第40部分(第2/7 頁)

d　of　SEAA？〃

Did　she　know　him？　Did　she　know　him！

〃Seems　like　a　nice　fellow。　He　wanted　to　make　sure　you　were　all　right；

since　you　seemed　so　upset　at　the　deposition。〃

〃Wasn't　that　considerate　of　him；〃　she　snipped　bitterly。　Guilt　feelings。

Good。　Let　him　suffer　〃How　did　he　know　to　call　you？　He　doesn't　know　my

maiden　name。〃　But；　of　course；　he　could　find　it　out。　He　could　find　out

anything　he　wanted。　Powerful　men　got　what　they　wanted　without　batting　an

eyelash。

〃He　called　Ted　first；〃　her　father　explained。　〃He　hesitated　to　call　you

directly；　for　fear　of　upsetting　you　more。〃

〃Wise　man。〃　Upsetting　me　more。　That　was　cute。

Anthony　Faulke　eyed　her　with　gentle　reproach。　〃It　was　considerate。　After

all；　his　airline's　been　found　innocent　in　the　matter。　Technically；　it's

no　concern　of　his　any　longer。〃

Anne　didn't　care　that　his　airline　was　innocent。　In　her　mind；　Mitch　was

still　a　deceiver。

She　was　angry　with　no　one　to　yell　at；　heartsick　with　no　one　to　hug；　and

if　she　moped　about　for　the　better　part　of　each　day；　the　nights　were　no

better。　She　was　obsessed　by　a　living　nightmare；　waking　and　sleeping。

By　the　middle　of　the　second　week；　she　was　at　the　end　of　her　rope。　So　she

lined　up　several　fast　interpreting　jobs　that　would　get　her　away　from

paper　translations　and　out　into　a　people…oriented　mainstream　again。　And

it　worked。　She　got　a　handle　on　her　emotions。

Then　she　was　thrown　a　setback。　Her　doorbell　rang　one　evening　when　she

wasn't　expecting　anyone。　Leaving　the　chain　latch　in　place；　she　opened

the　door　the　several　inches　allowed　and　peered　out　to　find　Mitch　there。

She　closed　the　door　with　a　slam。　The　bell　ran