wooden posts. Some of the bugs were apparently too stupid to realize
they couldn't see the yellow light, for dozens of them swarmed the
lamps, flitting around in ragged orbits, banging against the glass that
covered the bulbs.
The op disguised as a birder kept one hand under untucked tails of an
unbuttoned, oversized, short-sleeved shirt until he was sure it was
Ventura heading toward him.
Good. You never let your guard down when you were working. Never.
Thursday, June 9th Washington, D.C.
Michaels could hardly believe it.
'Toni! I'm glad to see you.'
She nodded.
'Can I come in?'
'Oh, yeah, yeah, come in, come in.' He reached for her bag.
'I got it,' she said.
Inside, there was an awkward silence.
'You want something to drink? Eat?' God, she looked great. It was
all he could do to keep the baboon like grin from taking over his
face.
'We need to talk,' she said.
His stomach twisted and churned, but he said, '^ 'Why did you lie to
me?'
'I... I...'
'You said you slept with her!'
'Toni--' 'She says you didn't! Which is it, Alex?!'
She was facing him squarely now, and her anger was a tangible thing in
the room.
'Did you have sex with Angela Cooper or not?'
'No,' he said, his voice quiet.
'Jesus Christ, Alex! What is the matter with you?!'
He raised his hands palms up, then dropped them.
'I-It's hard to explain.'
'Well, you are gonna explain it, right here and right now He nodded,
and started to tell it.
When he got to the end, she was shaking her head.
'Why didn't you tell me that was what happened?'
He had had a lot of time to think about that, too much time.
'Because I was ashamed.'
'You turned down a gorgeous woman who wanted to jump your bones and you
were ashamed?'
'I shouldn't have gone to supper with her, I shouldn't have had the
beer, and I sure as hell shouldn't have gone to her apartment, shucked
my clothes, and let her rub my back.'
'All true. Why did you?'
He'd had time to think about that one, too.
'You and I were having some problems. I was rattled about the whole
British situation, I wasn't in control of work, of what was going on
with us, there was all that crap about Megan and Susie and that private
eye. Angela is an attractive, competent woman and she was interested
in me.
