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“I got a present this ” Nadine tossed a disc on the desk

Eve looked at it, then back up at Nadine’s face It was pale, the sharp features drawn For once, Nadine wasn’t perfectly groomed with lip dye, enhancers, and every hair in place She looked more than frazzled, Eve realized She looked afraid

“What’s the problem?”

“David Palmer”

Slowly Eve got to her feet “What about him?”

“Apparently he knohat I do for a living, and that we’re friendly He sent led to suppress a shudder “Hoping I’d do a feature story on him—and his work—and share the contents of his disc with you Can I have a drink? So”

Roarke came around the desk and eased her into a chair “Sit down You’re cold,” he murmured when he took her hands

“Yeah, I am I’ve been cold ever since I ran that disc”

“I’ll get you a brandy”

Nadine nodded in agreement, then fisted her hands in her lap and looked at Eve “There are two other people on the recording One of theer And there’s a wonize her She’s—he’s already started on her”

“Here” Roarke brought the snifter, gently wrapped Nadine’s hands around the bowl “Drink this”

“Okay” She lifted the glass, took one long sip, and felt the blast of heat explode in her gut “Dallas, I’ve seen a lot of bad things I’ve reported the like this I don’t kno you deal with it, day after day”

“One day at a tiain”

“Yes” Nadine drank again, let out a long breath “I do”

Eve turned the disc over in her hand It was a standard-use model They’d never trace it She slid it into her unit “Copy disc and run, display on screen”