Page 51 of A More Perfect Union

Rook groanedinwardly. She’d been in Ohio for three hours and she couldn’t wait to leave.Since the senator’s driver had picked her up from the airport, she’d beenanswering the same questions about his future with a lot of “I don’t knows” and“it depends.” After their car slowly nudged through the crowd of reportersblocking his street and delivered them safely to the house, Newman switched toasking her to represent him before the grand jury, and she was growing weary ofrepeating the same answer, over and over.

She injected hervoice with all the patience she could muster. “You need a lawyer thatspecializes in this kind of case. That’s not me, but I’ll help you findsomeone. Whoever it is needs to be local, not some big DC firm. This caseinvolves someone who died here in Columbus, so the outcome will be more aboutrelationships with local officials than about how much they bill per hour. Infact, the bigger the show you put on, the more likely walls will start closingin around you. Having me here is pushing it. The Franklin County prosecutingattorney isn’t going to be impressed when a bunch of lawyers show up in suitsthat cost more than he makes in several months.”

“If you say so.”

“You have to trust meon this,” Rook said. “Have you talked to Jeanine?”

“I would if youhadn’t sent her to New York.”

She ignored the edgein his voice, thankful he was following her instructions by not talking aboutthe case on the phone to anyone but her. “Lacy has already booked her flightback. She’ll board a plane right after her speech at the conference and she’llbe here later tonight.”

This was the perfecttime to bring up her planned departure. Harry was up to speed on everything heneeded to know to shepherd Newman through the next couple of days. She’dalready come up with a list of local attorneys and scheduled meetings for thenext day. She only had to convince Newman he would be in capable hands with hergone.

Her phone buzzed witha text and she took it as a perfect opportunity to slip out of the room and letHarry take point. “I’ll be right back,” she said, not waiting for a replybefore walking out of the senator’s study.

The text was fromZoey and it was short and simple.Sorry about last night. Developments here.Signal sucks in the building—Call me on the landline and I’ll fill you in.A few seconds passed and another text came in.Miss you too.She glancedback at the study door, but decided to wait to call Zoey until she was on herway to the airport where she’d have some privacy. She started to tuck her phoneback in her pocket, but it rang. A quick look at the screen showed only thewords unknown caller.

“Where are you?”Julia barked.

“Don’t you peoplewatch the news? OnWest Wing, there’s like a million television setscrowded into your offices and everyone’s always staring at them.”

“In case you haven’tnoticed, this is not a TV show, it’s a real White House and I need a realupdate. I heard you’re in Ohio, but I find it hard to believe you would traipseacross the country while you have an active case pending here. Any updates forme?”

Rook resistedpointing out that Ohio was hardly across the country. No need to make Juliamadder than she already was. Instead she settled on a half-truth. “There’s beena development, but we should talk in person.” She looked at her watch. Even ifshe left now and met with Zoey as soon as she landed, it would still be late.“I’m flying back tonight. Let’s meet in the morning. Okay?”

“Seven thirty a.m.Just you—I want to get a full update without anyone from the Pentagon lookingover our shoulders trying to distract us.”

Rook clicked off theline and stared at the phone, rereading the text from Zoey, trying hard not tobe distracted and failing miserably. A second later, her phone rang again, butthis time it was Eric. “Grand Central Station,” she answered.

“Rook?”

She laughed. “Sorry,it’s me. It’s been a little crazy here.”

“Got it. When are youcoming back?”

“Tonight. I’m meetingMajor Granger—apparently there have been some developments. You have news forme?”

“Yes. I was able tocrack the code. Our guy was heavily involved with the agency, but he was reportingto someone else. I’m convinced there was more to the agency’s businessenterprise than providing entertainment.”

Rook appreciatedEric’s attempt to be vague because they were talking on an unsecured line, butwhat she really wanted were straight answers, and she needed to get out of Ohioand back to DC if she was going to get any.“Have Blake drop the laptop off atmy place and I’ll review the files.”

Twenty minutes later,she was in the car on the way to the airport for her private flight back to DC.She risked a quick call to Zoey on the ride.

“Granger.”

“You sound tired,”Rook said. “Have they got you working around the clock?”

“Pretty much. I’mglad you called.”

“Me too.” Rooksettled into the familiar rhythm of their conversation. “I’m sorry about lastnight too. I’m used to handling things my way without much input from anyoneelse.”

“I’ll take fiftypercent of the blame. I know you were just doing your job, which is important,even if you are a civilian.”

Rook heard the smilebehind Zoey’s pseudo-jab and laughed. “Duly noted. So are we okay?”

“Yes. Now, are yougoing to come back and work with me? I had to drag in other resources to helpin your absence.”

Rook’s senses went onalert. “Other resources?”

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