Looking over at Nathan, who had turned his attention to prying the bowl of pasta shells from his brother’s grip, Scott noticed that it was already half empty. “Hey, hey, there, lieutenant,” he shouted as if he were on a parade ground. “There are other people waiting to eat here. Let’s not forget that this isn’t a mess hall.”

Nathan looked up at Scott, and then Jan. “But Dad, sir,” he replied jokingly. “Andy and I are doing you and Mom a favor. After all, it’s a well established fact that as people grow older, their metabolism slows down. Since you’re unable to burn off one hundred and thirty fewer calories per day with each passing year, you both face the danger of an increase in girth if caloric intake is not diminished appropriately.”

Jan laid her hand on Scott’s arm. “Scott, dear. I think we’ve just been counseled.”

“Counseled,” Scott snapped as he looked at Nathan. “I’ll counsel you later, boy.” Then, with a grin, he added, “but not until after you pass me that bowl of pasta.”

Nathan sat up straight in his chair and pulled his chin in until there were wrinkles of skin showing before he pushed the pasta shells across the table to Scott. “Yes, sir, General, sir. Right away, sir.”

With a nod, Scott smiled. “Ah, now that’s more like it, lieutenant.” Turning to Jan, he flashed the boyish smile that Jan had fallen in love with so many years before. “Now, dear, you were saying.”

“Well,” Jan started, but not before giving Nathan a wink, “as I was trying to say, since my interview with Governor Thomas, everyone in Washington is running around like headless chickens.”

“Oh, great,” Nathan moaned. “From nasty, disgusting insects to freshly decapitated poultry. Gee, I can’t wait to hear what our discussion over dessert is going to be.”

“You hush,” Jan snarled as she gave her stepson a gentle tap on the arm, “or there’ll be no dessert for you.” Then she turned her attention back to Scott, who was more interested in scraping a little extra sauce from the bowl than in what his wife was saying. “As I was saying,” Jan continued, “everyone connected with the investigation of GO Thomas and the administration is busy seeking cover.”

Looking up from his plate, Nathan smiled. “Everyone, that is, except you, Mom. I’ve seen your face on the news every half hour, on the half hour.”

This caused Jan to smile. Yes, she thought to herself, this one story had managed to catapult her back into the national spotlight for the moment. It had, in the twinkling of an eye, brought her an offer from her old boss at World News Network back in Washington, D.C., to go up to Boise and head the team they were sending out into what he referred to as fly over country.