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“No,” Rainy says without hesitation

“That’s not a request, that’s an order,” Bayswater snaps

Rainy turns in her chair to look the agent in the face There’s a confident sneer on his thin lips His head is cocked to one side, a parody of soent Bayswater, I’m not an informer I will not betray my father”

“Well, you uppity little skirt,” Bayswater snaps He seems to think insults will move her Or

Or he’s deliberately trying to goad her Is he testing her? Or is he just a deeply unpleasant man?

“You’ll report to laring at Bayswater “And I have no interest in your conversation with your father You’ll find a connection You may even meet with Camporeale yourself But you will only report back, you will make no commitments Is that understood?”

“Perfectly, sir”

“I’ll have your orders cut,” Corelli says “You are dismissed”

She is out on the crowded sidewalk and heading toward the subway station when Special Agent Bayswater catches up to her

“A eant,” he says

“Yes?”

They are in the middle of the sidewalk, and Bayswater draws her into the relative calance is undi offensiveness is toned do

“You don’t like me much,” Bayswater says

Several answers pass through Rainy’s quick mind I don’t like you at all And, Don’t be so htly controlled person when in perfor

“You’re a smart broad,” Bayswater says “And I don’t want to have to bring your old ot Naval Intelligence, we got this new OSS spy service, and we got us, the FBI Everybody and their aunt Tilly is playing spy all of a sudden Bunch of amateurs mostly”