Hunnewell crashed. I drove across the peninsula and arrived too late-that damned old scow was faster than I thought-you were 58
already sketching up a storm while Admiral Sandecker was playing the role of Izaak Walton. The very picture of your contentment had me fooled completely."
"But not your competitor. 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 fini
shed, smiling. "My compliments, your commentary 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 comfortable and I'll tetl you about another ordinary garden variety day in the life of Dirk Pitt."
So Pitt slouched in the rear seat with his feet propped on the backrest of the front and told Lillie what had happened from the time The Grimsi left the Fyrie dock until it had returned. He told what he knew for certain and what he didn't, everything, that is, except for one little indefinable thought that kept itching in his mind-a thought that concerned Kirsti Fyrie.
Chapter 12
"So you've selected Oskar Rondheim as your villain," Lillie murmured. "You haven't convinced me with any solid proof."
"I agree, it's all circumstantial," Pitt said. "Rondheim has the most to gain. Therefore, Rondheim has the motive. He murdered to get his hands on the undersea probe and he's murdered to cover his tracks."
"You'll have to do better than that."
Pitt looked at Lillie. "Okay, come up with a better one."
"As an agent in good standing with the N.I.A I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm a bit confused."