I said, "Charlie was in the process of selling the evidence back to Bilton. He got the first payment, but they tried to raid his place to get the goods. He bolted, then upped the stakes at San Onofre. So they blew his head off his shoulders, making me an unwitting accomplice and almost killing me while they were at it." I tapped the ultrasound. "If this leaked, it'd knock family values on its ass."

Caruthers looked thoughtful, a kid finding the golden ticket in his Wonka bar. Agitated, he pulled the nicotine gum from his mouth and winged it to the side of the road. It hit a mailbox post and stuck. "Did you see this morning's Times? They're off my divorce now and onto June's. Planted letters to the editor. Nonpartisan advocacy groups are up in arms. Concerned Citizens for Traditional Values are… well, concerned. Bilton's nipping at my heels." He handed the ultrasound back to me.

"But? "

The nearest post-stander's head swiveled at my tone.

Caruthers asked, "What is this, Nick?"

"It's an ultrasound."

"Right. It's not an issue. And you want this campaign to be about issues as much as I do. This is something Bilton could use and lose no sleep. We can't. Because I don't care if Andrew played grabass with some woman nearly two decades ago. If / pretend to care or if a leak traces back to my supporters, the voters'11 smell the hypocrisy before

Chris Matthews can open his yap." He shook his head, irritated at his options. "No, this thing is precisely the kind of petty political distraction I've spent the last two years decrying."

"Charlie might not think it's so petty."

"By your description Charlie was an extortionist who threatened to blow a hole in a nuclear power plant. Now, I'm sure Bilton had his Service henchmen dick around with this somewhere, but we're in spin terrain, and a spin game goes to the incumbent. Here's another bit of transparency-I can't use something that's not airtight." His green eyes took on a calculated, if self-amused, glint. "I can always reconsider come the last week of October." His smirk vanished, his face texturing with concern. "I appreciate the risk you took in getting this to me. I hope I don't seem unappreciative."

I waved him off.

His penetrating green eyes held on me. "Right, " he said. "You need something. You wanted to trade."

"Yeah, but you're not interested in dirt. Some politician you turn out to be."

His lips curled with amusement. "Maybe I can still help?"

"It's just, this girl…" I shook the ultrasound in an attempt to resuscitate my position. "She's still just a kid. Seventeen is a scary age to have people after you. I think she's in danger, and I don't have any way of tracking her down."

"Last name Evers?"

"Everett."

"And the mother's name is Jane? I can't exactly go running this up the flagpole, but I have plenty of avenues, and I promise you I will figure out how to get the proper authorities on this."

I nodded my thanks.

"That's all you're asking for?" His voice held a note of incredulity.

"Yeah. That's it."

"How about that," he said. "You finally found something you want."

The agents firmed, one after another. A Honda reached the slant-parked SUVs and turned, the driver intimidated into offering an apologetic little wave.

"If I get clear of all this," I said, "maybe I'll register."

"Bilton needs all the votes he can get." He smiled and turned to go.

"Wait, I…" It came out louder than I'd wanted it to.

He paused. I felt his eyes on me, and then he leaned toward me, trying to pick up my gaze. "What?"

"So no one…"I had to stop, clear my throat. "No one ever brought anything like this to you when you were vice president?"

"Oh," he said. "Oh. You mean Frank. No, I'm afraid he never did." I must have looked crestfallen, because he paused to piece it together.

"Because Frank had no good reason not to show me that ultrasound seventeen years ago"-his face softened with sympathy-"unless he was using it to extort Bilton."

The breeze blew against my face, numbing it further.

Caruthers said, quietly, "Frank and I never discussed something like this."

My lips were dry. "And should I believe you?"

"You're too smart to believe any politician, Nick. And I'm too smart to trust a conspiracy nut. And yet here we are."

He took a step away, then paused for a moment with his back to me before turning. "I don't know if it's inappropriate to say in light of all this, but I think Frank would've been proud."

I looked away so he couldn't see my reaction.

Caruthers nodded solemnly, and then stepped toward the agents. The joggers swung over to his sides, running in place until he got moving. The SUVs purred around in front of and behind him, and he started steadily uphill, a lone man pulling a convoy.

Chapter 37