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Mirina looked at Slade, bit her lip “Yes, of course” She cleared her throat when Eve took out her recorder and set it on the table between them “You know about thedifficulties Randy had several years ago in Sector 38”

“I know,” Eve confirmed “I was told you didn’t”

“Randy told me yesterday” Mirina reached up blindly, and his hand was there “You’re a strong, confident woman, Lieutenant It may be difficult for you to understand those of us who aren’t so strong Randy didn’t tell me before because he was afraid I wouldn’t handle it well My nerves” She ize me Personal crises devastate me The doctors call it an avoidance tendency I’d rather not face trouble”

“You’re delicate,” Slade stated, squeezing her hand “It’s nothing to be ashamed of”

“In any case, this is so I have to face You were there,” she said to Roarke, “during the incident”

“I was on the station, probably in the casino”

“And the security at the hotel, the security Randy called, they were yours”

“That’s right Everyone has private security Criistrate—unless they can be dealt with privately”

“You h bribes”

“Naturally”

“Randy could have bribed security He didn’t”

“Mirina” He hushed her with another squeeze of his hand “I didn’t bribe theh to bribe them If I had, there wouldn’t have been a record, and ouldn’t be discussing it now”

“The heavy charges were dropped,” Eve pointed out “You were given the minimum penalty for the ones that stood”

“And I was assured that the entirestronger than tea Roarke?”

“Whiskey if you have it, two fingers”