This last statement sent a chill down Jan’s back. She knew what that meant. In the First Persian Gulf War Scott had been pulled from a nice safe assignment to serve on Poulengy’s personal staff in the forward area. When there had been trouble in the Balkans and Poulengy had been sent there to sort things out, he had asked Scott to join him. A visit by “Bernie” at a time like this meant only one thing. Scott was going to be involved in the President’s next move.

When Jan didn’t comment on his last bit of information, Scott decided it was time to end this call that would be, in the eyes of the Army Security Agency, highly suspect. “Well, I have a very busy night ahead of me and a bitch of a morning to look forward to. I have no doubt your day tomorrow will be just as rough.”

Jan swallowed hard. “Yes, I expect it will be,” she replied as she thought about the political fallout that would rock Boise once it was discovered that the paratroopers had been extracted. The Biblical retribution that an emerging radical element was demanding would be denied them and they would not be pleased.

But that was tomorrow. For now she turned her attention back to the only man she had ever really loved. “Scott?” she whispered softly, “I love you.”

The softness of her voice and the sweetness of her sentiment brought a pang of regret to Scott. “I know,” he whispered. “Take care, hon.”

As she waited for her host to show himself, she found herself amazed at how quiet things were at the governor’s mansion. The hushed, homey foyer of GO’s personal residence stood in stark contrast to the chaos and pandemonium that was engulfing Boise. Had this been the home of anyone else Jan would have relaxed and surrendered to the mood her surroundings were designed to encourage. She was so lost in her own thoughts and concerns that it took several minutes before she realized that there was no one else about. After letting her in, the housekeeper had disappeared. “Well,” she told herself nervously as she fiddled with the gold chain about her neck, “here’s the lamb. Now where’s the big bad wolf?”

When he appeared, GO Thomas startled Jan. He didn’t enter the foyer through the oversize arch that opened into a formal living room. Nor did he descend the wide staircase that emptied out into the center of the foyer. Instead a door Jan had thought was a closet opened. Like a game show host making his entrance, GO came popping through the doorway. “I was told you were here,” he stated crisply. “Sorry for making you wait.”