er to make friends with the
guy, take him to dinner, then sneak a little cyanide in his
coffee--something like that."

Panek was impressed. Hanlon read the swift thoughts racing across the
other's mind. He hadn't liked the idea of using his knife, here on this
ship. But neither did he dare report back to that feared "boss" that he
hadn't succeeded in killing Abrams.

Panek spoke doubtfully. "Yeah, that may be all right, but not when the
guy knows you, then you can't get away with a thing like that, not when
he knows you."

"Exactly what I'm getting at," Hanlon said eagerly. "Me, I'm the Unknown
Quantity. Nobody knows me. I can get to old Abrams and make it all seem
natural."

"He ain't easy to fool, no, he ain't."

"I'm sure he isn't. But since I've got to make a start somewhere if I
want to get into things on Simonides, I figure giving you an assist is
worth the trial."

"Well," Panek hesitated and his cold eyes bored into those of this
enigmatic young man. "I still don't quite trust you, can't be sure I
trust you. I still figure you're some kind of a cop ..."

Hanlon half-rose, his face dark with intense anger. "Don't ever call me
a cop!" he blazed, though still in a whisper. "I hate 'em. As a kid I
thought they were tops, and did everything I could to get into their
school. But I mighty quick found out how wrong I was. I was good and
sick of 'em, and about ready to quit when they threw me out on that lie
about cheating ... say, I knew more'n their knuckle-headed instructors,
so why'd I need to cheat?"

"Easy, Pal, take it easy."

"They just want to use their high and mighty authority," Hanlon ignored
Panek's shushing. "They just like to push people around 'cause they got
on a pretty uniform."

His voice had risen in pitch until Panek had to grab his arm and shake
him to make him keep still. People at the nearer table were beginning to
look at them. But Panek was impressed now with Hanlon's sincerity--the
SS man could read that in his mind.

"All right, Pal, all right. Don't bust a gut. You bump off old Abrams
without getting caught, and I'll get you in with a gang on Sime where
you can really do yourself some good, really some good."

Hanlon nodded shortly and rose. "I'll keep in touch. And your man's as
good as dead right now."

His heart was singing--his plan was working smoothly. Now if that
government man had any brains, and would play along ...

Hanlon found Abrams in the library, and slipped