"Pete, I've got a million things on my plate this morning, one of which is tracking down one of our more quirky volunteer investigators, and I haven't got time--"

"I can tag along with you. If you don't mind. Be a good way to gain my bearings."

Annie glanced out the terrace door and considered his proposition. Bright sequins of morning sunlight glittered on the blue Atlantic water, where a small recreational sailboat was tacking along parallel to the beach. Dorset had promised a view, and a view she'd gotten. She wished she were of a mind to enjoy it, to try spotting those dolphins and manatees that were supposedly frolicking around out there.

"I really don't think that's advisable," she said. "You may not realize how hectic and crowded it gets in the Vehicle Assembly Building. There are dozens of people scrambling around. Sorting, examining, whatever. It can be pure chaos."

"I'll stay out of everybody's way. Promise."

Pushy guy, she thought. Just what I needed.

"Look, there's no sense in dancing around this," she said. "Some of the things I'll be doing today are highly sensitive. I realize we're both on the same team, and it isn't that I'm trying to keep any secrets. But right now I'm following up on a hunch that involves some highly technical particulars--"

"All the more reason you can trust me to stay out of your hair, since I won't have the faintest idea what I'm looking at," Nimec said.

"I'd still rather we try for later," she said. "Maybe we can arrange to have lunch--"

"Mom, Chris keeps calling me monkey-face!" Linda shouted from the living room.

"That's 'cause she untied my shoelaces!" Chris rejoined.

Annie cupped a hand over the receiver.

"That's enough, you two, I'm on the phone," she said. "Your books packed?"

"Yeah!" In unison.

"Then go into the kitchen and wait for Regina to give you your snack money."

"Chris called me monkey-face ag--"

"Enough!"

"Hello?" Nimec again. "You still there?"

Annie uncovered the mouthpiece.

"Sorry, I'm getting the kids ready for school," she said.

"Understood, I've one of my own. A nine-year-old."

"You have my sympathies," she said.

"Lives with his mother."

"She does then," Annie said. "Where were we?"

"You were about to invite me to the Cape in exchange for me springing for lunch later on."

She sighed in acquiescence. Roger Gordian had sent him, after all. And what harm could there be in letting him come?

"I'm not sure that's quite my recollection, but okay, we can meet at the official reception area in an hour. With one stipulation."

"Shoot," he said.

"This is my show, and nothing's to be disclosed to the press, or anyone else, until I explicitly give the okay. Acceptable?"

"Sounds fair to me."

She looked at the clock again.

"Mommee!" Linda cried from the kitchen. "Chris said I stink like a monkey's butt!"

"See you at eight sharp," Annie said, and hung up the telephone.