The Sandler Inquiry Part 31

"I'd love the publicity of a court fight,"

she added, 'but I don't have the stomach for it. Not now. And I doubt that this is the end of this."

"No, I doubt it, too," Thomas said with resignation.

There was a pause on Andrea's end.

"Tom," she finally said, "this is my first brush with Feds and I'm not looking forward to the next one. But . . ." she added slowly

"I did ask around a little bit!

"About what?"

"Fingerprints in that category. The cla.s.sified category."

"And?"

"One gets two words of advice on any investigation involving prints like these." "Go ahead ' "Drop it!" It's more than either of us bargained for."

Thomas slowly placed the telephone back down on its hook. He could feel a thin film of sweat on his face and he felt slightly hot. He also thought he felt a sensation he'd not felt for a long time, and never in such a circ.u.mstance. Fear.

He turned to the woman in his apartment.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Really want to know?" He smiled.

"Sure" "A girl friend;' he said.

"I'm glad I didn't say anything," she said.

"I might have made her jealous."

He smiled weakly and searched uneasily for the proper words.

"Look" he said, groping.

"This is all getting very much out of control " He paused.

"If I've betrayed your trust, I'm sorry. But I've been trying to put things together on this case as best I can under the circ.u.mstances." He hesitated.

"Maybe that's not very good.

Maybe what you need is a bigger firm with more power to represent you.

Why don't we both think things over for a day or two?

Then you can decide whether or not you wish to continue with me.

And vice versa."

She peered at him. He had the distinct impression of being transparent.

"You're trying to get out of the case. Aren't you?" she said.

He wanted to say 'no. But so far, lies hadn't been successful.

"Maybe," he said, wondering how his father might have played the hand.

"All right," she said.

"You think about it. And I'll think about it.

But . . . you won't have to go very far to find me."

"What do you mean' "I'm not leaving here' tonight' she said politely.

"There's no way I'm stepping out on the street"' "What are you talking about?"

"I can't take the chance that your police friends have found where I was staying. Not in the dark anyway. So' she said casually,

"I.

didn't think you'd mind if I installed myself in your study. The sofa looks comfortable" "The final word'in lawyer-client relations.h.i.+ps," he mumbled. But then, uneasily, he was convinced he had to agree.

The sound of the bedroom door opening made him turn over on his mattress. He was instantly awake. The light in the room was dim but there was no doubt what he was hearing.

He suddenly felt sweaty. He tried to think of something to take in his hand as a weapon. But there was nothing.

The door opened fully. He sat up quickly. In the dimness he saw her hands. They were empty.

"I'm sorry," she said very softly.

"I couldn't sleep Relieved, he leaned back against the headboard.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

. She moved forward. There was light from the other room now.

She moved to the edge of his bed and sat down. She looked at him.

Her manner was totally different now, as if she were a different woman.

No longer the toughened woman used to defending herself Now she was nine-year-old Leslie, defenseless and threatened.

"I'm worried," she said.

"What about?"

"You , "Me?" He was baffled.