Loaded Questions

From the author of W.I.L. One to Curtis, Death Wishes et al., we expect more meat than we get here, but Loraine's smooth professionalism works well nevertheless. Steve Lathan, ex-CIA man, still has nightmares about his failure to prevent the assassination of Israeli dove Isaac Erter. When two young British investigative journalists approach him with disquieting evidence that Erter might have been killed by ""friendlies,'' Lathan is drawn into a real nightmare, in Israel. But as the reader has known all along, Lathan and the reporters are being manipulated by ``Anthony Markham,'' a shadowy international mercenary. Hard evidence about CIA involvement in the assassination is found but the discovery of Markham's behind-the-scenes action muddies the journalists' story. After some near-violence, the story reaches a quirky, neat ending. Themes of trust and loyalty are handled in an almost sit-com fashion; Loraine has done better, weightier work. January 27