.. insane! That there have been Confederate spies lurking here on Prodosia, in Tanith’s Gully and I didn’t hear a whisper about it?!? I can’t be...ieve that I could have been so dense! That this shit was happening right under my nose the whole time!!” he ranted.“This is the Confederacy we’re talking about, Daved. They may be arrogant, xenophobic bullies, but the one thing they take seriously is their subterfuge and spycraft. Even for all the power that groups like the Federation and the UCW have,. According to Echo Three, even as the president’s protective detail hustled the president and his family into the sanctuary, the EMTs were treating Raptor and Echo One while the backup detail cleared the steps. Echo Three told her the second team and MPD Detective Suzanne Fredericks had shot the second gunman dead, and the counter assault team had neutralized the first gunman across Wisconsin Avenue.Raptor didn’t really understand what made her move to protect Sunshine, only that she’d acted. "Why?"She stared at me. "Why?" Yeah. Months you been sayin' no. Now, here you wanna say yes? Why?" I just want to. Ain't that enough?"I thought about it. "No."She rolled her eyes. "I don't..." she stopped. "Never mind."I grabbed her before she could get up. "Wait, wait. I ain't say no. I just wanna know why before we do. I don't want you all upset after."Her expression softened. "See? That's why. You're so sweet. And you make me feel all -" she shivered "- ohh! And some of the girls were. He responded with a very smugand self-righteous ?that?s a good girl Mum? and then with a huge smile on hisface ?at your age I might even have to take your knickers down?. My mouth fell open at the cheek of him andI was speechless to think of a reply knowing my silence would look likecompliance. I couldn?t take the image out of my head of him standing behind megloating as he removed my knickers and thrashed me with the tawse. Why on earthwas I acting so meekly towards him and I had the stark.