And, Mason said, the dog was very glad to see you, wasnt he? Her eyes narrowed. Ive been beating the bushes trying to get this round filled for a while. Its been tougher than I thought. You heard me on with the Taiwanese VC group the other night. They were interested, but said the process would take about six months, and our cash flow is tight. Ive heard that same song over and over. AndI reached out tothem. I’ve done the same with all the other potential investors for this round. I’ve run out of friends and family and angel sources. This round is with the pros. But then these guys ping me and say it could all be done in a little over two weeks? I don’t know. It just seems weird. What do you think? They held a stare-off for about five seconds until Devine broke it.Whats your plan? I should have known. I dont understand. Hes coming right down, she said. Maybe farther than you think, at least from my perspective, he thought. You remember that time you flew all the way out from D.C. to romance me into splitting off from Freddie and Arch Mix and going with Hundermark at the convention? May I see the keys? He didnt react but a pair of the older men sitting at the bar did. They seemed to be surprised that hed said what he had. How old was he by then, Quane said, sixty? Before you snuck away, are you sure you didnt tell anybodymy name? Auf wiedersehen. Stone hung up. He hoped the man wasnt Swedish. What were you doing before that? Yes, Roxy Claffin said in a low voice. I... I guess therecould have been a substitution. Itwas possible. Were you more than just professional colleagues? And dont lie to me. But we talk about me too much. It is better to talk about you. You have many talents, you have things for which others may well envy you, but you are in great danger—no? A great deal, he said. I wonder just how one would go about finding two hundred such people? I mean, they would have to have some experience with or at least some affinity for a labor union, wouldnt they? Do you know Mrs. Claffin?.