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“Relatively so,” I said, shaking four pills into ulp of icy water Once I finished sing, I added, “Tense, but sed our perimeter Causes a bit of internal strife, if you understand what I’”

“Unfortunately, I do” Mr Stahl shook his head “Whoever it was ood reason People died in that attack That makes it murder and that means they could be tried under Raskin-Watts Most folks don’t coht” I took another slower sip of water, waiting for the painkillers to kick in

Mr Stahl nodded, lips pressed into a thin line “I know Carl Boucher was a blowhard and an opinionated bastard, but he didn’t deserve to die like that None of those folks did Good or bad, people deserve better deaths than that” He pushed away froo man in half an hour, and she likes it when her news crews are proht?”

“Do ot my e-mail address”

“I’ll keep in touch,” he assuredoff into the crowd It sed hithe atmosphere of the room In some ways, it was like a cross between a carnival and a frat party, with people of all ages, stripes, and creeds bent on having as much fun as they could before it was ti fro directed voters of the various districts where they should go if they wanted to place their votes in the old, physical way, rather than doing them from home via real-ti the signs, I guessed thethe convention center The paper-voting booths areelse, maintained because the law insists that anyone ishes to do so be able to place their ballot via physical, nonelectronic et exact results on any election until the paper ballots have been tabulated, even when ninety-five percent of the votes have been already placed electronically

The tobacco co power of half-clothed fe littletheir way in and out of the crowd, offering buttons and banners with political slogans to the passersby More than half the sas finding its way into nearby trash cans or onto the floor Most of the buttons that stayed on, I noted, were either pro Senator Ry up to be Ryman had been able to ride her one-trick pony pretty far, but the buzz was pretty uniforet her much further You can take the “ pn star” platforet you to the White House Signs indicated it would either be Ryman or Tate for the Republican nomination

The results of the day would probably solidify one of the but a fors up at least a little, but there hadn’t been any real breakouts on the ca the Republican voters—and even some of the Democrats and Independents—it was either Ry while we’re here,” or Tate’s hellfire and da the attention, and hence the potential support, of just about everyone

Tapping my watch to activate the memo function, I raised my wrist andan interview out of Tate’s camp sometime after the primary closes, whatever the results” Technically, Shaun, Buffy, and I count as “rival journalists,” given that we’re n At the sarity, and that means we can—at least supposedly—be trusted to provide a fair and unbiased report on any subject we address, unless it’s in a clearly flagged editorial Getting close enough to Tate to see how theobjections to his political standpoints Or it ive me a renewed reason to rally for Ryood news

My water was nearly gone, and I hadn’t coe free beverages from the local newspapermen, no matter how much of an improvement that was over life at the convoy I tapped my ear cuff “Call Buffy”

There was a pause as the connection was lorious service may this unworthy one perform for her majesty on this hallowed afternoon?”

I sa aa little cozy there, don’t you think?”

Buffy’s reply was a prim, “You don’t ask about my business, and I won’t ask about yours Besides, I’ to edit, and all my material for the week has already been uploaded to the time-release server”

“Fine with me,” I said Contrary tothe headache fro throb at the back of et me a current location on the senator? I’m over at the convention center, and the place is a madhouse If I try to find hiain”

“I’d be able to track a government official because ?”