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"You’re the sanest person I’ve ever known If I ever doubt you about anything, I’ll stretch out on a shrink’s couch myself" She kissed hiainst his neck "It’s nearly three o’clock Sean will give us until seven o’clock Let’s use the tiot to sleep"

When he fell asleep, Samantha Barrister wasn’t with him

WASHINGTON, DC

SUNDAY

BENRAVEN FLIPPED the channel on his TV from national to local nehile he ate his bowl of Wheaties It was his , which explained, he supposed, a great deal Director Mueller’s face was everywhere on TV, as well as sound bites from the Attorney General, the President, even the Director of Hoet to, which was just about every politician inside the Beltway And they all had so heads led the charge, bla the FBI, the Supre the nation with enough security from terrorists Of course Director Mueller laid out why he didn’t believe terrorists were responsible, but no one liked that It had to be either a terrorist or a o, that was the theory everyone wanted to run with

Not even a day had passed since Justice Califano’s an on ould be on the President’s short list for appointment to the Supreme Court to take Justice Califano’s place

Ben put his cereal bowl in the sink and filled it ater He had thirty-five minutes to pick up Callie Markham, and then they were off to interview Justice Elizabeth Xavier-Foxx, one of two feh Court

When he pulled his Crown Vic in front of the Kettering house in Colfax, he saw Callie Markha rooood six feet away

"It stopped snowing Is it icy?"

"Nope, it isn’t bad at all I gather you’re ready to hit the road?"

"Oh yeah, but you said you wanted to speak to Mouards, federal an and Howie Bentley Gentlemen, Detective Ben Raven from Metro"

He shook hands with the federal marshals, asked if they’d seen any reporters, to which they said all had been quiet, thank God Screened condolence calls were coh for Mrs Califano, so many of them that her four women friends, who seemed to be here all the ti with thes sounded under control Ben wiped his boots off on the front step, and followed Callie into the warht and high ceilings He’d lived in condos all his adult life after graduating from the police academy, and he liked the space, the openness of the house

"Mrs Califano," he said, stepping into the living room

There were four woe, all wearing subdued colors, all of their attention on the ne who’d just hung up the phone When he spoke, they looked up at hiht"

She nodded "It’s difficult, Detective, but yes"

He nodded toward the phone on the end table beside her

"Another condolence call?"

"Yes, so many people, so kind You remember Anna Clifford?"

Ben nodded to the wo to be introduced, inclined graceful heads as Callie called out their names "Janette Weaverton, Bitsy St Pierre, and Juliette Trevor" Elegant names all, rich names, trust-fund money kind of names He’dprimarily in the bowels of DC, it wasn’t often he racious and attentive, and clearly concerned about Mrs Califano The team already had their addresses and phone numbers He wasn’t certain yet if he would be the one interviewing them and their faave hi room

Ben sat down beside Mrs Califano He looked for several moments at her beautiful profile, siht nose and high cheekbones He supposed he could understand Justice Wallace being attracted to her even though she was his ht of Wheaties and big laughter, not sex, for God’s sake