“Well, she had a problem with booze.” Borman plopped down in his padded leather chair. “She was expected to appear to the public as the perfect wife married to the perfect husband who was a perfect astronaut with a perfect American family raising perfect children.” Borman stared out the window at the gauzy Florida sky. “Mission impossible.”

Pat scratched his palm, growing uneasy about why Borman was telling him this.

“She was crying for help, and I always put my mission and flying first. I feel guilty about that, and when her drinking was out of control, I blamed myself. I wanted to help her, but the doctors told me it was Susan Borman, not Frank Borman, who had to change.”

Frank looked straight at him. “Now, Pat, I’ve heard things.”

Here it comes. Pat had worried so much about the MS that he was caught unprepared for this.

“Sir, let me stop you right there. I’ve been sober since before I left American.” It was a lie, but it sounded right somehow. He had been trying that long at least.

“Good. You know I instituted a rehabilitation and counseling program at Eastern, but we’re talking about a very stressful labor situation. And I need all hands on deck and I need to know my team is mission focused. I love my guys who work out there on the aircraft, but their union is run by a bunch of thugs. Animals, Pat. I’m getting death threats. I had to meet with the FBI. They told me to wear a bulletproof vest in public. Can you believe this? Instead I have this little guy.” Borman kicked his leg up on the desk and rolled up the cuff of his pants to reveal a .38 Special holstered on his ankle. “That’s why I need my director of employee benefits running on the straight and narrow. I’ll be honest with you, Pat. If we don’t bring these jerk bosses to heel, our board of directors will lose faith and panic. And then my ass is on the line. So I need men I can count on.”

Pat felt certain the colonel would rather take live fire than negotiate. “It’s not a problem you have to worry about.”

“Thank you, Pat. I’m not worried about it. If we work together, I just want you to stay on the path, and if you need help with it, I’ll be there.”

“This all sounds good to me, and I appreciate your personal interest.” Pat wasn’t sure where he stood or what to say. Did he just offer me the job? No, but close I think. Should I pledge sobriety? Before he could find a way to elaborate, Borman stood up from the desk.