Dead Hot by David Archer

Author:David Archer [David Archer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

They had their coffee, paid the bill and left. Azadeh had a dark blue Range Rover waiting outside. She pointed to the front passenger seat and said, “Sue, you ride shotgun. Salim, you get driven.”

He got in behind Sue.

They went north on 3rd as far as East 79th, then cut across the park and continued on Central Park West to the Upper West Side. They eventually made their way to West 102nd and followed it practically all the way to Riverside Drive, where she pulled up outside a row of four elegant houses sandwiched between apartment blocks that were ugly enough to be the product of the ‘60s or the ‘70s.

They got out and climbed the twelve granite steps to the front door which stood under an elaborate, gothic arch. The door opened and they went inside to a broad entrance hall with a marble floor partly covered by a large, Persian rug. An elegant staircase rose along the left hand wall to the upper floors. Before it a door stood open onto a dining room. On the right another door stood open onto an ample drawing room. Azadeh gestured with an open hand and they went inside.

There was a large marble fireplace, tall book cases lined two of the walls, a Spanish credenza held a tray of decanters. The sofa and the armchairs were modern, but heavy and comfortable. Azadeh pointed to a chair. “Sit. Drink?”

Saul sat. Sue stood in the middle of the floor.

“Where is the device?”

“Upstairs. Drink?”

“I don’t want a drink, I want to see the device.”

“It’s on its way down. Will you relax? If what you have told me is true we want this as much as you do.”

Sue glanced at Saul. He gave her a small frown, telling her to chill. Azadeh poured herself a drink. Sue noted she didn’t pour one for Saul. The door opened and a man came in. He was tall, strong, athletically built with short dark hair and dark eyes. He wore jeans and a leather jacket. He wasn’t carrying a heavy suitcase.

“Where is the device?”

Azadeh sat, looked up at Sue and said, “Sit down.”

Sue sat slowly on the edge of her armchair. “You are not going to give me the device, are you?” She turned and stared at Saul. “You’ve betrayed me.” To Azadeh she said, “Who are you? NSA? CIA? You’re like a fucking plague! You’re everywhere!”

“I am neither NSA nor CIA. And Saul Goldman is nothing more than a sensible young man with serious concerns about artificial intelligence. Concerns which I share.”

Sue stood. “I am going to walk out that door -”

“No, you’re not. Avi over there has scruples about hitting a woman, but I haven’t. You are going to stay right here and tell me what the hell is going on with you, the Yellowstone Caldera and Peter Justin.”

“Who the hell are you? Saul,” she turned and glared at him with tears spilling from her eyes. “How could you do this to me?”

Azadeh’s voice cut across her.

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