doing at Building Q?” “It’ll go on. The company is under a government contract.”

“Anne Shepard described some of the stuff they’re doing there.

 

The liquid armor, the electrical stuff that makes soldiers think faster on the

battlefield. Some of it actually sounded good.” “Yeah, but just think if we

spent that money on early childhood education and nutrition.” “Right.” “And I

can guarantee that somewhere in the military-industrial complex people are

working on stuff that will mean one day a million Paul Rogerses will be running

around doing the fighting. And then it’s lights-out for the human race.” “That’s

why I like hanging with you, Bobby. You’re always so uplifting.” * * * When

Puller got back to his apartment, someone was waiting for him.

 

Veronica Knox said, “I heard about the fourth star. I think that’s great.”

“Well, the truth is he preferred hearing my mother’s voice to the fourth star.”

When she looked puzzled he quickly explained. “I think that’s the most romantic

thing I’ve ever heard.” He looked at her in surprise. “Romantic? I didn’t think

you thought about stuff like that, Knox.” “There’s obviously a lot you still

don’t know about me.” He let her in to the apartment and took a minute to let

his cat, AWOL, out. They sat at his small kitchen table.

 

Puller said, “They said Jericho killed herself. But Bobby got a look at the

postmortem report on her. Her spine was crushed. And there was something else.”

“What?” “A ring was found in her stomach.” “Really? A ring?” “It was inscribed

with a phrase, For the greater good. And it had the initials CJ. Claire

Jericho.” He looked at her. “Rogers wore a ring.” “That’s right, he did,” said