“I talked to Dr. Mumford at the university a little while ago. He told me that you're taking a television crew to an island in Siberia.”

“Oh yeah, the Discovery people. They're taking a plane that will hook up with a fishing boat at Wrangel.”

Schroeder handed Harper one of his newly minted business cards. “I'd like to get to the New Siberian Islands. You don't suppose I could hitch a ride with them.”

“Okay by me. There's plenty of room on the plane. All you'd need is the price of admission. Unfortunately, they've reserved all the seats on the plane and boat.”

Schroeder pondered his answer. “Maybe I can talk your clients into letting me tag along.”

“You're welcome to try. They're staying at the Westmark Hotel.”

“What is your estimated time of departure?”

He checked his watch. “Two hours and twenty-one minutes from now.”

“I'll go talk to them.”

Schroeder got directions to the hotel, and inquired at the desk about the Discovery crew. The desk clerk said he had seen them go into the bar a few minutes earlier. Schroeder thanked him and went to the lounge, which was only half full, mostly singles and couples. The only group sat at a corner table, talking with their heads close together. There were four of them.

Schroeder bought a newspaper in the lobby, took a nearby table in the lounge and ordered a club soda with lime. A couple of the men glanced briefly in his direction and went back to their conversation. One advantage to getting old is invisibility, he mused. Younger people simply stop seeing you.

He decided to put his suspicions to the test. He watched one of the men leave his table to go to the restroom. Timing it just right, he rose from his table and deliberately bumped into the man on his way back. Schroeder apologized profusely, but the man only swore, and cut him dead with a fierce glance.

The encounter told him two things. That his new appearance, with his shaved beard and dyed hair, was working, and that the television man was carrying a gun in a shoulder holster. He decided to press the matter further.

After emerging from the restroom, he approached the group's table. “Hello,” he said in his western accent. “I understand you folks are from the Discovery Channel. Mr. Hunter?”

A large man who seemed to be the leader examined him through narrowed eyes. “Yeah. I'm Hunter. How'd you know my name?”

“It's all over the hotel. We don't often get celebrities here,” Schroeder said, provoking grins around the table. “I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the show you did on the ancient Hittites several months ago.”

A puzzled expression crossed the big man's face. “Thanks,” he said, regarding Schroeder with hard eyes. “We've got some business to take care of, so if you'll excuse us.”