“Well,” Jan commented dryly, “from saint to revolutionary in less than five minutes. Quite a record.”

Ann nodded in agreement. “Yes, particularly when you consider that he has done just about everything he admonishes others to do. He likes to describe himself as a force upon the plain. Not only is he hyperactive when it comes to implementing his ideals in the business community and in the politics of his home state, but also in the communities wherever he has a major business concern. It seems there isn’t anything that he isn’t involved in. The Coalition of Governors for States’ Rights and Constitutional Law is an excellent example of his efforts to translate his views and beliefs into action.”

“Does that include,” Jan asked, half seriously, “fomenting a revolution?”

“Well, that’s yet to be determined. But there is something you should be aware of,” Ann quickly added.

“What’s that?” Jan asked, her mind already working on the possibility of getting portions of her interview on national television.

“Just before he started his campaign for the governorship of Idaho, he made a concerted effort to expand his business holdings in two states in particular.”

Pausing, Jan looked at Ann, knowing that her assistant was leading up to something.

“Those states are Kansas, home of the Bob Dole Federal Building and …”

Jan lifted her hand to cut her off. “Let me guess. The second state is Wyoming.”

Ann’s smile was all Jan needed as confirmation.

To protect herself from being accused of misleading a guest she intended to pounce on by being friendly before one of her interviews, Jan made it a rule not to associate with guests beforehand. Even in the last few minutes before the cameras went on, as she sat opposite her guest on the small studio set, Jan busied herself giving directions to staff members waiting in the wings or pretending to study notes she kept on her lap but never used. GO Thomas, however, simply refused to be ignored.

“I would like to take this opportunity, Mrs. Dixon,” he stated in a deep, resonating voice, “to thank you for this chance to appear on your show.”

Jan looked up at Thomas, surprised at hearing him use Scott’s last name and not Fields. As befitting a professional woman Jan used her maiden name at work to demonstrate that she was still an independent entity. “Well,” she replied in a halfhearted effort to make light of the compliment, “it was either you or the monkeys from the zoo again.”

Thomas chuckled. “I hope it doesn’t turn out that you regret not using the monkeys.”

Though she was tempted to reply that she hoped he didn’t have the same regrets in a few minutes, Jan held her tongue.

“One minute, Ms. Fields,” the producer called out. Jan glanced up at a monitor and saw that a commercial was running over the air. Sitting up, she gave her shoulder length hair a quick toss before staring at the camera as she waited for the red light to flash on.