Condley laughed again, this time at himself. “All right, I do know why. But I hope the colonel doesn’t feel like he lost face when he reads the morning reports and finds out I was hanging with his daughter.”

“We need him,” said Muir, becoming serious. “He’s been the easiest official to deal with, and I sense we might be getting some resistance if we proceed as I’m about to recommend.”

“He’s doing some checking for me,” said Condley. “I had a long talk with him yesterday.”

“Just before you took advantage of his daughter?”

“I said almost,” joked Condley. Then he thought better of it. “Look, I’m sorry I told you that. But he kind of had a hand in it. At least he seemed to like the idea of us getting to know each other.”

“In the Biblical sense?”

“Buddhists don’t have Bibles. Anyway, she seems to be different. Very straight up. I could get in trouble if I let myself.”

Muir sipped the last of his coffee, his moonful face breaking into a knowing grin. “Oh, God, I can’t believe it. Brandon Condley, of all people! You just said the magic words. It’s all over. The next thing you know you’ll be wearing luau shirts.”

“She’d be more likely to try and put me inside a Givenchy suit with a silk shirt and a paisley tie. All right, enough. Stop bottom-feeding, Professor. If you want a house mouse I can get you one.”

“Nice recovery, but you’re blushing, Brandon.”

“I’m always sunburnt. I was on a fucking golf course yesterday!”

“Excellent response!” The professor waved a huge hand into the air, a declaration of victory. “Because I’m your friend, I’ll leave you alone for now.”

Condley checked his watch. “So, why am I here?”

Muir frowned, regaining his focus. “We have a serious problem, and we need to move quickly on it. That’s why I flew out here last night.” He watched Condley’s face for a moment, anticipating the next question. “We need to move quickly because I did assume that you had some words with Colonel Pham and that this situation would make its way rather quickly up the government food chain. It could be embarrassing for them if we discover that they’ve harbored collaborators after repeatedly denying it. It could even inflame relations after all these years. And if they have any indication that we’re on the track of these two men, they’ll anticipate us and remove the evidence.”

“So now we’re into evidence?”

“I have a tip,” said Muir. “A very good one.”

“Deville?”