“No,” Natalie laughed and recited from memory all Karima’s tips. “For one thing, she said women help women. Hah. Also she told me to look into a company called Sallee LLC. And third, she said it’s never too late to be wise.” Natalie sighed. “That last thing I figured out. According to Wikiquote, ‘it’s never too late to be wise’ is a quote from Robinson Crusoe, the book. I don’t know what it’s supposed to mean.”

Matt scoffed. “I had a section on that book in tenth grade. Actually...” he took out his iPhone and started typing “...did you say that company was called Sallee, spelled S-A-L-L-E-E?” Matt asked, now all business.

He held up the screen to show Natalie. It was a plot summary for Robinson Crusoe.

“In the book, Robinson Crusoe gets taken as a slave to a place called Sallee. Same spelling.” Matt held up a finger, “And you know who escapes with him? A boy named Xury!” Matt looked at her in triumph while Natalie searched her mind for the connection.

“Don’t you remember the Xury? That’s the name of the yacht we chased in St. Tropez!” Matt said excitedly. “Or Miami, whatever.”

“All Karima’s tips lead back to Robinson Crusoe?” Natalie asked, befuddled. Then, realization dawning, added, “Isn’t the book about an adventurer who goes to a foreign land to make money? Then he loses his way. Wait, so Robinson Crusoe—”

“Is President Patrick Crusoe,” finished Matt.

“I would never have figured that out.”

“I know,” Matt said smugly. “Clearly Karima thinks you’re way more literate than you are.”

Her heart rate ticking up, Natalie said, “So what’s her point? Is she saying the president got caught up in chasing money?”

“Maybe. Oil money? Something to do with his work in Latin America?”

“I’m not sure I trust Karima’s version of things,” she said. “And how does this connect to the First Lady? Why did she leave the White House?”

Without asking her permission, Matt reached for Natalie’s laptop and hit a few keys. “Let’s see what’s going on with that pipeline.”

Matt was quiet as he typed. Looking over his shoulder, Natalie saw an image on the screen that was blue on one side and brown on the other, with lots of little dots on it.

“That’s a satellite image of the Venezuelan coast,” Matt declared proudly.

“You know how to read satellite images?” Natalie didn’t even try to hide that she was impressed. “What are we looking at?”

“I know how to find satellite images. I didn’t say I know how to read them.”

“Well, how is that helpful?”

Natalie’s phone on the coffee table started buzzing. They both watched the screen fill with a message.

JAMES: Cronkite and Colin Powell formally invite you to join us for dinner. Say yes.