"A matter concerning my husband."
"He was a perfect stranger to me. I can't tell you anything about his death that you don't already know."
"Raymond is not dead," she said adamantly.
"When I saw him in the blimp he gave a damn good imitation of it."
"That wasn't him."
Pitt stared at her skeptically, saying nothing.
"You don't believe me, do you?"
"I don't really care."
"I was hoping you'd help me."
"You have a strange way of asking for favors."
"This a formal charity dinner, Mr. Pitt. You don't fit in. We'll set a time to meet tomorrow."
Pitt decided his anger wasn't important, so he shoved it aside. "What was your husband doing when he disappeared?" he asked abruptly.
"Searching for the El Dorado treasure," she replied, looking nervously around the greenhouse at her guests. "He believed it sank on a ship called the Cyclops."
Before Pitt could make a comment, Cabot returned with Angelo, the Cuban chauffeur.
"Goodbye, Mr. Pitt," said Jessie, dismissing him and greeting a pair of new arrivals.
Pitt shrugged and offered his arm to Angelo. "Let's make it official. You lead me out." Then he turned to Jessie. "One last thing, Mrs. LeBaron. I don't respond to shabby treatment. You needn't bother to contact me again, ever."
Then Pitt allowed Angelo to escort him from the greenhouse to the driveway where the Daimler was waiting. Jessie watched as the great car disappeared into the night. Then she began mingling with her guests.
Douglas Oates, the Secretary of State, looked over from a conversation he was having with presidential adviser Daniel Fawcett as she approached. "Splendid affair, Jessie."
"Yes indeed," echoed Fawcett. "Nobody in Washington puts on a finer spread."
Jessie's eyes flashed and her full lips curved in a warm smile. "Thank you, gentlemen."
Oates nodded toward the doorway. "Was I imagining things, or did I see Dirk Pitt bounced out the door?"
Jessie looked at Oates blankly. "You know him?" she asked, surprised.
"Of course. Pitt is the number two man over at NUMA. He's the guy who rais
ed the Titanic for the Defense Department."
"And saved the President's life in Louisiana," added Fawcett.
Jessie noticeably paled. "I had no idea."
"I hope you didn't make him mad," said Oates.
"Perhaps I was a bit rude," she conceded.
"Aren't you interested in drilling for offshore oil below San Diego?"
"Yes. Seismic surveys indicate a vast untapped field. One of our companies has the inside track for the drilling rights. Why do you ask?"