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'Good , s and bacon, but if there's anything else you'd like…'

'That sounds marvellous, thank you'

The woolden brown, ran a glance over the table and left Sian poured herself sog and a piece of toast There was a pile of Sunday newspapers at William Cassidy's elbow He nodded to them and asked, 'Want one of these?'

'Please,' she said 'My own paper first' It was a pity she had to remind him, but she wanted to see the story in print; find out what the subs had done to her copy She watched the frown appear on that lean face, the eyes glitter and the mouth harden, but he flicked over the papers and threw her own over to her without co

They ate their breakfast in silence Sian wryly noted the changes that had been made in the story and wondered how Willia to like it But then, nobody ever did like what you said about theo In cold print a fact would look like an accusation; a comment could become painful She had reported what Annette had said to her and she hadn't invented a word, but would William Cassidy believe that?

She put the paper down, and poured herself soly at him 'Can I refill your cup?'

'Thanks' He held it out, looking at the paper by her plate 'Finished with that?'

She reluctantly handed it to hi her coffee, she took another paper and glanced through that They had the story, of course, but not in the same detail, or from the inside, as she had

Sian would have felt triuet an exclusive, to scoop the others, but at present she was more interested in Williaers tightened on the pages, the thick sound of his angry breathing, and bit her lip in apprehension She hoped he wasn't going to turn violent

He suddenly flung the paper across the table, knocking over the jug of orange juice 'I ought to wring your neck!' he grated

Sian snatched up her linen table-napkin and hurriedly began toto do 'I realise it can't have been pleasant to read,' she said, and he made a furious noise

'You've re'

'I just wrote what Annette had said' Sian caht about it, and wished she hadn't because it wasn't the most tactful excuse, was it?

His face darkened with angry blood 'Annette's known me most of her life—ever since she was a toddler, in fact It's true we didn't know each other all that well until she started working forto ed her h to talk about er, too!'

She watched hiuilty She had never had to face anyone she had written about in that intimate way It put her job into a new perspective for her She had hurt thishim uneasily