Dragon (Dirk Pitt 10)

"I'm going to restore it to its original state," said Giordino quietly, mentally picturing the dingy aircraft as it looked when new. "As a favor to Dirk."

"You talk like he's going to be resurrected," Sandecker said tightly.

"He's not dead," Giordino muttered flatly. Tough though he was, his eyes grew moist.

"May I help?" asked Toshie.

Giordino self-consciously wiped his eyes and looked at her curiously. "I'm sorry, pretty lady, help me what?"

"Repair the airplane."

Giordino and Sandecker exchanged blank glances. "You're a mechanic?" asked Giordino.

"I helped my father build and maintain his fishing boat. He was very proud when I mended his ailing engine.

Giordino's face lit up. "A match made in heaven." He paused and stared at the drab dress Toshie was given when she was released from Jordan's custody. "Before you and I start to tear this baby apart, I'm going to take you to the best boutiques in Washington and buy you a new wardrobe."

Toshie's eyes widened. "You have much, much money like Mr. Suma?"

"No," Giordino moaned sorrowfully, "only lots of credit cards."

Loren smiled and waved over the lunch crowd as the maitre d' of Washington's chic restaurant Twenty-One Federal led Stacy through the blond wood and marble dining room to her table. Stacy had her hair tied back in a large scarf and was more informally dressed in an oatmeal cashmere turtleneck sweater under a gray wool shawl with matching pants.

Loren wore a plaid wool checked jacket over a khaki blouse with a taupe wool faille skirt. Unlike most women, who would have remained seated, she rose and offered her hand to Stacy. "I'm glad you could come."

Stacy smiled warmly and took Loren's hand. "I've always wanted to eat here. I'm grateful for the opportunity."

"Will you join me in a drink?"

"That cold wind outside stings. I think I'd like a manhattan straight up to take the chill off."

"I'm afraid I couldn't wait. I already went through a martini."

"Then you'd better have another to fight the cold when we leave." Stacy laughed pleasantly.

Their waiter took the order and went off toward the elegant bar.

Loren replaced her napkin in her lap. "I didn't have a proper chance to thank you on Wake Island, we were all so rushed about."

"Dirk is the one we all owe."

Loren turned away. She thought she had cried herself out after hearing the news of Pitt's death, but she still felt the tears behind her eyes.

Stacy's smile faded, and she looked at Loren with sympathy. "I'm very sorry about Dirk. I know you two were very close."

"We had our ups and downs over the years, but we never strayed very far from each other."

"Was marriage ever considered?" asked Stacy.

Loren gave a brief shake of her head. "The subject never came up. Dirk wasn't the kind of man who could be possessed. His mistress was the sea, and I had my career in Congress."

"You were lucky. His smile was devastating, and those green eyes-- God, they'd make any woman melt."

Suddenly Loren was nervous. "You'll have to forgive me. I don't know what's come over me, but I have to know." She hesitated as if afraid to continue and fidgeted with a spoon.

Stacy met Loren's eyes evenly. "The answer is no," she lied. "I came to his place late one night, but it was on orders from Ray Jordan to give Dirk instructions. Nothing happened. I left twenty minutes later.

From that moment until we parted on Wake Island it was strictly business."