“My lip is zipped, boss.” The weary agent turned to head across the pavilion that would lead him inside the Hoover Building. He couldn’t resist a parting comment. “Happy trails, boss.”

Bert offered up a single-digit salute as he tried to adjust to his precarious seat. Delilah waited a moment, then moved off. “C’mon, old girl, you can do better than two miles an hour, can’t you? You keep this up, we won’t get there till the spring thaw.” Delilah ignored him as she headed for the center of the road. “Shit!”

Bert yanked off his leather gloves and pulled out all three of his cell phones. The FBI phone was still vibrating like crazy. He ignored it as he punched in Kathryn’s number and waited. A short kitchy-koo conversation followed, with Kathryn ending the conversation with, “We’re ready and waiting!” Bert did his best to hunker into his heavy down jacket as the biting winds whipped at him. Delilah snorted happily, plumes of mist sailing upward from her nostrils.

The next call was to Jack Emery. He listened to Jack’s tirade and had only one comment. “You guys have been changing shitty diapers? Is that what you’re telling me? Damn, sorry I missed all that fun. What? Messy poo poo! That means a shitty diaper, right?” Bert grinned as he listened to Jack’s continuing report. He interrupted when he couldn’t take any more baby news. “I’ll get there whenever this damn horse decides to get me there. She has only one speed, and there’s no way to crank her into second gear.

“By the way, I just spoke to Kathryn. She said everything has been taken care of, and they’re ready and waiting for us to pick them up for the trip to the White House for that goddamn party no one had the good sense to cancel. I had a run-in a little while ago with Paterno, the head of the White House Secret Service detail, and I hung up on him. The guy is a real prick, so be warned.”

Bert listened again and replied, “I thought you knew Charles made it here. He even has the dogs with him. Old Home Week, Jack! Who’s there? Who are you talking to?”

“A truckful of people. I mean a truck,” replied Jack. “I think they’re the real adoptive parents and some nurses that couldn’t get here earlier. I gotta go, Bert. I’ll see you when you get here.”