The President looked elegant, as usual. Silver-gray hair swept back stylishly, bright blue eyes sparkling. Her latest facelift had tightened the sagging flesh beneath her chin and made her seem ten years younger.

"What can I do for you, Mrs President?" Jill asked, genuinely curious about the reason for this call. It had to be nearly 7.00 a.m. in Washington, early for her.

"It's this request for extradition-"

"Oh. The Killifer business."

"Yes. I don't understand what you've got to do with it."

"I've been asked to intercede, in my official capacity as a justice of the World Court.' Jill said.

"Asked? By whom?"

"Joanna Brudnoy."

"I see.' The President's tone went decidedly frosty.

"The Justice Department has apparently refused to extradite the man to Kiribati."

"We have no treaty of extradition with that nation," the President said.

"That's why the World Court has been asked to intercede," said Jill.

"I see."

"Killifer was identified as the man who raped and murdered Tamara Bonai, yet the American government has refused to extradite him to Kiribati to stand trial. The victim was Kiribati's head of state, for God's sake."

"That's a very serious charge," said the President.

"There's an eye-witness."

"Douglas Stavenger, I know. But he's on the Moon and his so-called eye-witnessing was done through a virtual reality link. Any competent defense lawyer will make mincemeat of that."

"I'm not so sure," Jill said. In any event, I'd think you'd want the sonofabitch to be brought to justice."

The President did not flinch at Jill's deliberate profanity.

"Jill, this is all tied up with the Moonbase business."

"Which means it's all tied up with the New Morality people, right?"

"Those are my supporters, Jill."

"And they're protecting a murderer?"

The President's face was a smooth, blank faqade. She gave away nothing. "An alleged murderer," she said coolly.

"I may not be a lawyer," Jill countered, "but I do know a few points of law. You're protecting Killifer. Why?"

"Jill, I thought you were one of my supporters, too. I know you don't agree with everything the New Morality does, but you've always been on my side."

"Why are you protecting this man?"

There's much more here than you're aware of, Jill."

"Wait a minute," Jill said. "I've served time at Moonbase. I was there with Paul Stavenger when it was nothing but a bunch of tin cans stuck in the ground."

"You had an affair with Paul Stavenger," the President murmured.

"Name me one woman who served at Moonbase in those days who didn't," Jill rejoined happily. "He was one helluva guy before he married Joanna."

"Joanna," the President said, with obvious distaste.

"If I were still in the Senate instead of stuck here in the World Court, I'd be fighting you on this Moonbase business. You're making a bad mistake."

With the ghost of a smile, the President said, "That's the thanks I get for nominating you to the International Court of Justice?"

"Come off it, Luce."