 〃That's some big vocabulary you have for such a little body。 How old are you； kid？ How the Hell did you get into this country？ You go around in that nightgown all the time？〃
〃Yeah； sure； just call me Lawrence of Arabia；〃 said Benji。 〃Sybelle； e over here。〃
I didn't want her to e。 I wanted her as far away from this as possible。 She didn't move； and I was very glad of it。
〃I like my clothes；〃 Benji chattered on。 Puff of sweet cigarette smoke。 〃I should dress like kids in this place； I suppose； in blue jeans？ As if。 My people dressed like this when Mohammed was in the desert。〃
〃Nothing like progress；〃 said the man with a deep throaty laugh。
He approached the bed with quick crisp steps。 The scent of blood was so rich I could feel the pores of my burnt skin opening for it。
I used the tiniest part of my strength to form a telepathic picture of him through their eyes…a tall brown…eyed man； sallow white skin； gaunt cheeks； receding brown hair； in a handmade Italian suit of shining black silk with flashing diamond cufflinks on his rich linen。 He was antsy； fingers working at his sides； almost unable to stand still； his brain a riot of dizzy humor； cynicism and crazed curiosity。 His eyes were greedy and playful。 The ruthlessness underscored all； and there seemed in him a strong streak of genuine drug…nourished insanity。 He wore his murders as proudly as he wore his princely suit and the shiny brown boots on his feet。
Sybelle came near the bed； the sharp sweet scent of her pure flesh mingling with the heavier richer scent of the man。 But it was his blood I savored； his blood that brought the juices up into my parched mouth。 I could barely keep from making a sigh beneath the covers。 I felt my limbs about to dance right out of their painful paralysis。
The villain was sizing up the place； glancing left and right through open doors； listening for other voices； debating whether he should search this fancy overstuffed and rambling hotel apartment before he did anything else。 His fingers would not be still。 In a flash of wordless thought； I caught the quick realization that he'd snorted the cocaine Benji had brought； and he wanted more immediately。
〃My； but you are a beautiful young lady；〃 he said to Sybelle。
〃Do you want me to lift the cover？〃 she asked。
I could smell the small handgun that was jammed in his high black leather boot； and the other gun； very fancy and modern； a distinctly different collection of metallic scents； in the holster under his arm。 I could smell cash on him too； that unmistakable stale smell of filthy paper money。
〃e on； you chicken； buster？〃 asked Benji。 〃You want me to pull back the cover？ Say when。 You're gonna be real surprised； believe me！〃
〃There's no body under there；〃 he said with a sneer。 〃Why don't we sit down and have a little talk？ This isn't really your place； is it？ I think you children need a little paternal guidance。〃
〃The body's all burnt up；〃 said Benji。 〃Don't get sick now。〃
〃Burnt up！〃 said the man。
It was Sybelle's long hand that suddenly whipped the coverlet back。 The cool air skidded across my skin。 I stared up at