Chapter 9 Summary

Paul doubts if a photograph of Nicole will upset the Truong toc, but hopes that it will slow Truong toc's pursuit of Molly. Christmas decorations are out in Rome as Paul enters their apartment and panics when Molly is in neither the bedroom nor bath. She enters nonchalantly, carrying wine glasses to surprise Paul, who she hears drive up. As he opens the bottle, it slips from his hands, and when they make love, he cries out as if in pain.

Later, Molly finds Paul examining strips of calligraphy, complains how he keeps secrets from her and demands to know why he is frightened. Paul explains that the Vietnamese want to kill her to punish him for learning their secrets. Reluctantly, he says that he is on the way to proving that they are behind JFK's murder and admits to having sometimes been...