I said goodbye and hung up. I stood there for a while, gazing into space or into myself, not moving, until a man in work clothes asked if I was through with the phone. I ordered a beer and drank it without tasting it. Then, when the beer was done and the telephone was once again free, I got up and started making calls.

33

Four days later, a little after nine in the morning, I entered the building with the stained facade and climbed the dusty staircase to his door. I had the Luger with me, though it did little to boost my sense of confidence. We were not evenly matched, he and I, in the art of dispensing violence. If it came to a fight, I would have to be either very fast or very lucky.

I tensed upon hearing the scrape of the key turning in the lock on the other side of the door, but he greeted me with nothing but a weary smile. He had on a blue shirt and dark brown pants and black socks, but no shoes. A bottle of beer dangled from his hand. No weapons in sight.

"Adam," he said, "good morning."

"Got a few minutes, Michael? There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Michael Shamir nodded, still smiling. As he did on my earlier visit to his apartment, he said, "Better come in, then."

I trailed him inside, shutting the door behind me.

He said, "I just started on this bottle. Want one? Oh, I remember, it's too early for you, isn't it?"

"Afraid so."

As last time, his living room/bedroom was neat, spotless, and unassuming—like a monk's cell. A fitting room for its occupant. The only sign that this warrior monk had once had a life outside of his vocation were the pictures of his wife. I stared at them for a few seconds while Michael lowered himself onto the middle of his old sofa. I remained standing.

Michael said, "Well, if you change your mind…" and took a swig from the bottle.

His tone was light, but it sounded forced. He looked tired, like he hadn't slept in days. The lines on his forehead ran deeper, and bags had gathered like storm clouds under his eyes. I waited till he had swallowed the beer in his mouth before speaking.

"I know it was you, Michael," I said.