The door opened and Speers stood there in her nightgown that hit at midthigh. It was transparent enough with the backlight from the hall illumination to get his full attention. She had nothing on underneath. That big leather chair was one of Masons most subtle psychological weapons. The cushions Were deep and soft. Clients who sat in it were inclined to relax physically and, in so doing, get off their guard, or, in more urgent matters, they would come forward to the extreme edge of the chair as though fearing to let themselves go. Im sure he did, Cindy. Abby also got in early, as usual. She said,I can see by your frown that youve heard what Showalters up to. Fred entered with a tray of Greek pastries, rich with honey, and gave them forks. Boy, you sure dont make it easy for someone to like you. A tough cookie. Youre going to get Showalter no matter what. No, the Senator said, they cant. He puffed on his pipe again. “It seems strange to me that a labor union, which in the past has so publicly aligned itself with the Democratic party, should call a strike that could well lose the party a U.S. Senator, not to mention a Congressman or two, and conceivably, even the presidential election. That seems strange to me. Passing strange.” Why do you believe that? he said earnestly. Now, he said, I want to come to terms. Well, anyway, I know most of the yachtsmen. I sell them stuff bait, and lobsters, and sometimes an interesting bit of driftage, and abalone-shell soap dishes, and things of that sort. I guess I know as many yachtsmen as anyone on the coast, and they know me and like me. What did it was how they treated Katherine when she was sick. They let the public know about it because it was good press — the poor congresswoman and all that bullshit — but if it hadnt been for Nan and me, Katherine wouldve been alone most of the time. He took his hands apart, then raised his head. They just got worse and worse and worse over the years. With her, I mean. There’s no room for anybody but them. For Katherine’s sake I decided to take away the only thing that mattered to them.’ Exactly, Mason said. A witness who is as scrupulously careful of the truth as you are wouldnt want the jury to believe that you had actually packed a million telephone slips into an ordinary key box. He was not completely surprised when the route took them to Manhattan. The BMW finally stopped in front of a brownstone on the Upper East Side after sliding into a permit-only space. WASP walked up to the door, unlocked it, and went inside. Her Congressional seat. Anybody verify that? Do you know, of your own knowledge, when the food was ingested? No, Ive been in my room ever since I was released. Mason frowned.Thats what frightens me about you. You play a peculiar game all your own, and when you bet, you dont have any limit. Mason said,I have always wanted to go to South America. Tell me, is it beautiful?.