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cup.” He suddenly pushed his desk chair over to an antique tea cart complete with china coffeepot and saucers.
    Startled by yet another abrupt change in direction, I hesitated. Then the caffeine lobe of my brain began to throb. When didn’t I want coffee? “Uh, yeah, I could definitely use a cup. I purposely avoided the caffeine rush this morning.”
    Brewster turned an incredulous gaze my way. “Good God, you mean this is you without caffeine?”
    â€œSober as a judge. Scary, isn’t it? Black, please.” I pointed to the cup he was pouring.
    â€œWhy am I not surprised?” Brewster walked over and handed me the delicate china cup and saucer. “I shudder to think what you’re like wired.”
    â€œIt’s not pretty. Another reason not to hire me,” I said, trying not to slurp the dark nectar in one gulp. It slid down my throat with that delectable burn, smooth and harsh at the same time. Ahhhhh . Nerve cells were coming online.
    Brewster simply laughed as he poured coffee for himself. Clearly, my repeated refusals only heightened his interest. Just like a teenage boy in the back of his parent’s Buick. The more his girlfriend said “no,” the harder he tried. Men . Where do they learn this? In the cradle?
    â€œNow, where were we …” He set the coffee cup on the desk and grabbed a pen. “Cash flow. Let’s see what we can do.” Brewster proceeded to scribble all over my neat columns of figures. “As they say, there’re two ways to raise income. Either increase revenues or decrease expenses. What if we decrease your housing expenses to zero, Molly? Take a look and tell me what you think.” He slid the open folder across the desk.
    My curiosity aroused, I reached for the folder and examined what Brewster had done. He’d checked my budgetary requirements and neatly eliminated the housing expense. He’d also eliminated the commuting expenses. What was this guy smoking? Even if I moved into Nan and Bill’s house permanently, I’d still have to get into Washington every day. And this section of Georgetown was not on the Metro line. I’d have to drive. A rental car at first, until I could bring my car from Colorado.
    I gave the poor deluded boy an indulgent smile. “These are nice numbers, Peter, but they’re totally unrealistic. There’s no housing expense and no commuting expense. That’s ridiculous. I will not move into my cousin’s home permanently. I may not have much pride, but I have a shred or two left. I plan to rent an apartment, probably in Virginia, which means I’d be commuting.”
    Peter sipped his coffee. “What if free housing was available to you? Subject to your approval, of course. Would you be interested?”
    That got my attention. “I’m listening.”
    â€œThe real estate portfolio you’d be managing is mine. That’s why I need your expertise. And that’s how I can offer you more money. Your duties would be spread between the senator’s domestic accounts and my business accounts. I have properties in several states and some in the D.C. Metro area as well. One of them is vacant. It’s here in Georgetown. Only three blocks away, over on P Street. It’s a modest two-story brick townhouse. Small, but nice.”
    Nice? Nice ! A modest townhouse on P Street in Georgetown? It would have to be infested with rats not to be nice. And Brewster was offering it to me free when he must have scores of eager Washington wannabes clamoring to pay at least three thousand a month to live there. Now I knew he was on something.
    I managed not to laugh in his face, but I did smile. “Peter, you can’t be serious. You’re offering me free rent on prime Georgetown real estate? Washington has rotted your brain already, and you haven’t been here a year yet. You need to see a doctor.”
    The sly grin returned. “It’s my