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clients took the precaution of investing in one. But so many did not. I was much younger in those days, of course, and some said I was an excellent salesman. But then selling tomorrow is always easy. That’s why so many Florida land speculators used to flourish. Something for your old age, or your next life.”
    Freddy and Armstrong came back from the basement operating room, and Armstrong reported, “His vital signs are very good.”
    “Is he conscious yet?” Hobbes asked.
    “No.” Armstrong fidgeted. “Frankly, I don’t know why. The revival might take longer than we expected.”
    Hobbes turned to Freddy. “And his brain?”
    “Normal in all respects. When he comes to, he should be fully functional.”
    Lawrence Hobbes sighed. “Well, that’s something anyway.”
    Earl excused himself when the drinks arrived and went up to his room. As he opened the door he saw Vera Morgan bent over his bedside table. She’d changed into a pink sweater and slacks suit, which from his angle was most attractive.
    “Well! Hello!”
    She wheeled around, startled. But immediately she regained her composure. “I came in to borrow some matches, and I. found something quite interesting.”
    Earl’s eyes darted to the bedside table. “Oh?”
    “Who are you really, Mr. Jazine?”
    “I thought you knew.”
    “I mean really. Who are you, and why have you been tape recording our conversations?”
    Earl sat down on the bed. “Where’d you get that idea?”
    She stepped up close to him, and he could see the points of her nipples through the fabric of the sweater. “This tiny tape recorder was running when I came in. I thought you’d left it on by accident and I went to shut it off. I pushed the wrong button and I could hear the conversation downstairs. You’ve got a tiny radio mike on you and you were transmitting up to this room!”
    There was little point in denying it. “You’re a very intelligent young lady.”
    “Cut out the sweet talk! Who are you?”
    “Who would you like me to be?”
    “Tony says Hobbes is afraid of foreign agents.”
    “I’m not one of those.” He reached for his wallet and flipped open the hidden compartment. “Earl Jazine is the real name. I’m an investigator for the Computer Investigation Bureau, back in New York.”
    “Never heard of it!”
    “I’m not surprised. We’re fairly new. I work for a man named Carl Crader, who in turn reports directly to the President.”
    “Is that supposed to impress me?”
    “I don’t care if it impresses you or not. It’s the truth.”
    She stepped back, hands on hips, and studied him. “Is this another one of those private groups the President sets up in secret without anybody knowing?”
    “No. I assure you we’re legit. The New York Times even ran an article on us and called us the ‘computer cops.’”
    “So what are you doing here? There are no computers on Horseshoe Island—at least, not that I’ve seen.”
    “Our investigations sometimes spill over into what might generally be called crimes of the new technology. Cryogenics is certainly a new technology.”
    “And what is the crime?”
    “Well, that’s what I’m here to find out.” He gave her a broad grin to cover his obvious evasion. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t reveal this to anyone else—not even to Tony Cooper.”
    “Don’t worry—I don’t go running to him with everything I know.”
    “Good.”
    She sat down and took out a cigarette, accepting the light he offered. “Then you’re not really a medical photographer at all?”
    “They gave me a cram course back in New York so that I could play the part.”
    “Do you know what happened to old Miss Watson?”
    He shook his head. “I wish I did.”
    “Is it tied in to your investigation?”
    “It might be.”
    Her blue eyes were studying him. “You’re so mysterious.”
    “Sorry about that.” He wondered if it was an invitation of some sort, and decided to pursue it a bit. “But you’re mysterious too.