She set the pistol down temporarily on the edge of the Jacuzzi, opened a jar of bath salts, the source of the jasmine aroma, and inhaled deeply. On the edge of the tub, white towels were folded into a thick stack.

She checked her appearance in the mirror over the twin sinks, rearranged her hair. “Please, Pierre.”

Crane rolled from the bed and opened the door. He stood naked in the frame. “I’ve ordered us a bit of caviar—”

Jana stopped him just inside the doorway by aiming the silenced pistol at his knee. Not so close that he could move in and grab it away in one of his karate moves.

Shock registered in Crane’s eyes.

“You’re surprised, Pierre? This is what it’s come down to. If you want to live, answer me. First, what do you know about Harold Middleton?”

A flash of recognition in his eyes. The man didn’t try to bluff. “He’s former U.S. military intelligence. Maybe a killer. I’m not sure. The implication is that he has some connection to the Scorpion. That’s why I ended up in London. Look, I’m on your side.”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know. I swear.”

“What else do you know about him? Tell me.”

“I didn’t have much time to find out anything, if you recall. You stopped me at his flat.”

“You’re lying.”

“I—”

“Tell me.” She said it calmly, and that she didn’t thrust the weapon forward theatrically seemed to scare him all the more.

“I did see something in his flat. A note. About his daughter.”

“What about her?”

“Where she’s staying in Paris. The Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Registered under her mother’s maiden name.”

Jana knew that the daughter sometimes worked for the Volunteers. She filed this new information away.

“The name?”

“Rosewald. I think.”

“All right. Now tell me everything you know about the Scorpion. No games. No pillow talk. Facts.”

His eyes were searching for his play. But he was naked and too far away to try marital arts. His look of betrayal was feigned; he hadn’t trusted her to start with. And in any case, he knew deep down that she wasn’t one to be moved by hurt looks or pleas for compassion.

“He bankrolled Sikari and a few others. Anonymously. But I’m not sure what he wanted from them. He’s in it—whatever it is—for the money. If he’s a he. I’m not even sure he is. He might even be a group. Think about that.”

“What’s the Dubai connection? Why are we here?”

He regarded her eyes and his lost their playfulness completely.

“The Scorpion is connected with BlueWatch,” Crane said as calmly as he could. “Which is headquartered here.”

Her eyes glowed at this information. “The security company. Yes . . . Tell me more.”

“Their—and presumably the Scorpion’s—interests currently involve India and Pakistan.”