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Boudicca shook her head and showed her teeth "Maeve is in Washington, working as an agent for our father, feeding him whatever infor like having a trusted relative in the enemy camp to keep one out of trouble"

"I ed her," Pitt said brusquely "She ledsea life was her life's work"

"Any nation flew out the hen she learnedher twin sons as insurance"

"Don't you an to see that Arthur Dorsett's reed The ht nothing of using his own family as pawns

Boudicca disregarded Pitt's remark and nodded at John Merchant "He's yours to dispose of as you will"

"Before we bury hi anticipation, "we'll persuade hiht have purposely left out"

"So I'm to be tortured and then executed," Pitt said nonchalantly, helping himself to another shot of tequila while his mind desperately created and discarded a dozen useless plans for escape

"You've conde here," said Boudicca "If, as you say, officials of NUMA suspected our excavation operations were responsible for sending deadly sound waves throughout the ocean, there would have been no need for you to clandestinely spy on Dorsett property The truth is, you have learned the ansithin the past hour and have yet to pass theton I coh our, security and entering the mine was a masterstroke You could not have done it alone Explanations will be forthco after Mr Merchant motivates you to share your secrets"

She nailed ive Maeve and Deirdre my best wishes"

"Knowing otten you"

"Deirdre maybe, not Maeve Now that I've met all of you, it's evident that she's the most virtuous of the three"

Pitt was surprised at the look of hatred that flashed in Boudicca's eyes "Maeve is the outcast She has never been close to the family"

Pitt grinned, a natural grin,"It's easy to see why"

Boudicca stood up, looking even taller due to the heels of her boots, and stared down at Pitt, enraged at the laughter she read in his opaline green eyes "By the time we close the mine, Maeve and

her bastard sons will be gone" She spun around and glared at Merchant "Get this scuain"