“Because,” Malone said flatly, “I know.”
“Really?” she said softly. “Do you really?”
Malone opened his mouth, shut it and then started again. “Strictly speaking,” he said carefully, “I don’t know. But we’re in the United States now, where a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.”
“And that,” Lou said, “is all you’re going on, I suppose.”
“Not all,” Malone said.
“I didn’t think so,” Lou said, still smiling.
“Don’t ask me how,” Malone said, “but we’re pretty sure you knew nothing about your father’s activities. Forget it.”
Lou looked suddenly slightly disappointed. Malone wondered why. Of course, there was one more reason, and maybe she’d thought of that. “It does make it easier,” he said, “that you happen to be a beautiful girl.”
She smiled again, and started to say something, but she never got the chance. The landing gear of the aircraft bumped gently against the runway, and the ship rolled slowly in to a stop.
A second passed. From the back of the plane a voice said: “Are we back in Washington, S—Mr. Malone?”