Page 29 of A More Perfect Union

Rook’s puzzledexpression remained. “I don’t think they’re going to let you parade a bunch ofcall girls in here. I mean the other officers who’ve been visiting Svetlana andher pals.”

Zoey’s head swam andshe desperately wished she was better at hiding her surprise. Rook wasn’tmaking fun. A girl named Svetlana was mentioned in the report she’dreviewed—probably not her real name—but she didn’t have a clue what Rook meantby “other officers.”

“You’re looking at melike you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

Zoey took a bite ofsalad that tasted closer to cardboard than the real thing. She stubbornlychewed to the end, preparing to square off. “Maybe you should take me at facevalue. What officers are you talking about?”

Now it was Rook’sturn to look surprised. “They sent you to the White House without being fullybriefed?”

That wasn’t thepoint, and Zoey was annoyed that Rook was trying to push the issue. “Will youjust tell me and spare the lecture?” She instantly regretted the outburst, butnot more than she wanted answers.

“Someone prowledaround in the,” Rook glanced around to see if anyone was listening, “workingwomen’s records and found they have other uniformed customers who aren’tstudents, and a good many of them work right here in this building. After wetalk to your graduate students, we need to start interviewing the higher-ups tosee how far this goes.”

Zoey sensed a stormbrewing. She’d rather be on the hot seat in front of the full Senate talkingabout Nine Tech and whistle-blowing on her pals than dealing with a sex scandalthat might cost a four-star general a White House post.

“You had no idea?”

Rook’s voice wasgentle, caring, but Zoey couldn’t help thinking it strange a civilian knew moreabout a scandal that was supposed to be dealt with internally than one of themilitary officers assigned to it, and the idea made her angry. She was beingirrational, because it wasn’t Rook’s fault, but she didn’t even try to rein inher anger. “No, I didn’t. Unlike you, I don’t spin things for a living, so ifyou get information from me, it’s going to be the truth and nothing but.Understood?”

Rook held up bothhands, palm side out. “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I promise not to be theone who shuts you out of the loop. Okay?”

Zoey spent a momentrolling Rook’s promise over in her head, but the syntax left her wondering ifsomeone was indeed trying to shut her out of the loop and why.

* * *

Rook looked at herwatch. She’d only been at the Pentagon for two hours and it already felt liketwelve. The three officers they’d interviewed so far had ostensibly acted likethey were happy to cooperate, but they all said the same thing. They didn’t knowanything about anyone else who’d used the services of Lorraine Darcy Inc. To aman, none of them had a specific recollection of how they’d found the name ofthe agency, but they were pretty sure they remembered seeing an ad online.

Of the men who’d beenat the party, the only one they hadn’t talked to yet was General Bloomfield’sson, Donny. She was saving him for last on purpose.

“Any more questions,Ms. Daniels?”

She looked up at Zoeyand saw only cold indifference reflected back. The lieutenant in the hot seatright now looked like he was about to piss his pants, and Rook doubted heactually had any new information to offer. Maybe when he left the room, shecould get Zoey to tell her why she was giving her the cold shoulder. Yes, Rookhad abandoned their one and only date, but she’d had an excellent reason.Besides, Zoey didn’t seem like the type to harbor a grudge. Maybe she was stillmad about being left out of the loop regarding the depth of the investigation,but Rook didn’t get why she was the one bearing the brunt of her anger.

Whatever it was,she’d have to wait until Dixon left to get to the bottom of it. He’d beenhovering all afternoon. He was trying to read her notes right now, and shehoped he got an eyeful from the doodles she’d sketched of a naked womanlounging by the beach—something she wished she were doing. Her reliable memorymeant she didn’t need to take notes, but she always pretended to since it gaveinterviewees the impression she’d never forget what she’d been told.

“No, Major,” Rooksaid. “I don’t have any more questions.” She waited to see what Zoey would doafter she’d dismissed the soldier. Now that they’d finished with the students,it was time to start down the list of higher-ranking officers Rook had givenher, a much stickier subject, especially since Zoey hadn’t been fully briefed.

“Major Dixon, pleasego check with Lieutenant Louden about the records I requested and see ifColonel Mitchell is available now for his interview.”

Dixon responded toZoey by pointing to the phone on the conference table. “The operator canconnect you,” he said, his tone barely hiding derision at her authority. Zoeydidn’t even look at the phone. “I’d rather you ask him in person,” she said,waving a hand toward the door. “Thanks.”

Dixon stood in placefor a moment, clearly taken aback by the dismissal, but well-trained enough notto disobey a direct order from a more senior officer. “I’ll be right back,” hemuttered as he left the conference room.

“That guy hates thatyou have seniority.”

“I guess that’s it.Maybe he just doesn’t like me.”

“As if. How long haveyou been stuck with him?” Rook asked.

“The entire time I’vebeen here, but it feels like forever.”

Rook contemplated thevague response and pressed for more. “How long have you been here, exactly?”

“I started thismorning.”

“Kind of a lot for afirst day. Sudden reassignment?”

“Excuse me?”

---