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“You didn’t ask”

She let it drop, for now “Does your father have a knowledge of security—the technical aspects?”

“Certainly He takes pride in knowing how to protect hireeing”

“Would you consider him an expert?”

“No,” Richard said slowly “A talented amateur”

“His relationship with Chief Simpson? Hoould you describe it?”

“Self-serving He considered Si fools” Abruptly, he sank into a chair “I’m sorry I can’t do this I need some time I need my wife”

“All right Mr DeBlass, I’ to order surveillance on your father You won’t be able to reach hi monitored Please don’t try”

“You think I’ll try to kill hih and stared down at his own hands “I want to For what he did to hter, to e”

When they were outside again, Eve headed straight for the car without looking at Roarke “You suspected this?” she asked

“That DeBlass was involved? Yes, I did”

“But you didn’t tell me”

“No” Roarke stopped her before she could wrench open the door “It was a feeling, Eve I had no idea about Catherine Absolutely none I suspected that Sharon and DeBlass were having an affair”

“That’s too clean a word for it”

“I suspected it,” he continued, “because of the way she spoke of hiain, it was a feeling, not a fact That feeling would have done nothing to enhance your case And,” he added, turning her to face hi to myself, because I didn’t want to hurt you” She jerked her head away He brought it patiently back with his fingertips “You had no one to help you?”