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.’‘You’re kidding!’‘I’m not.’‘You’re lying!’‘I’m telling the truth.’‘You didn’t.You mean, you really asked Vanessa Artois, the VR star - you asked her for a date.and sheaccepted?’‘You sound like that’s hard to believe.’She shook her head, still in wonderment.‘Just a little, Hal.No, it’s like, impossible to believe, to tell the truth.You’re joking me.’So he was lying - technically, Vanessa had asked him out -but it was an acceptable lie.And if the lie prompted Casey to go and ask her boy for a date.‘I’m serious, Casey.We’re going to the Cassini Awards, then moving on to some cosy little bar, and after that, who knows?’‘Look, don’t take this wrong, Hal.You’re a nice guy and all.But she has the pick of all the gorgeous men in New York.She works with superstuds every day.Admit it, you aren’t exactly in that league, are you?’He recalled what Vanessa had said yesterday about the men she had worked with.‘It just goes to show that looks and wealth aren’t everything, Casey.So I might not be the most handsome guy in the city, and I’m sure not wealthy, but Vanessa obviously sees something in me.’‘Yeah.’ Casey nodded her head slowly.She picked up another spare rib and stared at it.Then she looked sideways at him.‘This isn’t some big put-on, make-a-fool-of-Casey time, is it?’‘If you still don’t believe me, tune into Channel Fifteen tonight.The ceremony’s on live.You’ll see me step from the back of a stretch limo with Vanessa, walk down that red carpet in front of all the paparazzi and holo-station people.’‘I’ll do that, Hal.I’ll be watching.’ He could see from her expression that she was still dubious.He finished his chicken and looked at his watch.‘Time I wasn’t here, Casey.’ He pulled off the towel and mopped his mouth.‘You have yourself a good time,’ she said.He paused at the door.‘And once the show’s over, you know what you have to do?’‘Sure,’ she said, shy.She looked up.‘If I see you on that red carpet with Vanessa, I’ll go and ask Ben what he’s doing tomorrow night, okay?’He smiled.‘Catch you later.’He hurried down the stairs, walked to the main street and hailed a taxi, self-conscious in case he bumped into anyone he knew.He imagined Thai Joe’s uproarious laughter at the sight of him.In the back of the cab, motoring at speed through the glare of holo-façades along Park Avenue, the mood of levity left over from his joshing with Casey gave way to the stark reality of the evening ahead.He considered the words of the street magician, Mephisto, the other day: a private detective, a man who attempts in vain to order the chaos of existence.He wondered if that was all his life had come to.He was in the line of work he was in because of a subconscious desire to set straight the disordered world around him, maybe even to order the contents of his chaotic psyche.The cab drew up outside the Plaza building on Madison and Halliday told the driver to wait.A big limousine was parked by the curb ahead, the chauffeur walking up and down the sidewalk.Two minutes later another taxi pulled up and a woman climbed out.He recognised Vanessa’s body, her long legs.She was stunning in a short black dress.Halliday paid the driver, ducked from the taxi and joined the VR star in the limo.As the vehicle pulled into the street with all the grace of a liner drawing away from its dock, they sat in the spacious rear and regarded each other.Vanessa removed her chu, and as ever Halliday was amazed by her beauty.‘Are you really the Hal I was drinking with last night?’ she said.‘Don’t you start.I’ve had enough already from Casey.’‘You look good.’‘I could say the same about you.But I wish you’d put the chu back on.’She pointed to the tinted windows.‘I’m safe in here, Hal,’ she said.‘Don’t worry.’He glanced at her, recalled what Karel had told him earlier today.He wanted to ask her about her affair with Mantoni, but decided that now was not the right time.Instead he said, ‘What’s the set-up?’‘Once you’re in the auditorium you can sit down if you want, or mix in the area before the stage.There’ll be waiters circulating with drinks and drugs.Mantoni will be there, pressing the flesh.’‘Describe him to me.’‘He’s above average height.Slim for his age, mid-fifties.He’s had facial surgery, but he also wears a body chu to improve his figure.You’ll take it from that that he’s vain.But he’s also very charming and sophisticated.A real snake, Hal.’Halliday looked out at the passing holo-façades, then turned back to her.‘What’s the score once we reach the Civic?’‘As soon as we’re inside I’ll slip to the loo and change.This is a reversible dress and jacket.Once I put the chu back on, I’ll be unrecognisable
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