Page 56 (2/2)

“You’re saying he could use Sharon’s death politically? How?”

Roarke stubbed his cigarette out “He could paint his granddaughter as a victim of society, with sex for profit as the alized prostitution, full conception control, sexual adjustment, and so forth not take responsibility for the results?”

Eve could appreciate the debate, but shook her head “DeBlass also wants to eliun ban She was shot by a weapon not really available under current law”

“Which makes it more insidious Would she have been able to defend herself if she, too, had been arree, he shook his head “It hardly matters what the answer is, only the question itself Have we forgotten our founders and the basic tenets of their blueprint for the country? Our right to bear arms A woman murdered in her own home, her own bed, a victim of sexual freedom and defenselessness More, yes, much more, of moral decline”

He strolled over to disengage the console “Oh, you’ll argue that un was the rule rather than the exception when anyone with the desire and the finances could purchase one, but he’ll drown that out The Conservative Party is gaining ground, and he’s the spearhead”

He watched her assimilate as she poured yet ht not want the ht?”

Off guard, she looked up “Why wouldn’t he? Over and above the personal, wouldn’t that give him even more ammunition? ‘Here’s the low-life, ihter’ ”

“That’s a risk, isn’t it? Perhaps thepillar of his cooat is certainly required”

He waited a h “Who do you thinkin theevery step you take,into your background, your personal life as well as your professional one?”

Shaken, she set her cup down “I suspect DeBlass put the pressure on about Testing He doesn’t trust ation And he had Feeney andbreath “How do you know he’s digging on me? Because you are?”

He didn’t er in her eyes, or the accusation He preferred it to the worry anotherhi you I decided I’d find itto learn about you fro reports”

He stepped closer, skiers over her choppy hair “I respect the privacy of the people I care about And I care about you, Eve I don’t knohy, precisely, but you pull so from me”

When she started to step back, he tightened his fingers “I’m tired of every time I have a moment with you, you put murder between us”

“There is murder between us”

“No If anything, that’s what brought us here Is that the probleh to feel?”