Page 73 of The Long Way Found

His phone buzzed.

Suze: “You okay, kid?”

He typed back.

“Yeah. Thanks for being there. It meant a lot.”

Mara: “I love you. Call me if you need anything tonight.”

Amir: “Great party, Boss. Sorry, your man didn't show.”

Luke set the phone face down on the coffee table, turned off the lights, and went to bed.

CHAPTER 27

JACK

The conference room had been going for three hours by the time Jack checked his watch and registered that it was six-fifteen.

Now, Farris had shown up with donors from the state party to explore Jack’s possible congressional run. He was supposed to take an hour, so most everyone else left for dinner. Then Hallicks wanted everyone back for “crisis planning” about the upcoming close of the state legislature.

Jack didn’t like the scattered agenda, but he appreciated Farris and the money guys showing up.

Luke’s party had started at six, fifteen minutes ago, so he was already late.

He'll understand, Jack told himself. Hadn't he told Luke to be cool about Friday?

His phone sat face down on the table where he'd left it at four. Military habit—no distractions during briefings. He left it there.

Farris was the one who kept extending things. The congressional liaison was in town from Denver and had only this availability to meet. He moved through the agenda like momentum was everything, and a single pause would bring it all to a halt.

At six-forty, he'd leaned forward over the table and looked directly at Jack.

"The window I'm describing is real," Farris said. "It doesn't stay open indefinitely. We need people in this district who can win and know what they're doing when they get there. You're that person." He sat back. "But the groundwork has to start soon."

Jack nodded. Aware, in a separate and parallel part of his brain, that it was six forty-two and that he had not looked at his phone.

He told himself he'd check at the next break.

There wasn't a break until seven-fifteen, when Hallicks went to the cabinet in the corner to get another bottle of wine.

Jack excused himself and headed to the men's room.

In the hallway, he checked his phone.

Luke (6:45): “Everything okay?”

He could picture it: Luke moving through the party, covering, making it look easy because that was what Luke did.

He typed back: “Still in it. I'll get there.” And walked back into the conference room.

By eight, Hallicks had opened a third bottle, and someone had ordered more food. Jack's leg had been bouncing under the table for an hour.

He checked his phone in his lap.

Luke (7:30): “People are asking.”

Luke (8:05): “Never mind.”