I knew instantly. One of the douche uniformed Secret Service guys had run our altercation up the flagpole. “It probably has to do with me being armed on Pennsylvania Avenue on my undercover.”

“You should know better. They don’t want anybody with a weapon anywhere near their motorcade that isn’t cleared, and all you had to do was have your fucking badge around your neck to have avoided it. But what’s got them really steamed is the press coverage.”

That was bad news I hadn’t expected. “What press coverage?”

Somebody sent a cell phone video of it to the news guys, and it was on TV last night.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Neither did I. I reviewed it this morning, and since your face was in the dirt you’re not blown, but the video sure makes them look like idiots.”

“Sorry. I didn’t expect a problem.”

“Tell me, Cartwright, why are you the only one in the office I have to keep cleaning up after?”

I didn’t dare answer.

“Keep this up, and you’ll find yourself in the basement for the rest of your career. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

Kelly

Kirby was alreadyoutside my cube when I made it upstairs after Krause’s meeting. “Where’s Evelyn?” she asked.

“I’m not her keeper. I just got in.”

“Coffee run time.” She started off.

I followed.

“How that man can talk for twenty minutes every Monday and say absolutely nothing is some kind of weird.”

I nodded. “Privilege of rank. He gets to do what he wants.”

She punched in her coffee selection while I added hot water to my teabag.

Len the guard was in Kirby’s cubicle when we got back, and two other women from our office were with him. He pulled open one of Kirby’s drawers.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Kirby asked in a not-so-calm voice.

“Is this where you keep your purse?” Len asked her.

“Yes, and I’ll thank you to stay out of it.”

“My purse was taken too, for the second time,” Laurie from an aisle over said.

Zenia echoed her. “Mine too.

“Did you take it?” Kirby asked Len. “It was locked in there before the meeting.”

Len raised his hands. “No way. The lock’s been forced.”

I rushed to my cube. My purse drawer, which had been locked, now pulled open easily.

Fuck.It was empty. These locks were easy to break.