Part 31 (1/2)

”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.”