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on his last day in office.
    In other words, politics as usual.
    The fact that Lee was Carl’s safety pick gnaws at Jack. I find it politics as usual. Since he took office, Lee has proven to be an outstanding president, as well as a true supporter of Acme.
    “I’m not out of the woods yet,” Catherine insists. “Which is where you come in. As much as it annoys me to be at your mercy—both as it pertains to my son, and my life—you’re the only person I can trust with both.”
    “What the hell do you mean by that?”
    “I mean that I’ve got the last tidbit you need to put the Quorum to rest, once and for all. But I won’t let you have it unless Evan visits me on…on my birthday.” Her voice cracks.
    Is it the pain from her son’s abandonment? Or her desperation to say, or do, anything to see him again?
    Or maybe she’s testing my sympathy with her well-practiced bullshit. I have to admit, it wouldn’t be the first time. “You can’t play me, Catherine, so don’t even try.”
    “I’m dead serious. Even my telling you this is putting my life on the line!”
    “If that’s the case, why tell me at all?”
    “Trust me, I wish I didn’t have to, but you’re the only person who can get the message to the one person who can save me.”
    “If you mean Lee, don’t count on it. We no longer share any mutual interests.”
    Her laugh verges on hysterical. “Did I say it was our illustrious president?   Ha! If only I could be there, to see the look on his face when you tell him. But I plan on being long gone—with your help, of course. Trust me, Donna Stone, you’ll want to hear what I have to say because it’s about the Quorum. You see, the second part of this deal is that when I’m sprung, Acme comes through with a new identity for me. But I’ll only talk if Evan is with you. See you at noon on Friday.”
    “You’re crazy! There is no way in hell you’re walking out of prison earlier than promised, as if none of this ever happened.”
    “Oh no? You better figure out a way—before it’s too late for you and your family. Because once you hear what I have to say, no one is safe .”  
    Before I can say anything, I’m listening to a dial tone.
    If she thinks dangling intel that puts me in front of Lee is an enticement, she’s got another think coming.
    Like me, Catherine Martin is a mother, first and foremost. It’s why she begs to see him. It’s why she’s using such a desperate ploy.
    But if it’s something that Acme should know, Ryan will insist I go.
    What if I can’t convince Evan to come with me?
    Jack rolls over and places his arm around my waist, drawing me close.
    Despite how safe I feel in his arms, I have to leave them. SeedPlenish won’t appreciate it if I’m late for my first day at work.
    An even harder task at hand is convincing Evan to see his mother.
    It’s going to be a hell of a day.

    Since I’m already up, I feel I should take advantage of the time difference between our two coasts and check in with Lee.
    So that I don’t wake anyone, I dress quietly in the bathroom, then head downstairs and out the back door.   To assure I’m not overheard I climb into Mary’s treehouse—well, it used to be Mary’s, until she outgrew it. Then it became Jeff’s hangout. These days, it’s Trisha’s domain.  
    Lee picks up on the fifth ring. “I hope you didn’t get out of bed on my account.” The tone of his voice is much too playful for this early in the morning.
    And it’s certainly too playful for a president.
    As Lee should know by now, it’ll get him nowhere with me.  
    Here’s one way to drive that point home yet again. “I’m up because Catherine Martin woke me. She called with a request to see her son.”
    “I don’t envy that boy.”  
    I could say the same about his stepdaughter, Janie, regarding her mother, but I don’t think POTUS would take too kindly to my po-mouthin’ his missus. Instead, I say, “Evan’s not going to be happy to hear her idea.