Love in the Ashes

lable," the guard said,

s small, beat-up car

leave the ent

he General laughing with the blonde wom

gagements, but no time fo

e whispered, more to he

nt felt wea

tter who her

rld, she w

at a small cafe near the hos

londe

nized from the news-a city councilman known for his

her hand resting casuall

vely, was Victoria Davenport, a wealthy socialite involved in numerous chari

d walked over to her table, her

aren't you?" she said,

our poor brother

a performance for the o

terling's," she continued,

ty. He can't get involved in every little street crime. It wo

lication that Michael's life was a "lit

'little'," Eleanor said,

nd powerful people like your friend

chair scraping a

not inti

irectly in the eye, h

el Vance's daughter is not

t Eleanor shaking

ing, a clear message from the Ge

the oppos

ified he

t be managed

e and starte

otes, every receipt, every scrap

and wrote a clear, concise summary of hi

ing to find a way to get h

l channels

-fashioned tailor shop near the military base, a

r. Chen, remember

A brave man," he said, his

s, Eleanor gave him

ure this gets to Gener

ant. It's fo

her, his eyes kin

dded and too

l room, changing the water in a vase of cheap

n unknow

a familiar, de

ng. I received your pac

s heart

ad c

actuall

right and terrifying

s office, but at a quiet, discreet location-a cl

nding among the towering shelves of books,

uniform, more approachable, but

ffer any pl

usations, Miss Vance," he said, hi

tions," she replied

re the

r a long moment,

are powerful. They have influence.

a because of them," she said,

e more danger

was tense, a ve

her evidence, the reliabili

and logically, her passion temper

, pushing her to see if she woul

n't bac

one began to fade, replaced by

didn't be

the motions, trying to shu

she turned

ur time, General," she