“Ultimately, to the Inisi. But first to Kate’s. She’s invited me.” She looked around the room as if searching for something. “I don’t know why it’s been so long since she tapped.”

“Does she know you’re here?”

Abby stared blankly at him. “I guess not.”

“She has to have a place or a person to tap.” Sabin accessed Papua New Guinea time on the Grid. “It’s midnight her time. Do you want to tap her?”

“No, we can wait.”

Sabin got up, brought the juice pitcher to the table, and poured both of them more. He took a sip and looked over at her. “I’ll tell Lauren. I assume it’ll be a few days before you leave. I’m heading up to Colorado to do some hiking this weekend in the Collegiate Peaks. Would you like to join me? Might be your last chance to see the mountains here.”

“I thought everyone did that sort of thing in virtual reality.”

“Yeah, well, when it comes to hiking, I like the real thing.”

She smiled. “I’d love to go with you.”

“It’s not Washington politicians who make this country what it is. It’s the hard-working, honest, dedicated people of places like Grapevine who always have been, and always will be, the backbone of America.”

Hutch watched as Lauren worked the local crowd. He didn’t attend actual political events much, but it did him good to see real people get excited about something they thought was genuine.

“And as your senator, I want you to know that no matter how long I may spend representing you in Washington, my heart will never be anything but true Texan. And I promise you this: I’ll never stop working to ensure that Texans can make their lives everything you always dreamed they could be!”

The crowd cheered. Piped-in music filled the high school gymnasium. Lauren pasted on a broad smile, waved at the crowd, and walked to the side of the stage, where several reporters awaited her. Hutch walked over and stood behind them.

“Congresswoman,” one was saying, “it has been reported that your cousin, Abigail Caldwell, is staying at your residence in Fort Worth.”

Hutch could see Lauren stiffen. “Temporarily,” she answered.

“Are you in agreement with the views she expressed on Global Sunrise?”

“No, of course not.”

A second reporter followed up. “It has been suggested that the attorney general will be forced to indict her for her statements. If that transpires, will you continue to support her?”

She stared at him icily. “I am not supporting her. I do not condone the expression of intolerant beliefs. I am simply extending hospitality to a family member who shortly will be returning to her own country.”

Hutch was about to rescue Lauren from further questions when a tap came. He stepped backstage. When he emerged from VR a few minutes later, Lauren was standing beside him.