第39部分(第1/9 頁)

questions；　Anne　answered　them。　It　was　much　as　she　had　been　told　to

expect；　straightforward　questions　so　innocuous　that　she　was　actually

feeling　a　sense　of　security。

Then　the　door　opened　quietly　and　Simmons'　client　slipped　into　the　room。

The　lawyer　said；　〃For　the　record；　this　is　the　President　of　SEAA；

Mitchell　D。　Anderson；　Jr。〃

The　only　thing　Anne　could　even　begin　to　appreciate　was　that　all　eyes　in

the　room　were　momentarily　somewhere　else。　She　felt　her　color　drain　and

her　stomach　twist；　felt　a　shaking；　then　shock；　pure　shock。

It　was　Mitch。　Wearing　an　immaculately　tailored　blue　suit。　Groomed

impeccably。　Tall；　well…built；　and　handsome。　Hair　neatly　brushed；　jaw

firm　and　confident；　eyes　looking　everywhere　but　at　her。

It　was　Mitch。　Head　of　the　airline　that　she　was　suing。　What　had　he　said；

that　he　had　〃other　interests〃　beside　real　estate？　When　she　had　prodded；

he　evaded　her。　Then　he　had　known　all　along？　Had　he　planned　the　whole

thing？　How　naive　she　had　been！

She　fought　a　rising　nausea　when　he　crossed　the　room　and　took　a　seat

beside　his　lawyer；　who　proceeded　to　introduce　him　to　the　others　in　the

room。　When　her　name　was　given；　he　nodded　politely；　for　all　indications　a

total　stranger　meeting　her　for　the　first　time。

The　situation　was　so　unreal；　so　horrific；　that　she　actually　distanced

herself　and　found　the　strength　to　go　on。　Her　voice　was