The hotel room was cool and it felt good to be under the warmth of the heavy quilt. She forced her tense body to relax and enjoy the momentary comfort and solace of the strange bed in the unfamiliar room she had inhabited the past few days. She had not wanted to sleep at all, but reason had stood its ground. There was no way she could attempt anything in the condition she was in. So, Diana accepted defeat gracefully and finally allowed her exhaustion to overtake her.

When she closed her eyes she saw Steve's face and wondered if he was alright. It made her heart ache to even think there was the possibility that something had happened to him. All the times she had been there to save him, this time... she had failed him. Steve had needed her and she hadn't been there for him. No, she had been on the other side of the country with no clue. Even the power she possessed as Wonder Woman could not have allowed her to anticipate and avert this disaster.

When sleep did come it was troubled and riddled with vague and disturbing images that she could not make sense of.

A dark room. The grave marker, but with no inscription this time. The figure that emerges from the darkness. Diana almost felt a sense of familiarity when she came face to face with him. It was the eyes that she recognized because the rest of his face was shrouded still by the looming shadows falling across them. Was she scared partly because she recognized this person? She was confused and she could feel her legs becoming weak and unable to hold her up. She falls to the sodden earth.

And then it was over. Opening her eyes it was all a mere blur, a distant memory.

The alarm clock came into focus showing that it was almost six. There was a slight tapping of rain against the windows that could be heard occasionally above the hum of activity from the street below. Sitting up in bed, she went over in her mind what Stephen had told her about Duvelli. She still had many unanswered questions. Was there anything in what he related that might begin to connect Duvelli with Torentino? Could his deli actually be a front for some criminal activity? Most importantly could any of this lead her to Steve?

Getting up, she dressed carefully, realizing how crucial it was that no one recognize Diana Prince, Intelligence Agent with the IADC. She chose a well-cut blue pantsuit. Her makeup was light and she pulled her hair back tightly for the finishing touch: a short-cropped wig in a color lighter than her own that altered her appearance dramatically. Grabbing her Burberry and checking her purse for her room key, she decided she had everything she needed.

Minutes later she was heading again toward Georgetown and 33rd Street. The rain, even though it wasn't very heavy, was still managing to slow traffic and it took longer than usual to cross town. When she got to 33rd she spotted Duvelli's Deli with little problem. It was a typical looking storefront with red and white striped awnings and specials along with various flyers taped to its windows. Parking across the street, she scanned the surroundings. Conveniently there was a little coffee shop facing Duvelli's that would offer an ideal vantage point from which to watch the comings and goings of the deli for awhile.

Diana was greeted by a disgruntled looking waitress who barked at her to find a seat wherever she could. There was an empty table next to the window so she took it and ordered a cup of coffee when a younger waitress approached her with pad and pen in hand.

"Sure thing. Anything else?"

"No, just coffee for now. Thanks."

Thirty minutes and two refills later, not too much had happened. Duvelli's obviously was a thriving business going by the number of customers who had already visited and had left with packages. Diana drummed her nails on the Formica tabletop. She had no idea what Duvelli looked like. All she had to go by was the mental picture that she had conjured hearing him described by Stephen. It seemed though that every time she did that, the person turned out to look entirely different from the way she pictured them. But this time, Diana was pleasantly surprised.

A man in his forties emerged from the shop and stood there for a few seconds glancing in both directions down 33rd Street. He lit a cigarette and leaned against the wall under the awning, staring in her general direction. She had no qualms about him seeing her. She could tell by the long drags he was taking on his cigarette and his agitated statement that his mind was elsewhere.

She was sure it was he. He was short and had dark hair, almost black, that was going slightly gray at the temples. His white apron was badly stained and wore only a white tee shirt and khakis underneath.

People slowly passed in front of him, some in groups others by themselves window shopping under the protection of their umbrellas. The man made no effort to follow customers into the store when there were any, which led Diana to believe that Stephen had already been replaced. One lone man caught her eye. He slowed his pace and stopped at the light pole not three or four feet from Duvelli. He too got under the awning and lit a cigarette and acted as if he were waiting for something. The two never made direct eye contact but with precision like movements, the newcomer pulled an envelope out of his coat's breast pocket and deposited it in Duvelli's waiting hand, which Duvelli in turn stuffed in his apron pocket. If Diana had chanced to look away for just a second she would have missed the exchange. Duvelli put out his cigarette and returned inside, while the other man continued walking out sight. She was amazed at how the whole thing went off! No one had noticed a thing but her, and that was only because she had been waiting for it.

Having seen enough, she decided that even if this had nothing to do with Steve, it deserved further investigation. The fact that the IADC was mentioned, alone, made it worthy.

The waitress strolled up to her table apparently impatient that Diana should leave so that she could finish up her breakfast shift. Diana had already been sitting there an hour and a half and the girl was no doubt curious as to her interest in the deli across the street. Out of the corner of her eye Diana had noticed that she'd been watching her.

"Will there be anything else?" The "else" was emphasized as if to say, 'you have been taking up this spot long enough and it is time for you to leave!'

Nevertheless, Diana smiled and said, "No, thank you. Just the check, please. Oh, and how is the deli across the street? Pretty reasonable on their prices? I have been thinking about having a dinner party next week and I was shopping around."

The waitress's lack of interest was palpable. "Yeah, it's okay. Duvelli's been there for a long time and they have a lot of loyal customers. The prices aren't bad, I guess."

"Do you know the owner personally?" Diana was trying hard to ask the questions she had but at the same time doing it in a non-suspicious manner. It wasn't easy in a situation like this one!

"Not too well. I've been working here about six years and I've run into him a couple of times. He's got his ways, but don't we all?" She shot Diana an accusing look and slapped the bill down on the table.

"You can pay that at the counter, hon."

Diana rolled her eyes. She's got a lot of personality, she thought.

Collecting her purse and coat she paid her bill, visited the facilities and stepped back out into the drizzling rain. Looking up at the sky, she concluded that the bad weather would probably continue all day. Well, here goes nothing...

Carefully crossing the street, Diana joined a group of window shoppers standing outside the little boutique to the left of the delicatessen. She took note of the alley running between the two just in case she might need to use it later. It looked like the passageway went straight through to a common road running behind the group of buildings, possibly for deliveries. Beyond that, she couldn't tell anymore from where she was standing. Slowly she walked on pausing to look at the assortment of condiments stacked neatly in the window of Duvelli's. Very deliberately, as if something had caught her eye, she went inside, grabbed a small shopping basket and made like she was browsing. Allowing herself to look up every now and then toward the front counter, she was able to see Duvelli's interchange with the customers. He had a very personable way about him, calling everyone by name and giving helpful hints about meal preparations.

Diana was looking at the assortment of Churchie's mustards when she was startled by a booming voice from behind.

"And what can we help you with today, young lady?" She turned to find Duvelli smiling brightly at her while wiping his hands on his already very soiled apron.

Hiding her nervousness at the sudden confrontation, Diana sweetly returned the smile. "I am so glad to find a place that carries this brand. I love the champagne mustard."

Duvelli passionately shook his head up and down. "It is the same here. That is also one of my favorites and as far as I know we are the only ones in the immediate area that carry the Churchie line."

Trying to share his enthusiasm, she sounded shocked when she asked, "Is that so?"

Duvelli continued nodding. Just then, the bells on the front door jingled alerting him to the presence of another customer.

"I'll be right back. Let me know if you need further assistance."

"Thank you very much," Diana said and let out a sigh of relief. She wanted to just observe things for awhile up close, not talk about mustard! She dropped the jar of champagne mustard in her basket.

So far she hadn't spotted the area Stephen had told her about... oh, that must be it. Beyond the counter there was an opening in the wall that led out to a hallway. That must be where the meat locker and the infamous locked door were located.

Diana eased her way from the mustard over to the fresh baked breads. Picking the various kinds up one by one, she squeezed them for softness and grimaced when one didn't meet her approval. All the while she was keeping an eye on the hallway and was moving closer to it. Pretending to turn her attention next to the small selection of wines put her right next to the doorway. She wasn't able to see very much though. It was exactly as Stephen described it, just a hallway that led to three doors. One was a commercial door of stainless steel and the other two just plain panel doors. She wondered if the one was a public restroom? There was only one way to find out...

Duvelli was restacking the bread she had just rummaged through. If he was annoyed he didn't let it show as he answered Diana's query to the positive.

"Yes, ma'am. Right through that doorway to the right. The restroom is the first door on the left." Was she just imagining that he put extra stress on 'first door'?

Making a loud production of opening the bathroom door allowed Diana to try the other. Locked. She stepped inside the bathroom, waited five minutes and came back out. Diana exchanged more some more pleasantries with Duvelli, paid for her mustard and left.

"Well, if you can't get in through the front door, try the back!" Diana softly said out loud with a grin. She ducked into the alleyway after satisfying herself that no one was watching. She quickened her pace but at the same time remained watchful and cautious. When she made it to the common drive, she perused the back of the building for an open window as she knew there surely wouldn't be an unlocked door waiting for her to walk through! Out of habit though, as she passed the only door besides a rather large garage type door, she tried the handle. It pushed open!

Hesitantly Diana entered and paused to allow her eyes to adjust to the darkness. But she didn't have time. Just then someone grabbed her, spun her around and pressed some kind of cloth to her face. It happened so fast that she had no time to react. After a few seconds of breathing in the chloroform Diana fell limp into her attacker's arms.