a source on the inside, one who knows a lot about them.”
“What has he told you?”
“I didn’t say it was a ‘he.’ But for purposes of conversation, we’ll assume the masculine pronoun.”
“Sure.”
“He hasn’t been with them for all that long, but they’re coming to trust him.”
“How did he establish contact?”
“He got a call from a guy named Sykes, then they met.”
“Is he participating in their, ah, adventures?”
“Not yet, but he believes he will be invited along soon. There was an incident with a cell phone, and that slowed things down, but he thinks they’re back on track now. Apparently, the incident at the White House—broken window, injured staffer—was something to do with the group. He said that Sykes apparently thought they had killed Holly Barker, and when he saw her on TV, shopping in New York, he was upset to find she was still alive.”
“I believe a decision was made to make it seem that she might have been sidelined.”
“Hence, the story about the injured staffer?”
“Off the record, maybe something to do with that.”
“Anyway, Sykes apparently believes that she’s going to be in New York running her transition team, pretty much until the inaugural festivities.”
“And he wants her in D.C., where she might be more accessible?”
“That’s it, sweetheart.”
“That’s what you have to tell me?”
“Let’s call it an introduction to my source.”
“What’s your source’s name?”
“Can’t tell you that.”
“I need enough information about him to allow us to check him out. He could be a member of the group and just playing you.”
She shook her head. “I did my own checking. He was a government employee before, so that made it easier.”
He also needed enough information to ascertain whether Elizabeth Potter was her source as well as his. “I’m sorry, Peg. That’s not how the Bureau works. If we’re going to bring on a CI—a confidential informant—we have to do an FBI background check, and that’s more thorough than you can imagine.”
“Well, Tommy, that’s not how it’s going to work with my source. He tells me, I tell you. If he turns out to be right, he’s good. If not, well, you can look elsewhere. But I’m telling you, I have a very good nose, and if he was lying to me, I’d sniff him out. I don’t need a platoon of FBI agents to do it for me.”
“You’re very cocky, aren’t you?”
“Let’s just say that I’m cock-oriented.” She stroked his crotch and got a response.
“Careful,” he said, “it bites.”
“So do I,” she said, pulling his zipper down and putting a hand inside to free him.
“Be gentle,” he said, lying back and letting her have her way with him.
“Oh, that’s right,” she said. “You’ll have to use it again tonight, won’t you?” She went to work on him and got excellent results.
39
Tom sat at his desk, still a little weak in the knees, and tried to think how he might contact Elizabeth. He decided to continue to be Dad, e-mailing: Hi, there, baby. It’s been too long since I’ve seen my girl. Let’s get together soonest. When are you free? Love, Dad.
He pressed the send button. There was no way of telling when she’d see the e-mail; he’d just have to be patient. At five, he left the office and drove home. Amanda’s car was in the garage, so he took a few deep breaths and put on his innocent face.
“Evening, sweetheart,” he said, as he walked in.
Amanda looked up, surprised. “You’re home early,” she said. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” She kissed him and pressed herself against him.
“A long and very boring report,” he said. “In fact, I think I need an hour’s nap.” He loosened his tie.
“Want some company?” she asked.
“Give me an hour, then I’m yours.”
She checked her watch. “All right, you’re on the clock. Shoo.”
He went upstairs and got undressed. As he hung his suit on a hanger he saw something he hadn’t seen before, and it scared him. The suit was a light tan, and there was lipstick on his fly.
He looked around for something that would dissolve lipstick. He went into the bathroom and found a bottle of rubbing alcohol and some tissues. He poured some on the Kleenex, replaced the bottle in the cabinet, then went back and applied it to his fly. To his vast relief it seemed to come off, but when he blew on it to dry it, it still left a visible stain, just not a red one. He hung the suit on the second rack, behind the first