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“I’d prefer you to arrange to have a hard copy sent to my office”

“I’ll see to it I was back ho with severalfirht Shall I send you the menu?”

“Don’t be snide, Roarke”

“Merely thorough, lieutenant It was an early evening By eleven I was alone, with a book and a brandy, until about seven AM, when I had my first cup of coffee Would you like another?”

She’d have killed for another cup of coffee, but she shook her head “Alone for eight hours, Roarke Did you speak with anyone, see anyone during that time?”

“No No one I had to be in Paris the next day and wanted a quiet evening Poor ti to murder someone, it would have been ill advised not to protect myself with an alibi”

“Or arrogant not to bother,” she returned “Do you just collect antique weapons, Roarke, or do you use them?”

“I’m an excellent shot” He set his empty snifter aside “I’ll be happy to demonstrate for you when you come to see my collection Does tomorrow suit you?”

“Fine”

“Seven o’clock? I assume you have the address” When he leaned over, she stiffened and nearly hissed as his hand brushed her arm He only smiled, his face close, his eyes level “You need to strap in,” he said quietly “We’ll be landing in a moment”

He fastened her harness hi if he made her nervous as a man, or a murder suspect, or a combination of both Just then, any choice had its own interest—and its own possibilities

“Eve,” he murmured “Such a simple and feminine name I wonder if it suits you”

She said nothing while the flight attendant came in to remove the dishes “Have you ever been in Sharon DeBlass’s apartment?”

A tough shell, hesoft and hot beneath He wondered if—no, when—he’d have the opportunity to uncover it

“Not while she was a tenant,” Roarke said as he sat back again “And not at all that I recall, though it’s certainly possible” He sain and fastened his own harness “I own the Gorham Complex, as I’m sure you already know”