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“I just said,‘I need a bath and a drink. I have had enough shit for one day.’”

“Captain Fine,” Canidy said. “If anyone should inquire, Lieutenant Fulmar and I will be in the bar at the Dorchester. When the press of your duties permits, feel free to join us.”

“Give me three minutes,” Fine said,“and I’ll go with you.”

Chapter FOUR

As Canidy, Fulmar, and Fine walked up from the direction of Tilney Street and crossed Deanery Street, there were half a dozen official limousines and staff cars parked in the small lot between Park Lane and the door to the Dorchester. Their drivers stood, smoking, in a knot by the front fender of a Rolls Royce.

“Excuse me,” Canidy said, and walked toward them.

They all came to attention, and one of them stamped her foot, saluted, and barked,“Sir!”

“Would you come with me, please, Sergeant?” Canidy said as he crisply returned the salute.

“Sir!” Sergeant Agnes Draper barked and stamped her foot again. When Canidy marched in a military manner toward the sandbags around the door, she marched in a military manner after him.

Making him more than a little uncomfortable, Sergeant Draper reli

eved Lieutenant Fulmar of his luggage. Staggering a little under the weight, she followed the three officers across the lobby into the elevator.

They rode to the fourth floor. At the entrance to one of the corridors there, a man wearing an American uniform with civilian technician insignia dropped his Stars & Stripes to the carpet beside his upholstered chair and rose at their approach.

“This is Lieutenant Fulmar,” Fine said. “He’ll be staying here on and off.”

“Yes, sir,” the man said as he pulled his olive-drab jacket over the snub-nosed Colt Detective Special on his belt.

“And you know Major Canidy and the sergeant?” Fine said.

“Oh, yes, sir,” the American said.

“They also serve who sit in hotel corridors reading the Stripes,” Canidy said.

“Better this, Major,” the CIC agent said, smiling,“than standing around in the snow guarding the castle.”

“Virtue, doubtless,” Canidy said,“is its own reward.”

Fine unlocked a door. As he pushed it open, the CIC agent called, “The Signal Corps swept it this morning, Captain.”

“Thank you,” Fine said, and motioned the others into the suite ahead of them.

“I wondered where the hell you were,” Canidy said to Agnes.

“Commander Whathisname dismissed me,” Agnes said. “I think he suspected I was going to carry Commander Bitter off before he got to cocktails with Ike. And you told me not to take the Packard to Berkeley Square. I knew you would show up here eventually, so I came here.”

“Good thinking, Sergeant,” Canidy said,“you are a credit to the noncommissioned officer corps.”

“Oh, I’m so pleased you think so,” Agnes said. “Do you think I’ve earned a drink of your whisky?”

“Fix us all one while the Sheikh of Araby has his bath,” Canidy said.

“No one,” Fulmar said, beaming at Agnes, “has seen fit to introduce us, Sergeant. My name is Fulmar.”

“Rein it in, Lone Ranger,” Canidy said. “The lady is spoken for.”

Agnes Draper blushed. Both Fine and Fulmar looked at Canidy in surprise.

“I thought Ann was here,” Fulmar blurted.