One big happy family.

Television crews filled the back of the room. M. T. O’Connor took her place next to Addis.

“Nice little show,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“Always wanted to be a prop for Sam Mumfries.”

Kelly trundled across the stage, conferring with assistants and Secret Service agents. He pointed McGreer to his seat in the front row of the bleachers. Finn, Byrd, Ann Herson, Hanover’s white-haired secretary, and others were there.

“Don’t see Dan here,” Addis said.

“He’s on the party payroll, so the invitation didn’t apply. Lucky guy.”

That explanation came a little too quick.

“I’m sure,” Addis said. “Getting along with him?”

“This is a nightmare. Mumfries shit-cans computers-in-schools and does a stupid rah-rah instead.”

“No surprise there.”

“Believe me, I have no expectations. But I can still get pissed. You, my friend, don’t seem to give two shits. Everything’s not done and finished. Not yet. Why don’t you care? Yeah, he’s gone. But we’re not.”

“That’s not it,” Addis said.

“What is it?”

I really don’t want to get into it. Really. Believe me, I have a reason. A damn good one. But not now.

“I’m just worn.”

“We don’t have time for that. Kelly’s put one of his factotums into my office. Already, he’s overruling me.”

“You won’t have to do much more scheduling, I guess.”

“Not for this S.O.B.,” O’Connor said.

The student body president was at the podium, explaining the program schedule to the students and warning that they could not leave the hall once the President arrived.

“What have you been doing?” O’Connor asked.

“Not all that much,” Addis said.

“Margaret told me about your project.”

“Well, I haven’t really done a lot on that front, either.”

“Anything there?”

“What does she say?”

“She shrugs, says Bob would know, and wonders why the attacks never stop.”

“They never will,” Addis said. “Especially if she decides to—”

“Tell me if there’s anything, okay?”

Kelly stood in front of the bleachers. He signaled to Addis.

“Thanks for the list,” Kelly said. “The President is meeting with the history boys for dinner tonight. Feel free to stop by—before dinner.”

Addis nodded; Kelly darted off.

“That’s what I’ve been doing,” Addis said to O’Connor. “Helping Kelly feel like he’s so damn smart.”

“One minute,” a voice on the P.A. system said.

The audience went silent. The technicians and assistants cleared the stage. Behind the podium were several empty chairs.

Addis looked at the side of the stage. Margaret Hanover stood with Sally Mumfries and the two Mumfries girls. Jake Grayton was next to Mumfries. Lem Jordan was a few feet behind them. Jordan’s eyes never stayed still. He scanned the crowd, his hands clenched. When Jordan concentrated, Addis had noticed long ago, he tightened his fists.

The student body president returned to the podium.