“So, I’ll be out of commission for another week or so. I talked to Mark late last night, and he’s willing to hold the reins for a bit longer.”

“Good,” Keller said. “And I’ll be there to look over his shoulder.”

Barrett shrugged. “Well, that’s why I bring it up. Mark would like to move you over to Legislative Affairs for now. He thinks you’re a bit of a hothead. And he’s got his own Chief of Staff, as you know. He’s concerned that having you around will be stepping on his guy’s toes, and I told him that would be fine.”

Keller nodded. “I see. Okay.”

“Yeah, I’ll be honest with you, Lawrence. I’ve been contemplating a similar move for some time. How are you doing? I mean, you seem a little burnt out to me, like you’re just not enjoying this anymore. I’ve been worried about you, and I was going to do something about it, but then this whole Elizabeth fiasco happened.”

Keller felt his heart speed up. A flush began to creep up his neck.

“I’m feeling fine. Never better, really.”

Barrett went on as if Keller hadn’t spoken at all. “You know Kathy Grumman from State? She’s a real whip. I’m going to bring her on to tidy things up a bit.”

“As Chief of Staff?” Keller said.

Barrett nodded. “Think of Legislative Affairs as a lateral move, Lawrence. You’ll keep the same salary as you have now, with all the same benefits. And the hours will be better. They’re regular nine-to-fivers most of the time, unless we’re trying to push a bill through. I’m going to need you to ride herd on a few of our reluctant friends in the House. You’ll be reporting to Mike Donovan. Do you know Mike? He’s been working Capitol Hill for about a decade.”

“I’ll be reporting… to Mike?”

Lawrence Keller had never met Mike Donovan, but he knew who he was. He was about thirty-seven years old, the son of the obnoxious, bulbous, alcoholic former Congressman from Massachusetts, Mickey Donovan.

Mike Donovan was a prep school jerk. He had strolled into his job because of nepotism. And he was fifteen years younger than Lawrence Keller.

Barrett nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah. Mike’s the Director of Legislative Affairs. I like him. You’ll be his Assistant Director.”

They walked along the path in silence for a moment.

“What do you think?” Barrett said.

What did he think?