Karyn gave Calista Johnston a tight look. " Again the sun bleached ivory cracked wide. "Good heavens Ms. Kane-Karyn. I am quite forgetting my manners. Please, come through into the living room, there is the most beautiful view of the bay. Let me get you a drink, tell me, what is your poison?"

Karyn followed Calista Johnston, with careful steps, as the older woman wrapped a thin arm around her and guided her forward. A cloying scent engaged Karyn's nostrils, holding her senses hostage, bullying them, as swirling top notes of s.e.x and cigarettes presented themselves like guilty Catholic schoolgirls before the mother superior.

The view from the penthouse was astounding, the city of Honolulu spread wide like a glittering jewel encrusted tiara under the breathless Pacific sky.

Karyn turned away from the view, her mind working fast. "Is there anyone who would want your husband dead Calista?"

"My goodness Karyn, don't you field the big questions early, and no messing about either," Calista Johnston flashed her famous smile, but it was somehow more grotesque this time. She walked over to a nightclub-sized bar and reached for a silver cigarette case. She snapped open the case, and said quickly, "I don't expect you smoke, do you honey? Hardly anyone does these days."

Karyn shook her head.

Calista Johnston reached out a cigarette from the case and double tapped it on the hard silver. "In answer to your question honey, my husband was a multi-billionaire; a bigot with a mouth that had no off switch. I think we can safely say he was hated, by just about everyone he met. Tex was that kind of man, power-hungry and insensitive. The only things he gave a good G.o.dd.a.m.n about were making money and buying his way to the top of the political system."

Karyn nodded, "I see."

"I am not sure you do honey. You have no idea what it was like living with a man like my husband. Close to twenty five years we were together all told, twenty five years in a cold, dead marriage with a man who would rather spend time talking money with a bunch of cowboy booted yahoos than making love to his wife. Now I ask you honey, what kind of marriage is that?"

Karyn pursed her lips, her face getting tighter by the minute.

Calista Johnston put the cigarette in her mouth and lit it. She took a long, deep pull and exhaled. Smoke curled into the air, languid and deadly. "What kind of drink can I get you honey? I am going to have myself a margarita, but I am guessing you being young and all, that you take your pleasures more simply?"

Karyn smiled, "Tequila. Rocks."

"But of course-how very apropos." Calista Johnston took another pull on her cigarette and called out, "Enrique-come here at once my dear, we have a guest-we will be needing your

services."

Karyn raised her eyebrows.

"Enrique is my personal a.s.sistant and companion." The explanation was volunteered so blandly it almost seemed as though it was the most normal thing in the world to have an a.s.sistant.

There was a pause-a long pause. Calista Johnston held her cigarette like a starlet in a 1940s Hollywood B-movie. She took gentle puffs and eyed Karyn with a sly, almost lascivious smile. At length, Enrique appeared. He was young and slim and athletic with a mop of curly black ringlets bouncing on top of his head. He was wearing tight linen pants without shoes, and a crumpled dress shirt. He looked like he had just got out of bed-or the shower, and from the dark look on his face he was none too happy about it.

"I will have my usual darling and our guest Ms. Kane-Karyn, will have a double shot of Agave with ice."

Enrique gave Karyn an oily look and slid behind the bar.

"What business did your husband have with the governor?"

"Business my dear? I was never a party to my husbands business dealings."

Karyn nodded. "I see."

"I would imagine however, if I were to take an educated guess, that my husband, was engaged in furthering his political agenda, if you understand what I mean."

Karyn nodded, "Are you telling me he was bribing the governor. Why?"

"Goodness my dear, how very direct you are." Calista Johnston paused, examined her nails and then took a slow pull on her cigarette, as she exhaled she said brightly, "My husband was a man of very particular tastes Ms. Kane, he could not be aroused in a normal s.e.xual way-his obsession with perversion prevented that-voyeurism, sadomasochism, dacryphilia. Such things appealed to his endless need for dominance."

The sound of Enrique hacking into a slab of ice with a steel pick cut through the silence.

Calista Johnston examined her fingernails again then looked directly at Karyn. "My husband enjoyed humiliating his business a.s.sociates. He derived pleasure from their pain, a compulsion that has created a number of potential scandals in the past. I wouldn't be surprised if this little scenario at the Pacifica Towers was connected to my husband's rather dangerous and unwholesome needs."

Karyn stared.

Enrique, having filled the c.o.c.ktail shaker began rattling it vigorously, all the while his black eyes burning l.u.s.tfully into Karyn.

"Your husband had connections on the far- right didn't he?"

Calista Johnston cast her head back and laughed wholeheartedly. "My husband believed in freedom Ms. Kane, freedom from the yoke of the Federal Government. He also believed in the determination of a New South, unshackled from the servitude it has so long suffered. No doubt there are those who would choose to label such vision as extreme, but politics is an ugly game Ms. Kane, exceedingly ugly."

"No doubt. You telling me his death had nothing to do with politics?"

"My husband was a Libertarian, a Humanistian, He dreamt of throwing off the shackles of government and delivering freedom to the many. He may have been an a.s.shole in private, but his political aspirations were truly G.o.d given."

Karyn nodded, "Freedom can be a dangerous thing in the wrong hands."

"Perhaps you believe also that freedom is the new captivity? If that is so my dear it would seem that you are doomed to a life of servitude."

"I work for the Government. Servitude is my business."

"But for how much longer? Very soon all governments will be as extinct as the dinosaurs. Liberate yourself whilst you still can Ms. Kane, very soon the whole world will be singing a song of freedom."

Enrique sashayed around the bar and delivered the ice cold drinks with a flourish. Karyn let hers stand on the coffee table, and looked at it thoughtfully. "Sounds like you and your husband had a lot in common after all. Tell me, with his political career riding on such a peak of euphoria, why would he take his own life? It just doesn't make sense."

"The pressures of high office and longstanding personal obsession finally proved too much for him-if I had to guess, he was indulging in one of his scenarios with Governor Geryon and the wh.o.r.e they were with-obviously that scenario got out of control-how, we may never know-but what I can tell you is that the thought of final political ruination would have been too big a burden for my husband to bear and so he ended his life. If he had been a man he would have faced the consequences, but no, the thought of being judged was an impossible burden for him.

Karyn nodded. "An interesting theory." "More than a theory I think you will find Karyn, it is a course of events supported by the investigations of both the FBI and the HPD."

"Those investigations are ongoing at this current time Mrs. Johnston."

Calista Johnston gulped her margarita, her lips growing thin and tight. She extinguished her cigarette in a capacious onyx ashtray and it was immediately removed for cleaning by Enrique, who returned promptly with the c.o.c.ktail shaker, so that he might refill his mistresses drink."

"Time will tell what insights the investigation will yield. Meantime, life goes on, does it not Karyn?"

"You have been very cooperative Mrs. Johnston-Calista. Thank you very much for your time," Karyn paused. "Tell me, do you have a trip planned?"

"I flew in purely that I might be of service to the authorities. Now that I have played my part I will be leaving."

"A scheduled flight?"

"I have a private jet Karyn, perhaps I can offer you a ride?"

Enrique stood behind his mistress, beaming.

Karyn said, "I don't think so."

Calista Johnston licked her lips lightly, "Perhaps some other time Karyn?"

Karyn smiled. "Yes, perhaps some other time."

Calista Johnston nodded, paused then leaned forwards in her chair, placing her bony hand lightly, lingeringly on Karyn's knee. "There is going to be a fundraising event tonight at The Fountainhead Country Club, it promises to be quite the most glittering occasion the Islands have seen in years. Anyone who is anyone will be there, perhaps you would care to join me as my guest?"

"I am flattered, but my work schedule is kind of hectic."

The boney hand remained on Karyn's knee, caressed it lightly then withdrew slowly, reluctantly. Calista Johnston cracked her sun bleached smile. "Very well then my dear, it is decided. We shall see you tonight at eight."

16.

The parking garage was dark, much darker than Karyn remembered it. As she emerged from the private lift, and stepped out onto the cold hard concrete, the dark subterranean world closed in immediately. She reached for her gun right away, her senses moving on instinct.

"Hey, keep your maws where I can see them Kane."

Karyn made a half turn.

"Hold it right there, sweetheart. No sudden moves, or I am liable to pop you right here and now."

Karyn turned around anyway, a look of displeasure twitching across her face, and there he was-Detective Kibishi from the Honolulu Police Department.

"You are some kind of cold b.i.t.c.h Kane, locking your little boyfriend in the trunk of the car like that. He could have smothered, or suffocated, or some d.a.m.n thing, am I right? How would you like to be slammed in the trunk of some car, like that-end up all croaked out, like a little lap dog on a summers day-because that is what you are Kane, a government lap dog, sticking your nasty little broken snout into business that doesn't concern you."

Karyn looked Kibishi over. "You begging me to crack you on the other side of your face Kibishi? Because you ask me real nice, I will."

"You got a smart mouth Kane, considering it's just you and me alone in this dark parking lot. You ever figure what could happen to a smart- a.s.sed b.i.t.c.h like you, thousands of miles from home and all on your lonesome?"

"Where is Verner?"

"We picked up your little enviro-weenie chum, don't you worry about that. You should have seen his purple face when my boys pulled him out the trunk. That little p.r.i.c.k was mouthing off about you fit to burst, let me tell you. I had to bust him in the chops, just to get a word in edgeways."

"I bet that made you feel all tough, huh?"

"Don't smart mouth me Kane, Maybe you think Big Chief Mlama's is going to come running to your rescue? Be advised he isn't. You are all by yourself now. I could crack you in that smart little mouth of yours and chalk it down to you tripping over a shoelace or something, who's to know?"

Karyn nodded. Letting the comment waft past like an ugly smell. "You are a real piece of work Kibishi. Tell me, how did you find us so fast? I am guessing here, but due diligence isn't exactly your style is it?"

Kibishi gave a derisive snort. "Are you kidding me? We got ourselves a tracking device in Verner's little weenie mobile-that's right sweetheart, you are dealing with professionals now-not some beltway schmo's who just dropped out of the goombah tree."

"So you figured you would just swoop in, did you Kibishi? Make a big gesture for idiocy, while the real criminals who killed the senator are still running around out there."

"You just don't get it do you? You and your little boyfriend Verner are the real criminals. I mean really-how dumb do you gotta be that you can't figure this thing out already?"

"You got nothing and you know it Kibishi." "On the contrary, we got witness' who will testify that your little boyfriend shot down two police detectives in cold blood, then escaped at high speed holding a leading investigator from the Department of Justice hostage-it may not be clever like you are used to Kane, but I am betting even a dumb b.i.t.c.h like you can figure how this one works out."

"Let me guess, you are going to spell it out in words as big as your ego?"

"Shut up Kane, you are only making things worse for yourself, now turn around real slow and get down on your knees-and keep those hands high, because I got myself a hair-trigger action on this 45. of mine and I would just as soon like to see your brains splattered all over this parking lot, as I would some lonely industrial wasteland, so play nice and you get to live a little longer."

Karyn had the angles down just as soon as she heard Kibishi's voice. The second after her SERE training kicked into high gear-survival, evasion, resistance and escape. She had spent a thousand hours or more at The Farm training for just such an eventuality. Camp Peary near Williamsburg Virginia was where all CIA operatives started out-working out scenarios-every kind of scenario, for clandestine deployment in the field. Karyn had found the training perfunctory. The Agency had pulled her from the Office of Naval Intelligence, where she had seen more field experience than most-brutal close quarters combat of every kind-guns knives and hand to hand. There was a time when memories of those times filled her nights, but not any more. She had killed so many people now the number had been lost to time, like the cold dead faces of her enemies.

And now, here she was again. Kibishi was a low level operator, from his att.i.tude he was certainly ex military, but so low down on the totem pole it almost didn't count for anything. Karyn turned a feint, and came back low and fast, with a spinning back kick that caught Kibishi hard on the left temple. The brutal impact would have taken down a normal person no question, but Kibishi was an iron-headed homunculus of bone and muscle. Karyn spun in, trapped his gun arm and elbowed him lightning fast in the face. Then, with seamless fluency, she delivered a scything open-handed blow to his neck. Kibishi sagged to his knees, a horrible inhuman rattle escaping from his lips. Karyn twisted the service issue M9 out of his slow melting fingers and clubbed him in the face with it three fast times.

He was down then, blood trickling out of every orifice in his head.

Karyn looked at him lying on the floor.

She fingered the M9, thoughtfully, thinking about what Jack Senegar had said-no collateral damage-especially in local law enforcement.

Karyn bent down, put the gun against Kibishi's temple. He was dirty-that was confirmed now. He had intended to murder her, and frame Brad Verner for the hit, along with the deaths of the goons she had whacked down outside the bar. Karyn hesitated. If she let Kibishi live, there would be bounce back implications.

She moved the M9 away from his temple then held it on his eye, while she checked for a pulse-it was there all right, faint, but there. Karyn went through his pockets, found nothing of interest except car keys. She stood, a.s.sessed the situation then pulled the magazine on the M9. She examined it carefully, as a fast plan ran through her mind.

People would come-she had to leave. Karyn tossed M9 on the floor, disgusted. Then pressed the door remote on Kibishi's key fob, turning to see a midnight blue BMW flashing to the wake up call. Orders were orders. Detective Kibishi would have to take his chances. Maybe he would make it, maybe it wouldn't. Karyn turned, walked towards the car. As she walked away a voice a.s.sailed her.

She turned to see Kibishi propped on one elbow, holding the M9, pointing it at her. "Where are you going Kane?"

Karyn said nothing.

"This thing is too big to walk away from. You have no idea what you are dealing with, no idea at all." Kibishi grinned, a b.l.o.o.d.y smile. "I am going to kill you-you know that don't you?"

"I figured you would," said Karyn.

Kibishi's grin faded. He pulled the trigger, a soft click then nothing.

"Army issue," said Karyn. "Always p.r.o.ne to stoppages, especially when some one crimps the lips of your magazine."

Kibishi fumbled with the gun, trying desperately to clear the breech.

Karyn sniffed. "What you need is special forces reliability."

Kibishi made a squealing noise, trying to scuttle backwards now, scrabbling away into the darkness, but it was too late, Karyn eased up the barrel of her SIG, the long bulbous silencer reaching out towards the target. She gave Kibishi a two tap finish-phut-phut. She paused, feeling her teeth grind together with sudden anger. She lowered the gun, pointing it at the body and let loose on full- auto, riddling the corpse with bullets. Then, as the last cartridge case jangled on the cold, hard concrete, she turned through the gun smoke and walked away.