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"What kind of note?"
Harry sighed again. It would have been so much simpler to discuss this with Hoyt.
"An unsavory one. Look, I wouldn't ask you to disturb Hoyt if it weren't important—"
"Was it about Miranda or about me?"
"It was about your daughter."
"Then I'm afraid I don't quite see why you're calling me."
Harry rubbed his hand over the top of his head. Eva Winthrop's tone was frigid, though polite. He knew she and the girl were estranged but he had a daughter, too, and he couldn't imagine not worrying about her, no matter what the situation between them.
"Not that I'm not concerned for my daughter's welfare," Eva said, as smoothly as if she'd read his mind, "but I'm certain you and Mr. O'Neil can look out for her. In the meantime, I should think the president's advisors would be pleased to hear from you."
"To hear what, Mrs. Winthrop?" Harry tried, but he couldn't keep an edge from his voice.
"Why, to hear that while this business is most unfortunate, it has nothing to do with Hoyt or with me, and that the White House can go ahead with Hoyt's appointment."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because, at this point, I don't know enough about these threats or what repercussions they might have."
"But you just said—"
"Why would someone send notes to you, if these threats were directed only at Miranda?"
"I have no idea, Mr. Thurston. You are in charge of this investigation, not I."
"Can you think of anyone who might wish to harm either you or your daughter? Perhaps you can think of an acquaintance of your daughter's who—"
"I do not know my daughter's acquaintances," Eva said coldly, "and I much prefer it that way but, considering what I know of the life she leads, I would not be surprised if an number of them are unsavory individuals."
"You may be right. We're checking."
"We?"
"Mr. O'Neil. He's still in Paris."
"And has he made any progress?" Eva switched the phone to her other ear. "Or has Miranda succeeding in making him let his hormones do his thinking for him?"
Harry gave an inward groan. He hadn't expected such a blunt question, especially since it was the same one, though not as politely phrased, he'd been asking himself ever since he'd talked with Conor.
"Mr. O'Neil is eminently qualified," he said. "If anyone can get to the bottom of this, he can."
"If?" Eva's voice turned even frostier. "Perhaps you've forgotten that my husban
d is a personal friend of the President's and that we have both made significant contributions to his campaign. We expect this mess to be dealt with, and quickly."
"It will be—with your help."
"What kind of help are you asking for, Mr. Thurston?"
"Thus far, O'Neil's been acting on his own authority. He has no official status as a representative of the American government and he's in a foreign country."
"Get to the point, please."
