In truth, what she needed was right in her purse, her address book, and in her jacket pocket, her cell phone. Somewhere in that book was the initial step in converting a remote possibility into a plan—the phone number of Seth Owens of San Antonio. FBI agent Seth Owens.

CHAPTER 36

Well, Doctor," Lily said, "I can't begin to tell you what a pleasure this has been, getting to drink tea and break bread with the most talked about man in D.C."

"The most talked about man in D.C.? Now that's a little hard to believe."

"Well, it's true—not even a contest. In Washington it is all about proximity and access to the president. Nothing more, nothing less. Proximity and access. In lesser cases, it becomes proximity and access to the ones with proximity and access. You, sir, are not only the new man on campus, but you are handsome, unassuming, and have total access to the big guy. Now, if that doesn't get you talked about, I don't know what does."

She shrugged matter-of-factly and held her hands out as if to say, That's the way it is.

No, Gabe thought. The way it is, is that you have a relationship with Jim Ferendelli that you're willing to lie to protect.

The two of them sat across from one another on fine leather sofas in Lily's richly paneled den, sipping tea from ample Oriental mugs and sampling a variety of tiny pastries and wafers.

"Remember, we still have tuna steak and salad waiting," Lily said. "Save some room."

"No problem. I'm ready for lunch and I'm very ready to feel a saddle beneath my butt. I'm grateful to you for this day, Lily. I haven't felt this at ease since the president showed up at my place with the suggestion that I come out here."

"Why, Doctor, what a very kind and very gracious thing for you to say."

"Okay, no more 'Doctor,' unless you want me to start calling you that. I'm sure you know it, but a Ph.D. in just about any field is much harder to get than an M.D. anyway. If anyone deserves to be called Doctor, it's you guys."

"More tea . . . Gabe?"

"I guess one more cup. I don't usually love tea, except iced, and then only outside on the hottest days, but this is really delicious."

"It converted me from coffee. I discovered it on a trip to western China, and now I have it shipped in regularly. From what I've been told, it's a variety of Camellia sinensis that doesn't grow anywhere else in that country, and maybe in the world. The closest I've encountered to it is Keemun black tea, but they really aren't that similar."