“All of a sudden?” she countered. “You’re asking a lot of questions you never bothered to ask before.”

“Maybe I just thought of them. Ever hear of passing the time?”

“Ben, I know you, and since Reeve asked me some very similar questions yesterday, I have to figure there’s a purpose to them. What do my people have to do with the investigation?”

He stretched out his legs, insolently resting them on the seat back in front of him. “Hard for me to say, since I’m not investigating. Eve, I don’t believe I’ve been introduced to the lady onstage in her slip.”

“Bennett, don’t play games with me. I thought we were friends.”

“You know we are.”

“Then level with me.”

He hesitated only a moment. Because he was her friend, because he respected her, he’d already made up his mind. “Eve, don’t you think we should consider all the possibilities?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“The second call was made from inside the complex.” He watched her eyes widen. “I didn’t think they had told you. I thought they should.”

“You mean here, from the theater?”

“They can’t pin it down that specifically. They just know it wasn’t made from outside the building. There were guards on every door, every entrance. There was no sign of any break-in. The bomb had to be planted by someone inside. Someone who belongs inside the complex.”

“And you’re narrowing in on my people.” Her protective instinct came first. “Damn it, Ben, there are three other theaters in this complex. How many other actors, technicians, maintenance people?”

“I know, I know.” He placed a hand over hers to cut her off. “The point is, it’s very likely the person was someone who wouldn’t be questioned for being in this theater, backstage, even in your office. Who’d question one of your own, Eve? It’s unlikely even you would.”

“And why would one of my people threaten your family?”

“I’m told Deboque pays very well.”

“I don’t believe it, Ben.” She turned back to stare at the stage. Her actors, her troupe. Her family. “If I did, I’d scrub this production right now and send everyone home. These people are actors, technicians, seamstresses, for heaven’s sake. They’re not assassins.”

“I’m not saying it has to be—I’m just saying it could be. I only want you to think about it, Eve.” His hand pressed down on hers. “And watch yourself. I love you.”

All the anger drained. “Ben, if I thought I’d been responsible for bringing someone here who would—”

“Wait, don’t even finish. Whatever the answer is, you aren’t responsible. Deboque is.”

Deboque. It was always Deboque. “I’ve never even seen him. I don’t know what he looks like, and he’s pushing into every part of my life. He has to be stopped.”