“There’s something I didn’t tell you or Clarence. I got involved in all this because one of our in-house shrinks told me he thought he once treated this guy—I guess it’s Dawkins—for alcoholism. Had the same tattoo as the assassin. So there’s an Agency connection. When the shrink tried to put paper into the system reporting that, the memo was kicked back. He was then conveniently detailed overseas. To Africa. And I kind of met Dawkins. At that bar. I have to tell you, he did not come across as one of these fuck-’em-all white racist kooks. He seemed pissed at the guy who killed Hanover, not a brother-in-arms. And I just don’t think this guy Lopez is your typical Aryan. I mean, he runs a gay bar. There’s a fair amount of bullshit flying around.”

“That’s a news flash,” Addis said. “Did you see that memo?”

The security official knocked.

“We should be going, Ms. Lancette,” he said from behind the door. “And Director Wenner said I shouldn’t leave your side.”

She shouted that she would be right there.

“No,” she said to Addis. “But—”

The security man opened the door.

“Ms. Lancette,” he said.

Lancette looked at Addis.

Damn, I can feel your eyes all the way, deep in my chest.

She took a step in his direction. A kiss, he thought. On the cheek. Perhaps a squeeze of a hand.

Then she turned toward the man in the doorway.

“Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Addis,” she said. “I’m sure I was overreacting. But it was nice of you to help.”

“You’re welcome,” he said. “Give my regards to the director.”

He wondered how many hours would pass before he’d see her.

As Addis was about to leave Blair House, Lem Jordan stopped him.

“J-J-Jack heard you w-w-w-ere here.”

“I’ll go say hello,” Addis said. “Are you ready for the show tonight?”

“Su-supose so. D-d-on’t you think she should do it?”

“I’m not so sure, Lem. It’s like she’s holding on too much. Like she’s holding on to an anchor, and you don’t know if she’s going to get it out of the water so she can move ahead or if the anchor is going to pull her in.”

“You c-c-can always cut an anchor.”

“I guess so.”