A tactical tree began to sketch itself in his mind.  If the pair had bugged out intending only to save themselves, they might be anywhere, but were unlikely to come back, and certainly not with reinforcements, the police and their own bosses being equally dangerous to them in such a flight.  If they'd dutifully returned to NewEgypt . . . the possibilities grew more complex.  I wonder if we passed them on the road?  Too late . . .  The two goons had gained a good look at Roic, might have glimpsed Raven, had not yet seen the memorable Miles, but Roic was pretty remarkable all on his own; and once he'd been identified, the trace back to Miles could be swift, if rather baffling from NewEgypt's point of view.

And NewEgypt now knew the location of Suze's facility, and they had to be pretty sure Leiber, their original target, had come here, though they couldn't be sure if he was still here.  Had NewEgypt figured out yet that their employee—former employee, by now, no doubt—had absconded with Sato's cryo-corpse?  And if so, would they imagine she'd been revived already, or would they still picture Leiber carting her about in a cryochamber like some especially awkward souvenir?  Could they track back to whatever security vids they maintained from the day Miles and his strike force had liberated her unfortunate substitute Chen?  And what would they make of it if they did?  And . . .  "Damn," Miles muttered.  "I have to talk to that idiot Leiber again."  If he was to second-guess their thinking, he wanted more details on those key NewEgypt execs.  He sighed and raised his voice.  "And hello, Mark.  Why are you here?  And so unexpectedly, too."

Mark tilted his head in un-apology, smirking a bit.

Miles eyed Raven.  "I thought we'd had an understanding about such surprises."

Looking faintly guilty, Raven shrugged and mumbled, "Earlier ship."

Miles abandoned the unfruitful point.  "Hi, Kareen."

She glinted back at him, reassuring in a way.  Sort of.  "Hi, Miles.  How's it going?"

"Not as well as I thought, evidently."  He peered one last time into the drab little office—still empty—and turned away.  Tenbury, bless him, was soothing Yani and ushering him off to visit Medtech Tanaka.

A penetrating yowl rose from the back of the consulate van.  "Aowt!  Aowt!"

Vorlynkin's brows rose.  "Have you kidnapped someone else?"  His tone seemed more resigned than disapproving.  Miles thought of those tales about water wearing away stone; the consul's edges were growing more rounded, at least.

"Not this time.  Jin, Armsman Roic has a present for you.  Live cargo."

"Really?"  Jin was instantly diverted; Miles jerked his head at Roic, who led the boy out of earshot to meet his new pet.  Good with kids, Wing's secretary had promised.

And you trust those people, why?

Kareen, curious, followed Roic.

Miles lowered his voice to Vorlynkin and Raven.  "Raven, how soon could Madame Sato be moved out of medical isolation?"

"To the consulate?" said Vorlynkin.