Part 15 (1/2)

The rest nodded they were fine as they brushed gla.s.s out of their hair or off their coats and hats.

”Okay,” Dix said, ”they're going to wonder what happened to us right about now.”

Dix studied the faces of his people. Bev looked flushed, even in the dark street light, Whelan had lost his hat somewhere, and Carter's face was pale and he was breathing hard. The others were staring at him, taking deep breaths of the cold night air, their breath white clouds in front of their faces.

”We're running out of time,” Bev said.

Dix knew that as well as anyone. ”I want everyone to spread out and work their way back to my office. If you are stopped by the police, say nothing about where you are headed.”

Everyone nodded.

”Bev, you and I are going to go see if we can just talk to Harvey Upstairs Benton. Who knows, maybe he's willing to cut a deal.”

”At this point anything is worth a try,” Bev said.

Dix couldn't agree more.

”If we don't return in half an hour everyone report to Mr. Riker.”

Again everyone nodded.

”Let's go, people,” Dix said.

With that, they turned and started off, a few heading back toward the intersection they had just come through, others starting across the street toward the next intersection, their footsteps the only sound on the silent, dark street.

Dix and Bev stayed on the sidewalk, walking as fast as Bev's high heels would allow them to go.

And with each step more time pa.s.sed, time they couldn't afford to lose or waste.

Section Two: Dealing with the Devil Dix hovered over Bev, his back to the street, his coat spread out for cover as the two of them crouched inside a deep doorway, hiding as a cop car pa.s.sed, slowly, looking for them.

The sound of the car's engine was loud in the street, echoing off the dark windows and empty pavement. Dix held his breath until the car turned the corner and the sound faded, then he exhaled and stood. It had been very lucky for them that they had heard it coming.

He reached down and helped Bev up. ”You all right?”

She nodded, brus.h.i.+ng off her skirt and straightening her hair and coat.

Dix eased carefully to the edge of the arched doorway and looked out at the street.

Deserted.

”Too close,” Bev said as they stepped out of the doorway and started again toward Harvey Upstairs Benton's headquarters.

”With a little more than a few hours left, I think everything is too close,” Dix said.

His stomach was tied in a knot, and he didn't know if that was from worry or from not eating for so long. He pushed the discomfort away and focused on what he had to do coming up.

And if he had missed anything.

Bev said nothing, her heels clicking on the sidewalk, sharp offbeats to his footsteps.

Dix had a strong feeling they weren't going to find the Heart of the Adjuster at Harvey's place. Yet it was the only logical thing he could think of to try at the moment, so they had to do it. Nothing after this made any sense at all.

Suddenly, as if someone had tossed a switch, the weather s.h.i.+fted. On one block it had seemed like a normal night, with the fog swirling over them, threatening rain at any moment; on the next block it got bitingly cold and snow drifted down in between the buildings.

”Snow in the city by the bay,” Bev said, holding out her hand and catching a few flakes as they walked. ”Now that is something you don't see very often.”

”Along the lines of people coming back to life,” Dix said.

”Yeah, along those lines.”

In front of them Dix could see the corner of Harvey's car dealers.h.i.+p. ”Hands up.”

Bev did as he said without missing a stride or dropping her purse.

Holding their hands in the air, they stepped out into the intersection and headed for the front door of Harvey Upstairs Benton's headquarters.

A very large man, with a smashed-in nose and a gun impossibly large, stepped toward them. Snow, like a bad case of dandruff, covered his shoulders and hair.

”We came to see your boss,” Dix said. ”We have an offer he's going to want to hear.”

”He knows you was comin',” the guy said.

Dix glanced at Bev, then shrugged. At this point nothing was surprising him.

With the big gun the guy with the damaged nose waved them toward the front door of the car dealers.h.i.+p. Inside the heat was on and the snow melted off them almost instantly. Two other men came forward, also pointing guns at them.

”Armed?” one of them asked.

”Of course,” Dix said, opening up his coat and showing them the gun.

”That's where it stays,” one man said.

”I understand,” Dix said. ”I'm here to deal, not fight.”

”Smart move,” the guy said. ”Healthy.”

He pointed the way toward a door in the back, leaving the big guy with the smashed nose to move back out into the snow to stand guard.

Dix and Bev went through the door and down a long hall to an office filled with pictures of cars, a large desk, and not much else. A man in an expensive pinstriped suit sat behind the desk doing paperwork. He glanced up as they entered and the two goons took up positions on both sides of the door behind them.

Harvey Upstairs Benton looked just like a car dealer. The minute he looked up at them he flashed a smile that was about as phony and put-on as smiles came. His hair was slicked back and thinning, and he wore too many rings.

”Mr. Hill,” Harvey said, ”I hear you are looking for me.”

”Actually,” Dix said, ”I'm looking for a small ball, about so big.” Dix showed him the size, then went on. ”Painted gold.”

”And this ball is worth waltzing in here in the middle of the night to ask me about?”

”It is,” Dix said.