The What Girl stared at Natalie like she’d just asked to open the airplane exit door at thirty-thousand feet. “I’m sorry but no,” the What Girl said, clearly not sorry at all. “I’m under orders not to bother the show with anything unless I’m one hundred percent sure we have something reportable. I can’t confirm what you say unless a trusted news organization is reporting it. Otherwise, how would I know it’s right?”

Natalie felt like she’d tripped into an alternate universe. In What World, following the crowd, playing catch-up, was the winner’s move; new information was Bad and something to be scorned if not outright avoided.

Not What World, she thought. WhatTheFuck World would be more apt.

Was she going to be reduced to tweeting Drudge about the mole?

There had to be a better way. There had to be someone she could appeal to.

Like a fairy godmother, a man’s voice rang out from her left. “Hey, lady! You’re here late.”

A fairy godmother she’d been anxious to avoid—until now. Even without looking in his direction, Natalie could feel Hal smiling at her admiringly. “I don’t think I ever noticed how fit you are!” he went on. “Seeing you from a distance just now I realized you must go to the gym a lot?”

He really just said that. Surely Bibb, somebody, has told him it is not okay to talk to—

Focus, she told herself. Bibb. Hal talks to Bibb all the time.

She turned and grinned at him “Hey, Hal. Am I glad to see you,” she said with all the warmth she could muster. “I have a big story. Think you could help me get it on air?”

To Hal’s credit, he instantly appreciated the newsworthiness of her mole discovery. “That’s killer! What does the White House have to say?” he asked, looking concerned.

“Nothing. Matt tried Adam Majors twice, and by email,” she said, wondering whether he was going to hold up her live shot pending White House comment on a mole.

“Well then, way to start off on the right foot,” he replied, beaming. “I’m calling Bibb now and getting you up.” He walked away, punching numbers into his iPhone, prompting Natalie to think that maybe Hal wasn’t so bad after all.

As Natalie walked back to her desk, Dasha materialized by her side. “I do not like this, asking help from Hal,” she said.

“Oh he’s harmless. At least he can be useful.”

Dasha narrowed her eyes. “Lie down with fleas, swim with fishes.”

Natalie squinted at her for a moment and decided it was probably best not to correct her.

When they got back to her desk, Matt was standing there, shaking his head. “Bad idea, very bad idea.”