Addis entered his office and went straight to the bottom drawer of his desk. The file was gone. The one marked “Pension Reform.” The file that held the other copy of the Blue Ridge records. The phone rang. Addis ignored it and left the office.

Automatic pilot. Automatic pilot.

The door to Computer Services was locked. Addis waited in the basement hallway of the OEOB. Ten minutes later, Amy arrived. She was surprised to see him.

“I thought … you … How are … ?” she sputtered.

“Thanks for the concern,” he said. “Can you look something up for me? Again.”

“Sure,” she said too quickly. Then, Addis saw, she started thinking: Should I be doing this?

“It would mean a lot to me,” he said, widening his sad eyes.

I’m such a shit.

She opened the door. “What can I do for you?” she said.

“The WAVE records from last night,” he said. “For the West Wing. After nine. Who came and went.”

“Okay.” She tried to smile, but she was nervous. “You don’t have to wait around here. I’ll come by your office, okay? That’s what I’ll do.”

“Thanks.”

Addis was at his desk, looking through the phone book, when Ken Byrd opened the door without knocking.

“They’re showing the canal being dredged on CNN,” he said.

“Pass,” Addis said.

Shit, if my stomach tightens any more, I’m going to keel over.

“They said that according to police sources you were concerned about some papers you had with you.”

“I asked about some personal financial stuff.”

“Okay … . You know you’ve got Kelly freaked out on this.”

Addis decided not to be reassuring.

“Anyway, Kelly called Vic Parmenter, the lawyer, and he’s coming over later. Says if the police want to talk, tell them you have to talk to him first.”

“Fine,” Addis said.

Byrd looked at the opened telephone book.

“Just trying to get a number for her family.”

Now get the hell out.

Addis found the number and closed the book.

“And we’ll have to say something about Parmenter coming. I’ll take care of that,” Byrd said. He was rocking on the balls of his feet. “Something like, ‘Mr. Addis cooperated fully with the police last night. He merely wanted to speak to a lawyer before making any public—no we won’t say ‘public.’ This is better: ‘He merely wanted to speak to a lawyer so he would understand his rights as he fully cooperates with the investigation.’ Sound okay to you?”

Who the fuck cares? Can’t I just pick up the phone, dial a number, and hear her voice?

“Sure,” he said. “Whatever you think best.”

“Good,” Byrd replied. “Guess we’re done for now.”

On his way out, Byrd passed Amy from Computer Services. Addis could tell he was curious why she was here.

“Got it,” she said and handed an envelope to Addis. He removed the printout and examined it.