Until now, they had been standing. Kathryn looked at Goodwin, and said, “Sit.” He sat. “Is there a phone in here with a speaker?” Goodwin nodded and pointed. “I want you to listen very carefully to this call. Can you do that?” Goodwin nodded again. Kathryn pressed in the digits and waited.

“Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

“Well, good morning, Allison. I’d like to speak to Director Sparrow ASAP. You know who this is, right?”

“Yes, ma’am. Hold please for Director Sparrow.”

“Good morning, Director. Nice day, isn’t it.”

“Couldn’t be better. What can I do for you on this bright summer day?”

“I’m having a bit of a problem at the moment. The same problem we spoke about a few days ago when my partner and I briefed you. I am right now, this minute, in the conference room of In the Know talking to Mr. Joel Goodwin, who has been really helpful. He has been very cooperative, so please remember that. I’d like to keep it that way. There is a gentleman in his office named Lincoln Moss, who is threatening the very cooperative Mr. Goodwin. He is promising a full-blown tax audit, closing down the paper, ruining his wife’s reputation, and having his kids thrown out of their respective schools. I’d like you to personally assure Mr. Goodwin that none of that will happen, so he will continue to cooperate with us. Can you do that, Mr. Director?”

“Of course. Mr. Goodwin, can you hear me?” Not waiting for a response, Sparrow kept speaking. “I want to assure you that you have the full weight of the Bureau behind you. Just do what our agent tells you, and you are golden. Thanks for the heads-up, Agent.”

“My pleasure, Mr. Director,” Kathryn said as she ended the call.

Kathryn reached for the coffee cup that had suddenly materialized. She drank it in two long swallows. “You happy now, Mr. Goodwin?” He nodded. The color was coming back to his cheeks.

Pam Warren poked her head in the door, and said, “Mr. Moss said to . . . ah . . . tell you if you aren’t in your office in two seconds, he will make a call to the IRS. He also called you a . . . pipsqueak.”

Goodwin took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Tell Mr. Moss the pipsqueak said to sit on a pointy stick and twirl around. I’ll get there when I get there, or he can leave anytime he wants since he didn’t have an appointment in the first place. Tell him to make his call if that will make his day. Make sure you give him the message verbatim.”

Pam Warren looked like she would rather go two rounds with a two-headed cobra than tell that to Lincoln Moss. She swallowed hard and left to deliver Goodwin’s message.

“Okay, Mr. Goodwin, we’re on the same page here. Just so you know, Mr. Moss will follow through because he is a bully. So I’m going to call Director Sparrow again when I get out to my car and have him alert Mr. Sangelli at the IRS. Now what do you have for me?”