He followed them both to the U.S. Government Commissary. Jenny flipped open her wallet to display a Department of Defense dependent pass. This, Jed knew was outdated, but the checker at the door was only looking for the right color, and a photo. The girl followed, also flashing plastic, and then turned right around, at a run, to catch up with Jenny, who had exited another door.

Jed waited for Jenny to reach the Governor's mansion, noted for a colorful, parklike setting. The zone was well patrolled by a dual nationality police force, and he needed a bit of privacy for the second dirty trick he was to pull this day. Meeting at the mansion was the best he could think of when writing the note to Jenny. Twilight was approaching, and as they had noted —especially when compared to Alaska— evening came in the tropics in a blink of the eye. This would have to do.

The girl didn't even sense his approach. From the first Jed was curious as to why, as best he could judge from reading adventure spy novels, the the tail was so unprofessional. Bulldogging and forcing her to the ground under a bougainvillea bush, Jed put a knee to her throat. He watched the girl's face register questions as unanswered as his.

Rape seemed to be her first thought, but when Jenny appeared, in response to a now familiar marmot whistle, the eyes appeared to consider even more frightening possibilities.

"Give me the acid," Jed directed Jenny as he searched the girl's wallet. "It seems as if Airman Second Class Kathy Kaufman here is a member of Air Force Intelligence. Maybe she is smart enough to know what prussic acid will do when poured on an eyeball, not to mention a pretty face."

Jenny, surprised at Jed's actions, seemed almost as terrified as the girl, but handed Jed a small traveling bottle of shampoo from her purse anyway.

"Now, agent Kaufman, who is your control?" he demanded, switching his position, but holding a hand ready to stifle a scream.

"Please don't. Please," the girl cried, "I don't know anything. I don't work for Intelligence. I'm a clerk in supply."

"Why were you following this lady?"

"They needed an American female. There aren't too many of us around. Panama isn't a popular assignment for a WAF. Too much competition."

"You won't have to worry about men when I finish with you, sweetheart," Jed threatened by unscrewing the lid.

"No, no, no," she cried, "I'll tell you anything I can."

"One lie. I catch you in one lie, and you'll never smile again."