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"Detained by the police for what?" Aideen asked. "Frankly, no. That did not occur to me. We were simply protecting ourselves."

"Protecting ourselves?" Martha asked.

Aideen looked at her. "Yes."

"From whom?"

"What do you mean?" Aideen asked. "Those men-"

"Those Spanish men," Martha said, still bent close to Aideen. "It would have been our word against theirs. Two American women crying harassment to policemen who probably do their own share of harassing. The policía would have laughed at us."

Aideen shook her head. "I can't believe it would have gone that far."

"I see," Martha said. "You know that for sure. You can guarantee it wouldn't have."

"No, I can't," Aideen admitted. "But even so, at least the situation would have been-"

"What?" Martha asked. "Ended? What would you have done if we'd been arrested?"

Aideen looked out the window as the stores and hotels of Madrid's commercial center passed by. She'd recently partaken in one of Op-Center's computerized WaSP's-WAR Simulation Projects-a mandatory exercise for members of the diplomatic staff. It gave them a feeling for what their colleagues had to endure if diplomacy failed. Casualties greater than the mind could process. That exercise was easier than this one.

"If we'd been arrested," Aideen said, "I would have apologized. What else could I have done?"

"Not a thing," Martha said, "which is exactly my point-though it's a little late to be thinking about it."

"You know what?" said Aideen. "You're right. You're right!" She looked back at Martha. "It's too late. So what I'd like to do now is apologize to you and put this behind us."

"I'm sure you would," Martha replied, "but that's not my style. When I'm unhappy, I let it out."

And out and out, Aideen thought.

"And when I get real unhappy," Martha added, "I shut you out. I can't afford charity."

Aideen didn't agree with that policy of excommunication. You build a good team, you fight hard to keep it; a wise and effective manager understands that passion needs to be nurtured and channeled, not crushed. But this was a side of Martha she'd simply have to get used to. As Op-Center's Deputy Director, General Mike Rodgers, had put it when he hired her, Every job has politics. They just happen to be more pronounced in politics. He went on to point out that in every profession, people have agendas. Often, only dozens or hundreds of people are affected by those agendas. In politics, the ramifications from even tiny ripples are incalculable. And there was only one way to fight that.

Aideen had asked him how.

Rodgers's answer had been simple. With a better agenda.

Aideen was too annoyed to contemplate what Martha's agenda was right now. That was a popular topic of discussion at Op-Center. People were divided as to whether the Political and Economics Liaison worked hard doing what was best for the nation or for Martha Mackall. The truth, most felt, was that she was looking out for both.

Aideen looked around the bus. She could tell that some of the people gathered around her were also unhappy, though that had very little to do with what was going on between the young woman and Martha. The bus was packed with people returning to work after the afternoon lunch break-which lasted from one o'clock to four-as well as camera-carrying tourists. A number of them had seen what the young woman had done at the bus stop. Word had spread very rapidly. The riders nearest Aideen were pressing away from her. A few of them cast disapproving glances at the young woman's hands.

Martha remained silent as the brakes ground noisily. The large red bus stopped on Calle Fernanflor and the two women got off quickly. Dressed as tourists in jeans and windbreakers, and carrying backpacks and cameras, they stood on the curb of the crowded avenue. Behind them, the bus snarled away. Dark faces bobbed in the windows, looking down at the women.

Martha regarded her assistant. Despite the reprimand, Aideen's gray eyes still had a glint of steel beneath her