Then he finally said, “Yeah, okay, let’s get this out on the table. I’ve been to Blacksmith Farms, but for entertainment purposes only. And I don’t mean myself. We’re talking about out-of-town guests, contributors, visitors from the Middle East, that sort of thing. It’s a part of the job, unfortunately.

“I get them in, have a drink or two, and then leave them to it. That’s it. Believe me”—he held up his left hand and waggled a gold-banded finger—“I can no sooner afford to piss Barbara off than I can my whole constituency. There’s been no solicitation here. Nothing to be blackmailed for. Am I clear on that?”

I was starting to get real sick of people pretending that none of this was happening.

“I’m sorry, Senator, but I have evidence to the contrary. Digital video evidence. You sure this is the way you want to go?”

Senator Yarrow never missed a beat, and he even remembered to pick up the file he’d supposedly forgotten in the office.

“You know, Detective, my caucus meeting started five minutes ago, and if I don’t get this important water bill moving today, it’s not going anywhere. Assuming there aren’t any charges here, you’re going to have to excuse me.”

“How long is your meeting?” I asked.

He flipped a card from his pocket and held it out between two fingers for me. “Give Grace a call. We’ll get you on the schedule,” he said.

I could feel the firewall starting to rise, higher and higher, faster and faster.

Chapter 71

I BROUGHT SOME music to Nana’s room that night, a mixed-artist CD, the Best of U Street, with a lot of the big names from when she went to the clubs there with my grandfather and friends—Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, and Sir Duke himself, the great Mr. Ellington.

I let it play quietly on Bree’s laptop while we visited.

The jazz singers’ weren’t the only familiar voices in the room. I’d also brought along Jannie and Ali. This was the first night the nurses had allowed Ali into the room. He was so quiet and respectful, sitting right next to Nana’s bed. Such a good little boy.

“What’s this for, Daddah?” he asked in the younger-sounding voice he used when he was a little nervous and unsure of himself.

“That’s the heart monitor. You see those lines? They show Nana’s heartbeat. You can see that it’s steady right now.”

“What about that tube there?”

“That’s how Nana gets food while she’s in the coma.”

Then, suddenly, he said, “I wish Nana was coming home soon. I wish it more than anything. I say prayers for Nana all day long.”

“You can tell her yourself, Ali. Nana’s right here. Go ahead, if you want to say something.”

“She can hear me?”

“She probably can. I think so.” I put his hand on Nana’s and my hand on top of his. “Go ahead.”

“Hi, Nana!” he said as if Nana were hard of hearing, and it was difficult not to laugh.