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“I think so. But I have to get it nailed down as fact,” Bree said. “The target’s business is privately and hedge fund–held, so there aren’t the kind of declaratory documents a public company has to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.”
“Anything else?”
“As I was being led out, I purposefully mentioned the first names of two people allegedly involved in the sex ring.”
“You get a reaction?”
“Lost color. Big glare. Fists clenched. Dead silent.”
“Sounds like you should tell Elena that good news first.”
“Maybe I’ll give her the choice.”
“Coming home tomorrow?”
“I think I’m going to stay through Monday, see if I can salvage this. How about you? What was your day like?”
“Exciting, to say the least. Jannie was onSportsCenterlive again.”
“Live! Did you record it?”
“Ali did,” I said. “Jannie did great. Acted like an old pro.”
Bree laughed softly. “God, that’s so great for her, Alex!”
“And for us. She’s decided to go to Howard because of Coach Oliver and so we can watch her run.”
“Howard! That’s fantastic too—you know, choosing a historically all-Black school right here rather than going across the country. Are you beside yourself?”
“As a dad, I thinkecstaticis the right word,” I said, deciding not to mention the text from M. “In fact, I’m exhausted from being ecstatic for so many hours in a row.”
“Then you better get some sleep,” Bree said, her voice softening. “I love you.”
“Love you too. Good luck with all of it.”
“Thanks,” she said, and hung up.
Upstairs in bed, I decided I would go back and finishNoon in Berlinafter I skimmed Thomas Tull’s third book,Doctor’s Orders,which was set in South Carolina. But after reading the same paragraph three times and grasping little of it, I knew I was too far gone; I set the book down and turned off the light.
I fell into dreamless oblivion in seconds and slept so soundly I did not hear my phone ringing until it vibrated off my nightstand and hit the floor with a crack.
The phone stopped ringing and buzzing, but I’d been startled awake enough to peer blearily at my nightstand clock. It was six thirty Sunday morning.
I groaned, knowing I should either check the phone or ignore it, get up, and go for a run. But then it started ringing again.
I leaned over, picked up the phone, and saw that, fortunately, the screen wasn’t broken. The caller ID showed a 212 area code—New York City. Was Bree calling on the hotel phone?
I answered. “This is Alex.”
“Dr. Cross, it’s Suzanne Liu,” she said breathlessly. “I need to speak with you in person as soon as possible.”
“Well, I can’t come to New York, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“No, no, I’m still here in DC. I’m staying at the Watergate and doing research on Thomas. I came across something I was going to call you about, but he found out and is threatening me. I desperately need your help, Dr. Cross.”
CHAPTER 33
I LEFT A NOTEfor Nana Mama, Jannie, and Ali, all of whom were still sleeping, telling them that I was meeting someone for an early breakfast and that I’d be back soon.
