"Not really," said Gabriel. "The organiser is their link, a one-way databus who passes on all Kendric's intelligence to Wolf. But there's no return flow, Wolf has nothing Kendric needs to know. And Kendric would've told the organiser that you'd confronted him, that you knew about Wolf. So the organiser fixed for the sniper. Morgan here is right, Greg. We can't get rid of Kendric, he's your only hard lead left. In fact he ought to watch out, the organiser must realise that, too."

"Shit," Greg muttered in frustration. "Kendric won't take us to the organiser, not now. He's too smart. They'll never contact each other again."

Gabriel opened her eyes. "Snatch him," she said flatly. "That's your only option. Snatch Kendric. Interrogate him. Snuff him."

"Risky," said Walshaw. "A quick clean kill is one thing, snatches have a tendency to get messy no matter how good the hardliners you use. Lots of questions asked."

"My precognition would make sure there's no mess."

"I'll authorise it," Julia said firmly.

Greg hadn't seen her emerge from Walshaw's office. But now she stood in the corridor, head held high, in complete control of herself, as if the bomb-blast of Katerina had never happened. No longer the ivory-tower habitué, but very much the Princess Regent. Some small part of him mourned the passing of the timid, sweet girl he'd first met on a sunny March day. Innocence was the most appealing of human traits.

Morgan Walshaw shifted uneasily as Julia's chillingly bright gaze turned on him, demanding. "If that's what it takes to sort this out, then that's what'll happen," she said. "It's bad enough having Kendric coming at me like this, but unknown enemies as well, that's totally out. I'm not having it. And the snatch is the way to unmask them. That bastard Kendric has been banking that we won't fight him on his own level. Well, his credit has just run out."

"Julia—" Walshaw said.

"No arguments, just do it!"

Greg could see how much effort it took Walshaw to retain control, no espersense needed for that.

"It isn't up to me, Miss Evans."

Julia realised she might've overstepped the limit. "I'm sorry, Morgan. It's Kats, you see, she keeps asking for him. Doesn't say anything else. Bastard. I think she'll have to be sedated."

"OK." He raised a cybofax and muttered into it. "Doctor's on her way."

"Who then?" Julia asked. "Who is it up to?"

Walshaw looked at Greg. "That's you, Greg. If it's to be done, it's to be done properly. Would you interrogate him?"

Greg had seen it coming, ever since Gabriel blurted the idea of a snatch. It'd given him a few seconds to chew the proposition. He spread his palms wide. "Preparations wouldn't hurt. Mind you, I'd be physically incapable of interrogating anyone for a couple of days anyway. That might give us enough time to analyse the Crays' data. See if we can't find some leads in them. Ellis should've left one."