“Talk to me,” Kim said, gently loosening Darlene’s fists.

Darlene described her fight with Martin, the threats he made against Victor, and what he revealed about trading GMO corn seed and technology to the Chinese for American jobs.

Kim listened in stunned silence, the envelope from Double M resting on her lap. “Have you told Lou about all this?” she asked.

“No. I gave Martin my word that I wouldn’t tell anyone, but I’m really PO’ed at him. The choice was between sharing with you what happened and broadcasting his pigheadedness on CNN. I guess I really shouldn’t have put you in the line of Martin’s fire by telling you.”

“Nonsense. I can handle it. I’m just sorry I can’t do anything about his deplorable behavior. So, what now?”

Darlene sighed. “I don’t know,” she said. “I need Martin to meet with Lou. That’s the only way he can possibly be convinced the corn isn’t safe. But that just isn’t going to happen. Lou has joined the ranks of Russ Evans—people I am forbidden to mention in Martin’s presence. I swear, Kim, I have never seen such change in a man.”

“You don’t have to explain, babe. I remember how he was the night we won. Floating right up there overhead with the red, white, and blue balloons. Alas, becoming the most powerful person on earth can cause some pretty heavy changes—like the bite of that radioactive spider did to Peter Parker. Darlene, you don’t have to answer this, but is there something going on between you and Lou?”

“Why would you even wonder about such a thing?” she replied, not trying too hard to suppress the glint in her eyes.

“I knew it. I swear, Dar, you have all the guile of a newborn.”

“I don’t even know what’s happening. Lou is the only man I’ve had these sort of feelings for since I met Martin.”

Kim squeezed her hand. “Have you kissed him?”

“No. No,” Darlene replied emphatically. “But that doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about it, especially after that circus today with Martin.”

“Careful about doing anything when you’re angry. It’s someone’s rule.”

“I understand.”

“Whatever you do, I’m behind you all the way.”

The women hugged.

“So, tell me,” Darlene asked, “what’s going on with Double M?”

Kim handed over the envelope, having nearly forgotten it was there. “It’s bad,” she said. “Real bad.” She recounted the upsetting exchange with the man calling himself Norman Shank. “You should open it,” Kim said softly. “Read it to yourself, or if you want, feel free to read it out loud.”

The pages, several of them, were neatly single-spaced with a double space between paragraphs. As Darlene scanned the first few words, she covered her mouth in horror, then read aloud.

Dear Madam First Lady: