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“A little”

“The understudy job pays enough to keep you current with your rent You gamble, Mr Proctor?”

“Oh, no No, I don’t”

“Just careless with money?”

“I don’t think so I invest, you see In myself

Acting and voice lessons, body maintenance, enhancement treatments They don’t come cheap, especially in the city I suppose all that seems frivolous to you, Lieutenant, but it’s part ofa part-time job to help defray the expenses”

“No need to consider that now, is there? With Draco out of the way”

“I suppose not” He paused, considering it “I wasn’t sure hoas going to e the time It’ll be easier to—” He broke off, sucked in a breath “I don’tyour line of thinking, it takes so without money, Lieutenant Whatever else, the theater’s lost one of its finest, and one of uess I’d feel better if I said—if I was honest and said—that there’s a part of me that’s thrilled to think that I’ll play Vole Even temporarily”

He sighed, long and loud, closed his eyes “Yeah, yeah, I do feel better I wish he’d just caught a cold, though”

• • •

Eve’s head was throbbing lightly as she walked back up the steps to her car “Nobody’s that naive,” she uileless”

“He’s from Nebraska” Peabody scanned her pocket unit

“From where?”

“Nebraska” Peabody waved a hand, vaguely west “Farional theater, some video, billboard ads, bit parts on-screen He’s only been in New York three years” She cliuileless in Nebraska I think it’s all that soy and corn”

“Whatever, he stays on the short list His fee for walking into the part of Vole is a big step up fro like a transient in that dump Money’s a motivator, and so’s ambition He wanted to be Draco What better way than to eliminate Draco?”