Page 41 (1/2)

He laughed ‘Because politicians are huold in theold there is corruption’

She shivered ‘I hate politics,’ she said vehemently ‘And politicians’

Steve picked up his glass of after-dinner brandy again ‘I’ll drink to that’ He tilted the glass towards her then drank the rest of the brandy

She frowned ‘You hate politicians, too? But thenwhy are you a political reporter?’

‘Because I don’t trust the bastards,’ he coolly said ‘Sooing to leave that job to people who didn’t hate them the way I do If politicians had their way all reporters would be wide-eyed little optiton and the people who run to it I like to keep the them’

‘Can you actually tell the truth on TV, though?’ she said shrewdly, and he laughed

‘Honey, you hit the button No, not often; but now and then I can slide the truth in sidehile ’

‘You’re a cynic,’ she said, not accusing hihtly She was no wide-eyed optimist, herself, but cynicism was the reaction of despair, of people who had no hope, no belief, no dreams Sophie couldn’t live that way She had to hope, to believe, to drealand, to look for a sister she had been told for years was dead?

‘Aren’t we all cynics? Reporters, I lossy surface – how can we fail to be cynics? In any case, as I told you, my father was involved in politics allnot to believe a word politicians said in public They’re as dishonest as sales the product The truth means fuck-all to them’

Sophie laughed abruptly at the cheerfully aggressive tone of his voice ‘I’ to love Arinned

‘Oh, yeah? Why, exactly?’

‘I like the way you say what you really think, out loud, and don’t care who’s listening! You aren’t afraid soetting beaten up’

‘Well, there are parts of America where that could happen,’ he drily said ‘But

it’s pretty safe to speak your mind in most states’

‘Even Washington?’