Part 30 (2/2)

'Did I fall down?'

Tanner said gently, 'Yes, Andrew, but you're all right now.'

Kathy Ordonez whispered, 'Mr. Kingsley, don't you think your brother might be better off in a home?'

'Of course he would,' Tanner answered. 'But it would break his heart. This is his real home, and I can take care of him here.'

Kathy Ordonez looked at Tanner admiringly. 'You're a wonderful man, Mr. Kingsley.'

He shrugged modestly. 'We all have to do what we can.'

Ten minutes later, Tanner's secretary was back in his office..

'Good news, Mr. Kingsley. This fax just came in from Senator Van Luven's office.'

'Let me see it.' Tanner s.n.a.t.c.hed it from her hand.

Dear Mr. Kingsley: This is to inform you that the Senate Select Committee on the Environment has decided to appropriate funds to immediately increase our investigation of global warming and how to combat it. Sincerely, Senator Van Luven CHAPTER 33.Do you have a pa.s.sport?' Diane asked.

'I always carry it with me in a strange country.' And Kelly added, 'And lately this has become one h.e.l.l of a strange country.'

Diane nodded. 'My pa.s.sport is in a bank vault. I'll get it. And we'll need some money.'

When they entered the bank, Diane went downstairs to the vault and opened her safety-deposit box. She removed her pa.s.sport, put it in her purse, and walked back upstairs to a teller's desk.

'I would like to close my account.'

'Certainly. Your name, please?'

'Diane Stevens.'

The teller nodded. 'Just a moment, please.' He walked back to a row of filing cabinets, opened a drawer, and started riffling through the cards. He pulled one out, looked at it a moment, then walkedback to Diane. 'Your account has already been closed out, Mrs. Stevens.'

Diane shook her head. 'No. There must be some mistake. I have-'

The teller put the card in front of Diane. It read 'Account closed. Reason: Deceased.'

Diane stared at it unbelievingly, then looked up at the teller. 'Do I look like I'm deceased?'

'Of course not. I'm sorry. If you'd like me to call the manager, can- 'No!' She suddenly realized what had happened and felt a small s.h.i.+ver. 'No, thanks.'

Diane hurried over to the entrance, where Kelly was waiting.

'Did you get the pa.s.sport and money?'

'I got the pa.s.sport. The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds closed my bank account.'

'How could they-?'

'It's very simple. They're KIG and we're not.' Diane was thoughtful for a moment. 'Oh, my G.o.d.'

'What now?'

'I have to make a quick phone call.' Diane hurried over to a telephone cubicle, dialled a number, and pulled out a credit card. A few moments later, she was speaking to a clerk. 'The account is under the name of Diane Stevens. It's a valid-'

'I'm sorry, Mrs. Stevens. Our records show that your card has been reported stolen. If you want to make out a report, we can issue a new card to you in a day or two and-'

Diane said, 'Never mind.' She slammed down the receiver and walked back to Kelly. 'They've cancelled my credit cards.'

Kelly took a deep breath. 'Now I'd better make a call or two.'

Kelly was on the telephone for almost half an hour. When she came back to Diane, she was furious. 'The octopus strikes again. But I still have a bank account in Paris, so I can-'

'We don't have time for that, Kelly. We have to get out of here now. How much money do you have with you?'

'Enough to get us back to Brooklyn. What about you?'

'I could get us to New Jersey.'

'Then we're trapped. You know why they're doing this, don't you? To keep us from going to Europe and finding out the truth.'

'It looks like they've succeeded.'

Kelly said thoughtfully, 'No, they haven't. We're going.'

Diane said sceptically, 'How? My s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p?'

'Mine.'

Joseph Berry, the manager of the Fifth Avenue jewelry store, watched Kelly and Diane approach and gave them his best professional smile. 'May I help you?'

Kelly said, 'Yes. I'd like to sell my ring. It-'

His smile faded. 'I'm sorry. We don't buy jewelry.'

'Oh. That's too bad.'

Joseph Berry started to turn away. Kelly opened her hand. In it was a large emerald ring. 'This is a seven-carat emerald surrounded by three carats of diamonds, set in platinum.'

Joseph Berry stared at the ring, impressed. He picked up a jeweler's loupe and put it to his eye. 'It's really beautiful, but we have a firm rule here that-'

'I want twenty thousand dollars for it.'

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