Tarrington walked over to the tea set and poured himself a cup.

"I don't recall inviting you for tea," Shane said, making no attempt to keep the hostility out of his voice. He knew his anger was mostly cover for his embarrassment at being unable to do anything.

"I'm surprised at you," Tarrington replied. "Even in the most trying times, there is no point in letting go of basic civility." He took a sip of his tea and turned around to face Shane. "I do realize that I have not had the opportunity to check on your condition. It is good to see you on your feet."

Shane struggled not to roll his eyes and probably failed. "Your concern is duly noted. Don't expect anything more."

"Shane. . . ." Tarrington sounded like he was talking to a petulant child. "There is no need for this hostility. I was just trying to tell you I am glad you are recovering. I have never wished you physical harm."

Completely bewildered, Shane shook his head. "So I'm supposed to be grateful that you haven't wanted me killed? You're bloody off your rocker, Tarrington. You expect me to be polite. You just invaded my house and threatened my children, and that's after you set me up in Egypt and plan on sending me to prison. And now you want me to be a good host. If you want the royal treatment, go try the Salem Inn."

"I expected more from you, but then I presume you're a bit unhappy after Mr. Johnson's recent trip to Georgia," Tarrington said. "Don't look so surprised."

"You've been following Steve?"

Tarrington chuckled. "Actually, we were, but we lost him in South Carolina. It just happened that we had an informant keeping an eye on Sergeant Deakins. Mr. Johnson walked right into it."

"Leave Steve alone," Shane growled.

"How can I do that, old chap? If he keeps trying to involve himself in this matter, I can't ignore it." Tarrington took another sip from his tea. "Just like you involving yourself with this imposter."

Shane made a point to roll his eyes this time. "I told you he's not here."

"That seems to be the case," said a voice from the door. Shane looked past Tarrington to see an agent at the library entrance. "We've searched the entire house. It's just Donovan and the kids."

"What about the butler?" Tarrington asked.

Shane spoke up quickly. "He's running errands."

That elicited a laugh from Tarrington. "How convenient. But I should hardly be surprised. You always were a very quick thinker. And Simmons is quite the faithful servant." He turned to the agent. "Put out an APB on former Captain Donovan's car and for his butler. Then question Miss Donovan about how long it's been since the butler left."

"Leave Eve out of this," Shane snapped. "She's not part of this."

"You know I can't do that. If she was here when the imposter came, she is a witness." Tarrington nodded at the agent, who disappeared from view. For a few minutes, he said nothing, sipped at his tea, and studied Shane. "You can't help the man. Oh, I know you'll probably try; that's always been your weakness. You've never been able to give up on people. But we are going to find the imposter and bring him in. You should just accept that, but you have shown yourself to be quite bull-headed these past few months."

Shane wished he was stronger, so he could smack the smug expression from Tarrington's face. "I'm bull-headed because I won't let you send me to jail without a fight?"

"Because you won't accept that you have no way to fight," Tarrington said evenly. "The offer is still there, Shane. You know it's as good as you're going to do, so why do you persist in sending Johnson on these wild goose chases?" He paused. "But perhaps we will just have to deal with Johnson on our own." The threat was implicit, but clear.

A rush of adrenaline brought Shane to his feet. Gripping the arm of the couch with one hand, he pointed at Tarrington with the other. "Now you hear me. Leave Steve alone. He's not acting on my orders; I've told him to let the soldiers be."

"Obviously not hard enough," Tarrington replied. "But Johnson is easy enough to remove from the picture."

Shane could tell that Tarrington was not just blowing smoke. "Look . . . I already told Steve that I'm not calling the soldiers to testify. Whatever he does or says to them . . . it won't change a bloody thing."

Tarrington raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"I swear," Shane said. "Even if the mission was all a set-up, I'm not going to put any of the ODA members on the stand to say it. I know what would happen to them."

"Perhaps. . . ." Tarrington pursed his lips and looked like he was thinking hard.

"I'm telling you, Tarrington. Let Steve do what he wants. All he'll find out is what we already know, and nobody he talks to is ever going to testify. So just leave him alone. He's been through enough."

Tarrington finally nodded. "Very well. Johnson can continue his little game. However, as long as he insists on pursuing the ODA, I will have to keep him under surveillance. Otherwise, the military will lodge a complaint about its members being harassed."

Shane doubted that Deakins had complained. "I thought you promised Steve to back off." Shane grinned as he remembered Steve's story about trapping the ISA agents.

"We gave him a few days reprieve," Tarrington said.

"How magnanimous of you." Shane did not hide his sarcasm.

They were interrupted by the return of the ISA agent. Tarrington turned to face the man. "Did Miss Donovan cooperate."

"Yes," the agent said.

Shane's eyes narrowed in anger. "If you did anything to her, I'll-"

"We didn't do anything to that little hellcat," the agent said. "She told us the butler left more than an hour ago. That was after engaged in a lengthy commentary about my parentage."

Good for Eve, Shane thought. An hour would have been well-before Roman showed up at the house. "See, Tarrington, I told you you're completely off the mark."

Tarrington's smug facade seemed to falter and he looked momentarily perturbed. "Or she's just doing what she's been ordered."

Shane had to laugh at the thought of Eve ever taking orders. "I think you know my daughter well enough to know she has a mind of her own. Kind of like Steve Johnson."

Tarrington turned back to Shane. "I thought that issue was resolved."

"If you leave Steve alone, it is," Shane said.

"I said we won't remove him. We will continue to monitor his actions." Tarrington raised the teacup to his lips once more, drank, and then placed the cup and saucer on the platter. "However, if he steps out of line, we may have to reconsider matters. You must understand that. So perhaps, as you seem to be so concerned about everyone else . . . perhaps you should give Mr. Johnson a warning-"

"A warning about what?"

Shane jerked his head way from Tarrington at the sound of Steve's voice. He was standing in the doorway and glaring at Tarrington.

"Steve," Shane said. "Why don't you come in? We were just discussing you."