Reluctantly Tess shook it. His grip was firm. 'I've been better, Brian. At the moment, I've got a problem.'

'So I gathered on the phone.' Brian turned toward the maid, then raised his eyebrows toward Tess's mother. 'But before we discuss…'

Tess's mother got the hint. That'll be fine, Edna. We can pour the tea ourselves.'

'As you like, ma'am.' Edna curtsied and left the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

'There,' Tess's mother said. 'Now I'm sure you wouldn't mind doing the honors, Brian.'

'Of course.' He picked up the teapot.

'No, wait,' Tess said. 'Before we… I'm really not…'

They frowned at her.

'… thirsty or hungry. I grabbed a pretzel in the airport.'

'Pretzel?' Tess's mother looked horrified.

'I'd like to get to the point,' Tess said. 'And Brian, since you're wearing your tuxedo, I assume that means you either just came from – or still plan to go to – the reception for the Soviet ambassador. I also assume that means you're anxious either to return or arrive there, so I won't keep you any longer than necessary. Believe me, I don't want to waste your time.' She tried not to sound sarcastic.

'Tess, you could never waste my time.' Brian set down the teapot, came around the table, and faced her. 'I told you on the phone, for the sake of old times… and your father… I want to do everything I can to help.'

'Exactly. My father.'

'We were friends,' Brian said.

'But that didn't stop you from sending him to Beirut.'

'Now honestly,' her mother said, 'if this conversation is going to be unpleasant, I don't intend to sit here and-'

'That's a good idea, mother. Why don't you leave? Brian and I have things to talk about.'

'No, Melinda, you stay right where you are. It's time we cleared the air,' Brian said. 'For all of us.' He sat beside Tess's mother and clasped her hand.

At once, for the first time, Tess had the suspicion that they might be having an affair. Her father's best friend? The man who'd sent that best friend to his death? Could that monster possibly be screwing his best friend's wife? The thought of the two of them in bed together made Tess so queasy that she wished she hadn't eaten the pretzel on the way from the airport.

'Okay, the three of us,' Tess said. 'That's fine with me. Just so long as I get what I want.'

'Your father was a committed diplomat,' Brian said. 'He went to that insanity in Beirut because he thought he could make a difference, help settle the violence among the Christians, the Moslems, and all their splinter groups. In his heart, he believed he could actually stop the killing.'

'You sound like you're making a speech,' Tess said.

Brian shrugged. 'An occupational hazard.'

'In fact, that bromide you just gave me, I think I read those same words in the Washington Post at the time of my father's death.'

'Possibly.' Brian looked despondent. 'Unfortunately, on occasion, because I'm asked so many questions, I'm forced to repeat myself.'

'But what you didn't tell the Post was that my father was sent to Beirut to negotiate an arms agreement with the side you wanted to win – the Christians. And you also didn't tell the Post that your security was so damned sloppy that the Moslems found out and kidnapped my father to stop him from completing the arms deal.'

'Now, Tess, that's all speculation.'

'Don't treat me like a fool. The Moslems wanted my father to confess about US interference on the side of the Christians. But my father wouldn't confess no matter what they did to him, no matter how much they tortured him. So they beat him, they starved him, and when he still wouldn't talk, they slit his throat and dumped him into a gutter. As an example to America not to interfere.'

'Tess, that's your interpretation. Weapons had nothing to do with it. He was there as a well-intentioned negotiator, pure and simple.'

'Nothing about what you bastards do is pure and simple.'

Tess's mother flinched. 'I refuse to tolerate vulgar language in-'

'No, let her finish, Melinda. For once and for all, we'll settle this,' Brian said.

'I know what you ordered my father to do. I know he disapproved of the assignment but wouldn't refuse an order from the White House,' Tess said. 'How do I know? Because I overheard his conversations on the phone. And when he brought documents from work, I not only secretly read them. I made copies before he shredded them.'

'If you did, Tess, that's a breach of national security. There are serious penalties for…'

'As serious as what happened to my father? What would you do to me? Put me in jail? Of course not. I'd talk. So unless you want another Iran-Contra-arms scandal, you'd have to kill me!'

'That's enough.' Tess's mother jerked upright. That's all I intend to hear. Your father was a great man, and I won't listen to you sully either his or Brian's reputation!'

'No, Melinda, wait.' Brian clasped her hand again, his voice disturbingly calm. 'I think Tess is almost finished. I believe she's leading up to something. And when she finally gets to the point, I suspect we'll finally settle the ghost that haunts us. Tess, excuse me, but if I can be allowed to be vulgar, cut to the chase. What in hell do you want?'

Tess inhaled and answered as calmly as she could. 'Whenever I see your name in the newspaper, I look away in fury. But I don't live in limbo. I hear things. Despite the change in administration, I gather you're still very much associated with the government.'

'That's correct.' Brian straightened.

'With the National Security Council, among other things,' Tess said.

'An unsubstantiated rumor.'

'Hey, Brian, we're talking about pay-off time! A favor in exchange for my silence! I won't forgive you for what you ordered my father to do, but I swear – God help me – if you do what I want, I'll never raise the subject again!'

The rugged-faced war hero studied her. 'That's a tempting offer.'

'Then take it.'

The diplomat's eyes became more calculating. 'So what's your problem?'

Tess's cramped muscles abruptly went limp. 'I have… That is, I had… I don't know what to call him… A friend.'

Slowly, haltingly, for the next quarter-hour, Tess explained, describing her meetings with Joseph, his failure to join her at the park, her grotesque experience at the New York City morgue, her disturbing visit to Joseph's apartment. She ended her stressful account by displaying the photographs of the puzzling objects in Joseph's bedroom.

Brian studied the photographs. 'Weird. Are you sure your friend wasn't on drugs?'

'Drugs? No way. And he didn't drink either. He didn't even use aspirin. He was fanatical about his health.'

'But he acted as if he might have been followed. And…' Brian shook his head. 'I honestly… What do you want me to do?'

'Use your influence with the FBI and the CIA. I think that Joseph might have been Spanish. I know he assumed a false identity. The FBI has his fingerprints. Make copies of them and send them to Interpol. Get in touch with… Whatever it is you do, do it. Pretend the country's been threatened, if that gives you motivation. I want to know Joseph's real identity! I want to find out who killed him! And who tried to steal these photographs! And who might be following me! And-'

'Wait,' Brian interrupted. 'You believe… You're telling me you think you've been followed!'

'I'm so confused I don't know what to think.'

'All right. Calm down. Let me… All right, those photographs. Can I borrow them and make copies?'

'Not a chance. I won't let them out of my sight.'

'In other words, you don't trust me to keep them safe.'

'I'll have copies made myself and send them to you.'

'Very well,' Brian said. 'Clear enough… I have one more question.'