When she hung up, she found Anthony standing in the doorway, and she answered the question that was written on his face. “One of the reporters figured it out. The pipeline, Colorado.” She let out a small laugh. “It’s the girl who said I was in rehab. Patrick’s games backfired.”

“And what does Karima think you should do?” Anthony asked.

“Oh you know Karima,” Anita said, making a sweeping gesture to indicate the Sahadis’ largesse. “She has homes in Gstaad, Tahiti, Oman, Costa Rica. She offered them all.”

“I’ll pack.”

She could tell he meant it, but it was silly and she laughed at the thought. “Really, should we go to Oman? And stay indoors for years so no one finds us?” She sucked in her breath and let out a slow exhale. “No, we’re not hiding. I told Karima to send the reporter here. I’m giving her an interview.”

“Anita, you don’t have to do that,” Anthony said, his voice full of worry. “It’s not necessary.”

“Yes. I want it out in the open,” she said. “I want to speak. It’s time.”

THE EARLYBIRD™/ MONDAY / 5:49 A.M.

THE E-NEWSLETTER TRUSTED BY WASHINGTON'S POLITICAL ELITE

Good morning, EarlyBirders™. Here are the morning’s need-to-know stories:

EMPTY PROVOCATION: That’s what Venezuela’s President Gomez calls the Lystra family accusations. “BamBam Lystra is using the scandal involving his son’s brutality to divert from the real issues.”

NEUTRAL: That’s the White House posture, per Adam Majors: “This is a matter for Colombia and Venezuela to resolve. We won’t interfere in the business of sovereign states.”

NO FLOTUS: Twelve days, three false reports, and still no word from the First Lady. Why? Why the silence? Your guess is as good as ours!

HAIRY SITUATION: Ultra-hot VIP stylist Osman Badem has settled a case with explosive allegations of pay discrimination and harassment. Three former employees say they’ll use the alleged six figure payout to open a rival salon, opposite the White House.

**EarlySponsor™: GlobalCom™. Proud to Support Peace Strategies International. Diffusing Conflict and Crisis By Promoting Cross Border Cooperation In Difficult Times.**

31

The Art of the Score

Natalie, Matt, and Dasha were alone inside the formal living room of Karima’s Colorado estate. Natalie thought it looked like a cross between a Swiss day spa and a carpet store. The floors were covered in overlapping Persian rugs while the rest of the place was a sea of off-white—bone-white furniture, cream ceilings, snow-white upholstery—which gave Natalie the anxious feeling she might accidentally open an artery and start bleeding over everything.

At the moment she was perched at the edge of an overstuffed white chair, spitting on her hand and using the moisture to flatten out flyaways that were sticking up on the top of her head.

“Flyaways are the surest way to ruin a good shot on TV,” she could hear Bibb say.