“Not as a matter of judgment, mind you, but because it opens people up to the potential for blackmail. People with large debts, for instance, or gambling problems would be a good example of the type of person we would have to rescind a security clearance from, rendering them unable to fly. People who have family members with ties to organized crime would be another example. Also, the appearance of sexual deviation would make any of our astronauts vulnerable to such a blackmail.”

Joan and Vanessa had asked for too much, pushed too hard, believed too naïvely that they could have what they wanted.

Wasn’t that the story of so many of the gods up there among the stars? She’d been looking at them her whole life and had never really listened, never learned from their stories. They were always punished for their hubris.

“I want to be very clear about something: I have never felt it is my personal business to know what any of my astronauts do on their own time. My purview is only as it relates to what is of concern to the U.S. government and to the public interest.”

“Of course,” Joan said.

“I want to protect my team here. You did tell me once that you hold particularly special relationships with many of your fellow astronauts. I wonder if you would be willing to convey this to anyone within the corps who needs a reminder?”

“Yes, sir.”

“The loss of security clearances for any of our astronauts would be a devasting blow to the department and would reflect poorly on NASA as a whole,” he said. “And I am…well, Goodwin, I am hoping it never comes to that.”

“I understand, sir,” Joan said.

“Thank you,” Antonio said as he opened the door. “I would be very eager to recommend you for Mission Control, including any classified missions that lie ahead. I know you will ensure that you hold up to any such scrutiny.”

“Thank you, sir,” Joan said.

She picked Frances up from her first day back at school that afternoon, but could not remember anything else she did that day.

For two weeks, Joan pretended, with every cell in her brain, that she needed time to figure out a plan.

But she knew what she had to do.

Instead, she hid.

She dropped Frances off at school every morning and then scheduled as much time as she could flying. She took any meetings she could off campus. She made appointments to see two-bedroom apartments in Frances’s school district so that she and Frances could be moved in by the new year.

When the phone rang, she let Vanessa leave messages on her machine. And then she called Vanessa only when she knew she’d be out, and left messages on hers.