Eclipse Bay

it.”
    Jed watched the three vanish back into the crowd. He turned to Rafe, his eyes gleaming with interest. “What do you think that was all about?”
    Rafe picked up a knife, dipped it into a bowl of what looked like cheese spread, and smeared some on a cracker. “How the heck should I know?”
    But he had a pretty good idea, he thought. Hannah was making her move. He couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
    “What’s wrong?” Jed asked.
    Rafe grimaced. “The cheese spread is bland. Could have done with some feta and walnuts.”

    At ten-thirty Hannah emerged from the rest room in time to see Trevor Thornley take the podium to make his big announcement. The lights dimmed over the crowd. Onstage, the politician stood in the center of a dramatic spot. His wife, Marilyn, stood a little behind and just to the right, glowing with wifely pride.
    Hannah had a hunch that Marilyn could take a lot of the credit for the fact that her husband was about to launch a campaign for the U.S. Senate. Marilyn had always been ambitious.
    Trevor Thornley raised his hands for silence.
    “I want to thank everyone here tonight, starting with the faculty of this outstanding think tank. The cutting-edge work done here at the institute in the areas of social and public policy has had a profound impact, not only on how the pundits discuss the issues, but, more importantly, on how politicians and voters think about the challenges that face our nation today.
    “The greatness of this country lies in its people. I have always…”
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Hannah?” Perry’s voice hissed out of the shadows behind her. His hand closed over her arm. His fingers tightened painfully. He spun her around to face him. “I just got through talking to Tom Lydd.”
    “Such a nice man. And so smart.” She smiled into Perry’s fuming eyes. “I like his wife, too, don’t you?”
    “Lydd just told me that he wouldn’t even consider endowing a research fund here at the institute unless Professor Brad McCallister of Chamberlain College received a joint appointment to the faculty.”
    Hannah widened her eyes. “That shouldn’t be a problem. I hear that Brad McCallister has already been nominated by the selection committee. He’ll make a terrific addition to your staff.”
    Perry’s face was suffused with an angry red color. “Damn it, you had no business interfering in the professional affairs of the institute.”
    “But I didn’t interfere.” Hannah smiled. “I merely told Tom that Brad was brilliant and that the selection committee should be applauded for choosing him.”
    “Lydd told me that he wants McCallister to run the department created by the endowment.” Perry started to sputter. “The whole damn department.”
    “An excellent idea. Brad is the very soul of integrity. With him in charge, Lydd and the institute will have the satisfaction of knowing that Lydd’s money is spent the way he wants it spent.”
    Perry’s face worked furiously. “Pamela McCallister is your friend, isn’t she? You knew that Brad was being considered for a joint appointment here.”
    “I also heard that you were trying to block it because you’re jealous of Brad’s professional abilities. You’re afraid he’ll outshine you once he gets on the institute staff, aren’t you?”
    “That’s got nothing to do with it.”
    “Good. In that case you shouldn’t have any problem with the selection committee’s choice.”
    “You planned this. You agreed to come here tonight because you knew the Lydds would be here.”
    “I believe it was you yourself who mentioned that they had been invited.”
    “That’s beside the point.” His voice rose. He grabbed her other arm. Rage flashed in his eyes. “You think you can pull a stunt like this with me just because you’re a Harte?”
    “Perry, you tried to use me and the Harte name tonight. I let you do it. In exchange, I used the opportunity you dropped into my lap. I’d say we’re even.”
    “You little bitch! You got a kick out of playing the tease eight years ago, and you’re still at it, aren’t you?”
    It occurred to her that Perry had not learned to curb his temper in the past eight years. It flared as quickly and intensely as it had in the old days.
    “Let me go,” she said coolly. “This scene is starting to remind me of another discussion we had once.”
    “If you’re talking about that night you staged the big drama in my car and then jumped out