“Hello, Ms. Briscoe. We weren’t expecting to see you today.” Mia saw through the glass-fronted office Alex was on his cell, his back to her. Mia nodded toward him. “I know he’s terribly busy, but I was hoping Alex could give me five minutes?”

“I don’t see why not. He should be off the phone in a minute. Why don’t you go on in.”

As she quietly opened the door, she looked back to see Miles and Cory looking at her. She gave them a wave.

Mia listened for all she was worth, but she could only make out his voice, not his words. Alex ended his call, turned back, and froze. Then he was on his feet, coming around his desk, smiling at her. “Mia! What a nice surprise on an insane Thursday afternoon. It’s good to see you. Wait, what happened to you?”

He was good; the surprise on his face would have convinced the pope. Mia smiled back at him. “Oh, the bruises—they’re not so bad, I’d forgotten about them. I guess I still look pretty scary.”

He took her hand gently in his. “What happened?”

“Probably something that happens all too often, I imagine. I was walking to the subway last night after meeting with Miles for drinks, and out of nowhere some drunk or drugged-up idiot nearly hit me. I’m okay, really, I just look a bit on the edge, but nothing’s broken, only some bruises. Don’t worry, I’m fine.” She waited a beat, added smoothly, “When the police asked me if I had any enemies, someone mad enough to try to run me down, I told them I was a political reporter, and they laughed. But then I told them I couldn’t think of anyone.”

“Did they get the guy?”

“He freaked out at what he’d done and screeched out of there, fast. It’s too bad I couldn’t identify the car or the driver, but the police held out hope they’d spot him on the CCTV cams.”

Alex lightly touched her arms. “We can hope. Thank heaven you’re all right. Can I get you some water? Coffee? Help you off with your coat?”

She smiled. “No, thank you, I’m fine. I think I’d just as soon leave my coat on. I won’t take up much of your time, Mr. Harrington—”

He raised an eyebrow.

She laughed. “All right, Alex.”

“That’s better.” He gently guided her into a seat, walked around his desk, and sat down to face her, his hands clasped in front of him on the desktop. “What can I do for you, Mia?”

“You remember I flew to Boston and Bennington Prep yesterday for interviews. I hoped you’d have a spare five minutes for some follow-up questions.”