“It’s been rumored on the Hill for a while that he’s in line for an appointment to a cabinet-level position, something the new administration has in mind,” Benton says. “I think Carrie is reminding us she can slay any dragon she likes and rob us of what we care about most. She can destroy our dreams. She can rob us of our family, and Briggs was exactly that, especially to you.”

“I don’t know if she’s reminding us of that or anything.” I take a deep breath as I feel angry and sad at the same time. “And rumors don’t always have anything to do with fact. We should be careful what we infer and believe when there’s so little we know,” I add as the windowless bay door begins to retract.

The illuminated parking lot fills the opening as the massive rolling door lifts with metallic clanks, and headlights burn as the white van glides inside. Then the door begins to shudder down again loudly as Harold and Rusty climb out the front seat, walking around to the back, opening the tailgate, all of it amplified in here.

“I’ll call you on a fuel stop.” Benton hugs me, and the hard shape of the pistol on his hip reminds me that we never really know when we’ll see each other again.

We don’t live normal lives or have a normal relationship, and I’m not sure what it is to feel safe anymore. For a moment he holds me close, his nose and mouth buried in my hair as more headlights glare in the parking lot beyond. I swallow hard. This feels terrible.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d have Janet, Desi and Dorothy move into our place until I’m back. I know I’ve mentioned it but I mean it, Kay. Everybody’s safer together,” Benton faces me, his eyes unyielding. “I’ve already talked to Janet about it in case you decided to stay home, and I was pretty sure you would. Page can help as needed with the dogs,” he adds as I catch Luke Zenner out of the corner of my eye.

My blond Austrian assistant chief walks up to us, and I suspect he was sleeping when Anne summoned him. Possibly sleeping with her, it also occurs to me, as Luke is impossibly attractive and quite the ladies’ man. I can see the wrinkles from his pillowcase imprinted on the right side of his face. He hasn’t shaved, and it couldn’t have taken long to throw on a Patriots T-shirt, baggy Bermuda shorts, and a pair of moccasins.