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Her eyes hardened “And you’ve just decided I ht be interested”

“I’ve just discovered my own interest He’s worked up a rather ias II Then there’s aroulette, a redhead, and a fatality on an obscure ga satellite in Sector 38”

“What scandal?”

“You’re the cop,” he said and smiled “Find out”

He left Eve to go to the cop’sand hold her hand

“I have Mirina in my office,” Whitney ”

“I won’t” Struggling to smooth the feathers Roarke had ruffled, she followed the commander’s broad back down the hall

Though his home office wasn’t quite as spartan as the one at Cop Central, it was obvious that Whitney kept his wife’s lush fee, the carpet a deeper tone, and the chairs ide and a practical brown

His work counter and console were in the center of the rooelini waited in her long sweep ofblack Whitney went to her first, spoke quietly, and squeezed her hand With one warning glance at Eve, he left them alone

“Ms Angelini,” Eve began “I knew your mother, worked with her, admired her I’m very sorry for your loss”

“Everyone is,” Mirina responded in a voice as fragile and pale as her white cheeks Her eyes were dark, nearly black, and glassy “Except the person who killed her, I suppose I’ll apologize ahead of time if I’m of little help to you, Lieutenant Dallas I bowed to pressure and letthis rather hard”

“You and your mother were close”

“She was the most wonderful woman I’ve ever known Why should I have to be calm and composed when I’ve lost her like this?”

Eve came closer, sat in one of the wide brown chairs “I can’t think of any reason why you should be”

“My father wants a public show of strength” Mirina turned her face to the“I’ him down Appearances are important to my father”