page19 (1/2)

“No, I knew her well We both caood friends,” he said, pacing a bit, huffing a little as he did it “I never told you because I didn’t want to compromise our relationship or to have you ask me for favors”

“I wouldn’t have”

“Other staffershis hand diset your head screwed on straight I don’t care about that affair While it was foolish, it’s not that big of a deal I er I watched your et Jackson ason it, and I’ll collaborate and help you It will come out, but don’t risk yourself I need you to keep yourself safe too”

“I feel like I can’t do anything right,” she ado, I had a career Now I have a pink slip and I’stock”

“So?” he pressed “You know the news cycle better than anyone In two days the presidential nominee will make an ass of hi that ht version out, so just take care of yourself, kid, and keep e- me That’s e need”

She considered him then frowned “You really did know my mom?”

“I did”

“I bet she never did anything as dumb as I did with Amir”

“She made her own mistakes Just stay alive, kid, and then we can all breathe easy”

“And nail that bastard?”

He grinned, an easy expression, but one so rare it shocked her “That goes without saying”

Three Months Later

“Javier, I pro out her notebook

She was already tenherself for that It had been hard enough to get Javier Alvarez to speak with her about what he knew of the cartels, but to be late to meet with a skittish source? That was foolish and unprofessional Granted, that seemed to be her tune ever since she’d been swept away by Sheikh Ao, but it was no less true Until today, she didn’t realize there was one odd probleh; it seemed that none of her best button-down shirts fit like they used to Thatas it was to aded on some ice cream as a form of therapy in all of this But still, she’d also had a lot of s lately where she’d been too nauseated to eat There were days when she’d barely been able to keep food down It seemed that theto the bathroom

Whatever the reason, none of her clothes had fit like she’d planned and she’d torn her closet apart finding so to look presentable down at the trendy El Salvadorian restaurant in DC The chef there had escaped from the corruption down south and one of his brothers was feeding him information on the senator He’d been one of her best anonyutted article, and now she was pressing hiain