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"It may be too late," Marie said "From your description of him, Gene sounds like a prime candidate for a mental breakdown or a uts, you'd stick it out with him"

Dana shook her head "I can't cope with rejection Until we can get together peacefully again, I' to make another life"

"Does that include other men?"

"Platonic love only" Dana forced a smile "I'm not about to play the liberated female and jump onto every penis that wanders across my path"

Marie grinned slyly "It's one thing to be picky and pay lip service to high standards, sweetie, but quite another ton, DC We outnuht to one They're the lucky ones who can afford to be choosy"

"If so out and look for an affair Besides, I'otten how to flirt''

"Seducing a"Once learned, never forgotten"

She parked in the vast open lot of the NUMA headquarters building They walked up the steps into the lobby, where they joined the strea down the halls and up the elevators to their offices

"How aboutme for lunch?" Marie said

"Fine"

"I'll bring a couple of male friends for you to exercise your latent charms on"

Before Dana could protest, Marie had melted into the crowd As she stood in the elevator, Dana noted with a curious sense of detached pleasure that her heart was thu

35

Sandecker pulled his car into the parking lot of the Alexandria College of Oceanography, climbed out fro beside an electric golf cart

"Admiral Sandecker?"