“I’ll issue a statement that you turned your inheritance over to me to manage for you, and you’ve been so busy that you totally trusted me to handle it. You knew nothing.”

“Doesn’t that make me look like sort of a dolt for not paying attention to what became of my money?”

“I could say that you were so upset by how you came to have the money that you didn’t want to know what I did with it.”

“Which is sort of true,” Nick said. Other than a quick glance at the monthly statements, he didn’t have anything to do with the management of the account.

“It’s not a bad idea,” Terry said.

“I don’t like the idea of you fighting my battles for me,” Nick said to Graham.

“I have nothing to lose.”

“Only your sterling reputation,” Nick reminded him.

“Eh,” Graham said with a shrug. “Who cares? I’m not running for anything, and you are.”

“I think Senator O’Connor’s idea is your best bet,” Christina said.

“I’m leaving tomorrow for a quick trip with the president,” Nick said. “If we go with Graham’s plan, let’s wait until I’m gone. If I’m out of the country with the president and unreachable, the story might die before it gets legs under it.”

“Good thinking,” Terry said. “We could say that we aren’t authorized to comment on the senator’s personal affairs.”

“Don’t use the word ‘affair,’” Graham said with a guffaw.

Nick laughed. “Yes, please think of a different word so you don’t get me in trouble with my wife.”

“Duly noted,” Terry said with the first hint of a smile since the tense conversation began.

“You really think this’ll work?” Nick asked Graham.

“I can’t think of a better idea.”

“Neither can I. All right, I’ll let you fall on the sword with my thanks.”

“Aw hell, I got you into this situation. I’ll get you out of it.”

Nick glanced at his watch. Ten minutes until he was due to the meeting.

“Could I have a moment alone, Senator?” Graham asked.

“Of course.” To Terry and Christina, Nick said, “Thanks, guys. Appreciate your input.”

After they left the room, Nick came around the desk to sit in the other visitor chair next to Graham. “What’s up?”

“I got a call from Thomas’s lawyer yesterday,” he said, referring to his grandson who was now in jail for killing his father, Senator John O’Connor.

“What’d he have to say?”

“Thomas wants to see me.”

“Oh. Wow. How do you feel about that?”