Lorraine waited by the entrance to the Central Park Zoo, glancing around with increasing nervousness. The gentle spring breeze carried a light pine scent, but it brought Lorraine no peace, no comfort. She didn’t really know the man she was there to meet and she knew it was an odd request to meet outside the office and that could have all kinds of odd consequences. But, the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that the meeting should take place somewhere out of earshot of anybody at Phoenix Enterprises.

I only hope I can really trust him, Lorraine thought in those long, doubting moments. Who knows what this guy’s got cooking on his own. He casts so much shade on Jeannie, it almost seems like it’s because he’s got something of his own to hide.

Strangers walked past her, only a few casting glances at her as they entered or exited the zoo. It wasn’t unusual for an attractive woman to get glances like that in New York, especially in the Park, but it only brought Lorraine’s attention to the fact that, in full corporate mode, she might have been slightly overdressed for the park.

And it also meant that maybe, just maybe, she was being watched.

Ki Fong approached her slowly, also glancing around. He gets it, Lorraine thought, spotting him in a red hoodie pulled over his face and blue jeans, the opposite of his sharply dressed office persona.

“Missus Phoenix,” he said when he was close enough. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”

Lorraine shook her head and started strolling into the zoo, Ki following her casual stride. “Ki, you mentioned the other day something about Jeannie … ”

“That’s right. And that’s why you wanted to meet way out here?”

“Yeah. I think you might be right about her, and I think that accountant Dennis Douglass could be in bed with her … in more ways than one.”

“You think they’re doin’ it?”

“Uh, yeah, Ki, that’s what I think. But, I don’t care about that, it’s the company that I’m worried about. They’ve got these shell corporations — ”

“Pshshshshffffft,” Ki said with a contemptuous sneer. “More than they can count; Infinity, Westmorland, Borough Holdings … ”

“Westmorland? I don’t remember going over that one with Jeannie and Dennis.”

This caught Ki’s attention. “Oh yeah? Big shock. I wonder if Mr. Phoenix knows about it.”

Lorraine didn’t need to think about that for long. “I’ll ask him. Jeannie and Dennis gave me a profile, but I’m beginning to think it’s woefully inadequate, if you know what I mean.”

“I do.”

“Can you get me a more … thorough file, the complete company profile?”

Ki looked around as they walked past the grizzly bears. “I think I can get my hands on that.”

“Great, Ki, that’s perfect, just what I’d hoped. I knew right away you were the man to work with.”

Ki shrugged. “Can’t say it isn’t nice to get some recognition. Why don’t you send me the profile they gave you, I’ll fill in the blanks. We’ll compare notes when I’m done?”

Lorraine gave it a quick review. “Sure, that sounds okay, I’ll send you a copy.”

“Right, right.” Ki nodded, glancing around. “This is good, this is very good, finally gonna get some action in that place.”

Lorraine glanced at Ki as they approached the monkey cages. The little long-tailed spider monkeys screeched at them from their little prison. Lorraine said, “I know you’ve had a hard time of it at Phoenix Enterprises, Ki, but this isn’t just your way to break out of your own personal monkey cage, either.”

“No, of course not. I admit, it’s been frustrating, but it’s been a lot worse to see that snake Jeannie Gallagher slithering around the halls of power, at least our halls. Our company’s not about power, y’know, it’s about doing something good with that power, something positive.”

Lorraine smiled. “I can see why Griffin took you on in the first place.”

Ki smiled back. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Mrs. Phoenix, but … right back at ‘cha.”

* * *

“Lorraine,” that booming, familiar voice said from the other end of the phone line, “it’s Albert!”

Lorraine glanced around the streets of Brooklyn from the back of a hired Lincoln Town Car. “Of course, Albert, I’ve got your name on my contact list! How are you, how’s Carmen?”

“She’s just great, misses you terribly.”

“Amidst all that hustle of a gubernatorial campaign?”

Albert huffed. “I think that makes her yearn even more for the old days, the quiet life.”

“Well, she can say goodbye to that if … when you win that race.”

“From your lips,” Albert said. “And speaking of that, thanks for the coverage during your press conference. I wanted to contact you earlier, but as you say, I’ve been busy.”

“Not to worry, Albert. I was almost afraid I’d said too much, pulled your campaign into another one of my shit storms.”

Albert burst out with a surprised chuckle. “Your shit storms are driving my political career, Lorraine!”

“That’s your business, Al, not mine.”

Albert’s laughter died down. “True enough. Say, what do you think about a little visit? I’ve got some campaigning to do among some of the other senators, I’m popping by almost every state in the union. Y’know, sit-downs, handshakes, but we’d hate to miss seeing you while we’re in town.”

Lorraine didn’t have to think long to remember Albert’s original position in the library crisis, to throw the whole thing under the bus for his own personal reasons. Then he was ready to fire Lorraine just for sending that open letter to The Denver Post.

But, it had been years and Albert had sacrificed his marriage, changed his world in a number of ways. Lorraine couldn’t manage to hold anything against him and she did want to see her old friend and former boss Carmen, especially if it meant not having to go all the way back to Denver.

Lorraine didn’t like to go back.

“That sounds great, Al. When can we expect you?”

“This weekend, actually. We’ll call when we settle into our suites at the Waldorf.”

“The Waldorf,” Lorraine said, “classy.”

She could feel Albert smile on the other end of the line. “I am a candidate for governor of the great state of Colorado, after all.”

After all, Lorraine smiled.

* * *

Sally Devonshire seemed genuinely enthusiastic though in that little Skype window on Lorraine’s laptop, it was hard to tell. “We’ve heard all about it, of course.”

Lorraine was prepared for the usual skepticism. “I don’t want you to worry — ”

“Worry?” Sally repeated. “Why ever would we worry?”

Lorraine wasn’t sure how to respond, leaning closer to the monitor to make sure she recognized her mother’s face. “No real reason,” Lorraine said slowly. “Jeremy’s a little uptight about it.”

Sally waved them off. “Your friend Jeremy was always a bit high-strung, dear, I wouldn’t pay it any mind. Maybe he should take a vacation or something.”

Larry leaned in on his side of the Skype connection. “We could visit, see you two and take care of the kids … get two birds stoned at once.”

Lorraine repeated, “Get two birds — ?” But it didn’t bear pursuing. Instead, Sally said, “Dear, we think it’s great, what you’re doing. I mean, what you did with the library, that was more than most people accomplish in a lifetime, and everything since, well … ” Lorraine knew what her mother was referring to; how well she married, her lovely daughter, her success with Ashe. Lorraine didn’t care to correct Sally, even if she was anxious to be considered on her own merits and not merely as Griffin Phoenix’s woman.

“What your mother’s trying to say,” Larry interrupted, “is that maybe we could join the family business.”

“How do you mean?”

“I’m an accountant, your mom is —- ” Sally glared at him and Larry corrected himself, resisting old temptations. “Your mother is in real estate. It doesn’t take rocket appliances to see that maybe we could set up one of your learning centers right here in Denver.”

“Denver,” Lorraine repeated, “really?”

“Of course dear,” Sally said. “Lincoln Park, Lower Downtown, plenty of areas that could benefit from such a thing.”

Lorraine wanted to believe that her parents had only the best intentions. She wanted to believe that. “I suppose that’s true. We’re working on our pilot program up here in New York. But there’s some question about our real estate holdings here.”

“Some question? Dear, with real estate, you either own it or you don’t.”

“It’s just taking a little time to get the information together. Phoenix Enterprises turns out to be a real labyrinth.”

Sally and Larry glanced at one another, but said nothing, turning instead to Lorraine. Larry said, “We can handle it, babe. A couple permits, your mother’s got plenty of inventory … ” Sally glared at him and Lorraine knew for sure what her mother’s true motives were.

This is a career move for her, Lorraine knew, sell some property. No wonder she’s so supportive.

But she chose not to push it. It was easier to say simply, “I’ll talk to Griffin, see what he thinks.”

“I thought this was your project,” Sally said. “I mean, you’re not the bashful little girl you were when you lived here in Denver. You’ve blossomed, dear.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, Mom. But, it’s still under the auspices of Phoenix Enterprises. And he’s my husband; we’re equals, we make these decisions together.”

“Equals,” Sally said, “we really have come a long way. Okay, dear, let us know.”

“I will, Mom,” Lorraine said, forcing a smile just for as long as it took to wind up the conversation.