"I can see that. The news media was dominated by women and on the political side was heavy with them."

"In some ways," Conrad said, "women are worse than men in those situations. Given power with no accountability. And because at least in the media side looks were important there were a lot of attractive women. And when you put one in the dock and bring the charges and you know that most will die or spend a long time in prison some people hesitate."

"Good looking women are a dime a dozen," said Henry. "And I've found few where the character matched the looks."

"Same here. And when you do find one you do your best to keep her around. But some of the most evil people I've ever met were beautiful women. And some could fake the personality pretty well."

"Yeah, for a while."

"The mask will crack eventually," Conrad agreed. "Marlene Knox?"

"She fooled a lot of us," Henry replied. "She was slick and had a lot of practice."

And was a seriously good-looking woman.

"You didn't hesitate to shoot her."

"Not that I had time to consider anything other than that she had shot one of my best friends but she was a nasty snake from way back and had been responsible for a lot more deaths."

"A snap shot at thirty feet or so through the spine. Impressive. If she had lived to be tried would you have wanted her executed?"

A mischievous grin had accompanied the remark. Maybe Templars weren't completely humorless.

"Probably."

"Would you have pulled the trigger, pushed the button, whatever in a judicial execution?"

Where is he going with this? Would he do it?

"I don't know."

"Gordon said you were brutally honest," said Conrad. "Please pardon my manners - would you like a drink?"

"Don't mind if I do."

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Elevenish I suppose," Henry replied without bothering to look as his watch.

Eleven-sixteeen, close enough," Conrad said. "Let's take a break. This way."

There was a door at each end of the room and he followed Conrad to one.

The small room had a table and eight chairs, suitable for a small meetings. A couple of computers and four screens mounted on the walls. And a wet bar at one end.

I could get on with these Templars if they don't do any of the weird stuff.

Templar Dawn (2024)