Jungle Of Steel And Stone Read Online Free PDF Page B

Avenue, and Central
    Park happened to be across the street. What on earth did he think he was going to accomplish?"
    Reyna was silent for some time. When she did speak, it was not to respond to Veil's question. "There are no villains in this, only victims."
    "Reyna, I know that you're physically and emotionally exhausted. I don't want to butt into your business, but I'd think that you'd want to be around when they bring your friend out of the park. I know the police would certainly appreciate it. Toby will be terrified and terribly alone without you; you, at least, can talk to him. Indeed, you're the only person in the city who can talk to him."
    "There's no need, Veil," Reyna said distantly. "Not tonight."
    "I don't understand."
    Reyna put the keys in the ignition and turned it on. Then she turned on the radio. It took a few minutes for the news sequence about the stolen idol to be repeated, but when it was, there was nothing new to report: The K'ung warrior-prince had not yet been captured.
    "Nobody goes to ground like a K'ung," Reyna said simply as she turned off the radio, removed the keys from the ignition, and put them in her purse. Then she got out of the car.
    Veil got out, walked around the car, and started up the sidewalk after the woman. Reyna turned and waited for him. She was trembling slightly, but her voice was steady.
    "Thank you again, Veil—for the ride, and for your understanding."
    "Are you sure you're all right?"
    Reyna nodded, then dropped her gaze and suddenly began to tremble. "Veil, there's something I have to say to you."
    Veil reached out to grip Reyna's shoulders, but the woman shook her head and moved back a step.
    "What is it, Reyna?"
    "That . . . man . . ."
    "What man? The detective? Nagle?"
    Reyna nodded. "I don't know what you did to him, or how you did it. I've never seen anyone . . ."
    "You know this creep, don't you? What happened between you and him?"
    "He'll never forget what you did," Reyna said quickly, still refusing to meet Veil's gaze. "You have to watch out for him. He's more dangerous than you can ever know. He'll kill you if you get in his way, Veil; he may decide to kill you, anyway. You may not believe that a policeman would do that—or that he could do it and get away with it. Carl Nagle can. Nobody can stop him. I'm telling you this because I know you're a kind man, and I don't want that man to hurt you."
    "Reyna, I want you to tell me about Carl Nagle."
    But Reyna had already spun around and was running up the sidewalk toward the three-story, wood-framed dormitory. Veil waited until she was safely inside, then turned and walked back the way he had come. A light rain had begun to fall.

    * * *

    Veil found Victor Raskolnikov's black, chauffeured limousine outside the brick building where his loft was located. Veil opened the back door and slid into the luxurious, leather-scented interior.
    "You're wet." The Russian's voice was steady, but his face was still ashen.
    "Yeah."
    Raskolnikov used the ivory handle of his walking cane to press a button on the ceiling; a bar revolved out of the seat back. "Scotch, of course."
    "A big one, Victor. No ice. Thanks."
    The art dealer poured the drink, handed the tumbler to Veil. "How's the girl?"
    "Upset, of course, but she'll be all right."
    "Well, she's not the only one who's upset. How do you feel about the possibility of crossing that detective's path again?"
    "Why?"
    "I'd like you to do some work for me. Nobody in the city has the range of contacts and sources of information that you do. I've been slandered by the United Nations, jerked around by the courts and police, and generally hassled since the beginning of this damn idol business. Because the freedom to make my own decisions was taken away from me, I find I am responsible for a young man's death."
    "Victor—"
    "I'm sorry, Veil, but I do feel responsible. Now I am thinking that I want to do something about it, although I'm not sure what. I do know that I would like to be kept