“I learned that golf hats offer limited protection.”
“So it was a disguise?”
“It was an error in judgment.”
The audience laughed.
“You were photographed with someone who has since become the most famous dive instructor in America.”
I did not laugh.
Nina noticed.
Her expression softened.
“I’m not going to ask you to identify her.”
“You just did.”
A small sound moved through the audience.
Nina inclined her head.
“Fair.”
The interview could still move on.
I could give Sophie her five words.
Nina looked at her cards.
“There has been considerable speculation about the nature of that relationship. Is there anything you want to correct?”
“My private life is private.”
Five words.
Somewhere backstage, Sophie briefly experienced peace.
Nina nodded.
“That is completely fair.”
The audience applauded.
It could have ended there.
Then Nina glanced down again.
“What about reports describing the woman as a local friend who happened to be showing you around?”
The sentence sounded harmless.
Richard’s preferred answer was hiding inside it.
“I wouldn’t describe her that way,” I said.
Nina’s attention sharpened.
