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He greeted Kyna warmly and he dressed well. But of late Cyrus's senses had become attuned to the obscure traits in people. The usual external characteristics a bodyguard had to contend with: facial expressions, hairstyles, a favorite cologne, even certain mannerisms and ways of speaking, had always been a snap for him. Now other things, things like moods and nervous habitsthings which before the change he probably would have passed off as bad vibesthese things now registered on his subconscious much like a struggling fish registers on a shark's lateral-line system. When Cyrus shook their host's hand, he felt a subtle change in the man's pulse and noted the tightening around his eyes. Underneath the man's welcoming smile, Cyrus could almost taste the nervous sweat that coated his skin like old cooking grease on the walls of a Bronx tenement. |
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Taken together, these involuntary reactions told Cyrus that their host wasn't quite as happy about him being there as he would have them believe. No big deal. The part that bothered Cyrus was that he was doing his best to hide it from them under a veneer of phony Mediterranean charm. |
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The man made a big show of leading Cyrus to the balcony and offering him the use of the refreshment cart. Yet his eyes never left Kyna and the way he kept looking at herlike she was spread-eagled, naked and bound on a bedonly added to Cyrus's unease. And for the umpteenth time, Cyrus found himself wondering about Kyna's clientele. |
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To keep from saying or doing anything that might embarrass Kyna, Cyrus roamed the balcony and pretended to watch the lights of the ferries and freighters as they moved about over the velvety-black water of the harbor. He had been leaning on the rail for about fifteen minutes when his ears picked up the change in Kyna's voice. He tuned in. |
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"This isn't the agreed amount, Mr. Dessotti." |
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The man's reply was as slick as olive oil on iceberg lettuce. "Ms. Rand, this merchandise ishow shall I put it?questionable at best. Until I see how it moves, how can I possibly make a fair determination of its value?" |
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