Digital Fortress Chapter 26

Sitting on the bench across from the public clinic, Becker wondered what he was mantic to do now. His c on the wholes to the escort agencies had turned up nothing. The commander, uneasy about communication over unsecured public phones, had asked David not to call again until he had the ring. Becker considered qualifying to the local police for help-maybe they had a record of a red- passported hooker-but Strathmore had given strict orders about that too. You are invisible. No one is to know this ring exists.Becker wondered if he was suppositional to wander the drugged-out district of Triana in search of this mystery woman. Or maybe he was supposed to check all the restaurants for an obese German. Everything seemed like a use of time.Strathmores words kept coming back Its a matter of national security you must find that ring.A voice in the back of Beckers head told him hed missed something-something crucial-but for the life of him, he couldnt think what it would be. Im a teacher, n ot a damned secret agent He was beginning to wonder why Strathmore hadnt send a professional. Becker stood up and walked aimlessly down Calle Delicias pondering his options. The cobblestone sidewalk blurred beneath his gaze. Night was falling fast.Dewdrop.There was something about that absurd touch on that nagged at the back of his mind. Dewdrop. The slick voice of Senor Roldan at Escortes Belen was on endless loop in his head. We only have two redheads Two redheads, Inmaculada and Rocio Rocio RocioBecker stopped short. He suddenly knew. And I call myself a actors line specialist? He couldnt believe hed missed it.Rocio was one of the most popular girls names in Spain. It carried all the right implications for a young Catholic girl-purity, virginity, natural beauty. The connotations of purity all stemmed from the names literal meaning-Drop of DewThe old Canadians voice rang in Beckers ears. Dewdrop. Rocio had translated her name to the only language she and her client had in common -English. Excited, Becker hurried off to find a phone.Across the street, a man in wire-rim glasses followed just out of sight.