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Page 251
the city beyond the river and said in a louder tone, "So, here we are." The Capitol dome and the Washington Monument stood out against the sleeting dark of the December morning. Early Christmas decorations lent a forlorn touch of tattered gaiety to the landscape.
Anna sat for a moment, trying to figure how best to show Peters just how rude he had been. She decided that indiscretion was the better part of valor. "I do appreciate what you have done, Mr. Peters, but" Anna stopped. She had been about to say, "Stay out of my private affairs, please. I am convinced that you have used unacceptable means to save my life. Therefore I reserve the right to disapprove of what you have done, regardless of the fact that I am alive to disapprove because of it." Sincere or not, it would make her sound like an ungrammatical, ungrateful prig.
Ave's expression was quizzical. It gave him a curious (and totally spurious, Anna thought) innocence. "Are you still suggesting that less violent methods could have been used to save you? Even our prize turkey Ryerson doesn't believe that." His tone was just this side of contempt.
"I have no way to judge the methods, since I have had no prior experience of this sort of danger," she said, thinking, My God, I really do sound like a prig. How can I change the subject? "What happens now?"
"You have a complaint, lady, one that you wanted the brass to address. I suspect you're about to get your wish."
"I mean after that."
"I'm not sure, Mrs. Neville. How resolved are you to see this through to the end? You began it, after all."
"That's not fair," Anna protested hotly. "I didn't ask to be put in a hospital for six months, nor to be a witness to a murder, nor to have grenades thrown at me."
"Point taken," Ave said calmly. "But none the less, I suspect that your resolve may be put to the test. What are you going to say when it's proved to your satisfaction that the Russians are up to their asses in alligators?"

 
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