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Morse was obviously struggling to recover his dignity He veered his gaze to hers and nearly ant sneer “No, sources are protected Let’s not forget the Constitution” Patriotically, he laid his palm over his heart “Now, if you wish to comment on, contradict, or add to any of my information, I’d be more than happy to listen”

“Why don’t we try this?” she said, shifting gears “You found Louise Kirski’s body—while it was still warm”

“That’s right” He folded his iven my statement”

“You were pretty upset, weren’t you? Jittery Shot your dinner in the bushes Feeling better now?”

“It’s so better Thanks for asking”

She stepped forward, backing hio on air withina nice close-up of your dead associate”

“Immediacy is part of the business I did what I was trained to do That doesn’t mean I didn’t feel” His voice trembled and was manfully controlled “That doesn’t mean I don’t see her face, her eyes, every tiht”

“Did you ever wonder ould have happened if you’d gotten there five minutes sooner?”

That jarred hih she kneas nasty, and personal, it pleased her

“Yes, I have,” he said with dignity “I ht be alive if I hadn’t been caught in traffic But that doesn’t change the facts She’s dead, and so are two others And you don’t have anyone in custody”

“Maybe it hasn’t occurred to you that you’re feeding hiaze froh to scan the rooerly “Heall the details, the speculation You’ve est star on the screen”

“It’s our responsibility to report—” Morse began

“Morse, you don’t know shit about responsibility All you know is how to count the minutes you’re on air, front and center The s You can quote me on that one” She turned on her heel

“Feel better?” Roarke asked her when they were outside again

“Not a hell of a lot Impressions?”