Washington Masquerade by Warren Adler Page B

doing my job, Phil.”
    â€œAnd a weird job it is, Fi. I’ll never understand why you’re there, with your connections.”
    He shook his head and shrugged. Fiona refused any reaction.
    â€œIn your opinion, did your shop think that Burns’ columns were directly threatening to the life of the President?”
    Both knew there was a subtext here. All intense public rants against the President were on a watch list. Charged with protecting the President’s life, the Secret Service was always ten steps ahead of possibilities. Phil had jurisdiction, but Fiona was not sure how far that went when extreme confidentiality was warranted.
    â€œOf course, he caught our attention, I’ll grant you that. We’d be remiss if we ignored him. His rants were off the charts.”
    â€œFor research only?”
    â€œLet’s put it this way, Fi. We are forever watchful.”
    â€œI’m talking specifics, namely Burns.”
    â€œI told you, Fi, ever watchful.”
    She knew he had to be tight-lipped, but she was hoping that he might convey something in body language or facial expression that would reveal the seriousness of how Burns’ death had been taken by the Feds. Clearly, she had gotten the message that their concern was very serious.
    â€œWhy would he attempt a disguise?” Fiona asked.
    â€œYour guess is as good as mine.”
    â€œMy guess is that there is probably a connection somewhere. If he was murdered, the motive could be something in your bailiwick.”
    She inspected his face. He remained silent, but she imagined she saw consternation in his eyes. Training and insight had taught her to decipher facial expressions and body language that revealed inner pain and uncertainty. Words, of course, held important clues, and she always listened with concentration to how people exposed themselves. Sometimes a misplaced word could open up a world of discovery. In Phil, Fiona saw pain, intense pain. Her friend was obviously under extreme pressure.
    â€œCome on, Phil. I showed you mine, now you show me yours.”
    He blushed a vivid red, probably remembering their sexual catastrophe. Sucking in a deep breath, he nodded, his voice falling to a whisper.
    â€œOf course, he was on our watch list. He was an inciter, no question about that, but he was not in our surveillance orbit. He had clearance for Presidential press conferences and was frequently in attendance. As for his so-called disguise, we’re as baffled as you are, although it does raise red flags. Let’s just say that various theories are being bandied about. As for his columns, we have the First Amendment to contend with. We step too far over the line, we could fall over the edge of a cliff.”
    He had ordered a martini, which he imbibed in tiny sips. She was nursing a beer.
    In studying his face, she could still see vestiges of the handsome young boy on whom she had once had a crush. They had engaged in what was called in those days, “everything but.” Then in a fit of adolescent passion, they jumped over that line, and the magic ended in painful clumsiness. Nevertheless, a generous affection remained between them.
    â€œOkay then, but surely you can lay out a guess? I’ve got to admit that so far, we don’t have much. We’re looking at murder, but so far it’s leading nowhere.”
    Phil took a deeper sip on his martini.”
    â€œI’d say he was meeting someone who didn’t want anyone to know who he was meeting.”
    â€œThe obvious,” Fiona sighed.
    â€œSometimes the most obvious is… the most obvious.”
    â€œThat’s an opinion, Phil. Is there anything more? Is your shop fishing around?”
    Phil’s mouth moved into a joyless smile, which she took as confirmation, but did not pursue the query.
    â€œOkay then. If you come across such a possibility, will you pass it along?”
    He grew thoughtful and upended his martini. It was, she