Colin only half listened to Roland and Celeste talking. His mind was already moving beyond the coming events. That morning he had made his second investment. He haddecided to apply just half the total funds. This time his target was a maker of software for the burgeoning CGI industry. He thought there was every chance this asset would prove more profitable than the first. Even so, he held back money because he thought the games company stock was approaching bottom, and he wanted to be ready to ride the climb toward acquisition. His mind became captured by a single word. Diversification. It rolled around and around, like the basis for a song Billie Holiday might sing. Then he realized the two adults had turned around and were watching him. “Sorry. I was …”
“You weren’t here, that’s for certain.” Celeste leaned over. “You all right?”
“I’m fine.” He ran his hand over the seat’s leather surface. Roland drove a Mercedes E Class. He loved the smooth ride, the elegant finish.
Celeste asked, “Colin, where is your mind?”
“Today’s investment.”
Roland said, “You’re not the least bit worried about the coming battle?”
“I’ve been thinking about this for so long. … I’m just glad I don’t have to go in there alone.”
The two of them inspected him, sharing the same somber expression. Like his words had stripped away the last vestiges of their own tension. Finally, Celeste reached for her door. “Let’s get this over with.”
They passed through the glass doors and entered a single large room. Celeste paused just inside the entry, took in the room and the young staffers and the lone office at the back with its glass wall overlooking the chamber. Then she said, “Hmmm-mmm. Would you just get a load of this place.”
Nine people staffed desks. Another six desks were empty save for ringing phones and piles of documents and colorful pamphlets. Boxes of fliers and posters lined the walls. Thestaff was mostly young, mostly male except for one young Latina. Colin had known a flash of very real fear entering his father’s campaign headquarters, anxious that he might find Mira working there. She had become increasingly fervent about her Young Republican activities. It was driving a wedge between her and Lucas, causing them both very real pain. Colin liked them as a couple. The thought of a split, especially one over politics, both hurt him and left him feeling helpless.
He followed Celeste over to a row of padded chairs lining the right-hand wall. He seated himself and watched Roland speak with the young woman. She headed toward the glassed-in office at the back of the room. Roland hesitated, then followed her, winding his way through the desks. She tapped on the closed door, and a man standing beside Colin’s father motioned for them to enter. He was a tall older gentleman in a grey pin-striped suit. He and Roland seemed to know each other. They exchanged words, Roland looked pointedly at his watch, and retreated. The three men turned and looked at Colin. Their gazes gave nothing away. Then they went back to talking among themselves.
Colin’s and Celeste’s chair legs were linked, meaning Celeste’s bulk was mashed close to Colin’s side. He did not mind. Her warmth and her strength formed the same support he had relied on the last time they had confronted his father. Together. Just like now.
Roland came back over and seated himself on Colin’s other side. Wedging him in between the two adults. A human shield fashioned from strength and knowledge and trust. Roland said, “The silver fox is Grey Robinson. He’s an attorney representing a number of major Republican donors. The other man I don’t know. I suspect he’s your father’s campaign manager.”
The three men in the glass-walled office continued to shoot him tight glances. Their expressions were all the same,emotionless and stony. Colin shut his eyes. He knew they assumed they held all the cards. They were the ones about to dictate terms. He would soon find out if he had taken all the necessary steps. For the moment, Colin found comfort in the simple facts that he was as prepared as he could be, and he had the support of true friends. Roland might be a more recent addition, but the man was solid. Street smart, that was the term. Colin settled his head against the cool cement wall and let his mind roam.
He had started using an online study of jazz as a way of cooling down, especially when he woke up in the middle of the night and all the daytime energies and tension loomed around his narrow bed. He loved the mathematical precision of how musicians discussed their melodies and the theory that dominated their profession. The patterns carried an entirely new language: harmonics, jazz notation, dominant sevenths, twelve bars, major and minor shifting chord lines, circle of fifths, the tonic, chords to the bar, blues harmony, propulsive energy.
“Where is that mind of yours?”
He opened his eyes to find Celeste smiling at him. “Jazz. The more I learn, the more I love it.”
She examined him a long moment. “That really sets you off from most of the young people I work with.”
He had no idea what she meant. “They don’t like jazz?”
“I’m not talking about music. What I’m saying, it’s not enough to be smart. You need a direction.”
“Compass heading, you once called it.”
“There you go. You take aim and you go after it. Hard as you can. You’re committed.” She continued to smile at him. “Knowing who you are and what you want are crucial to forming a good life. You can’t imagine how fine it makes me feel knowing you’re going to be all right.”
Her confidence unsettled him. The fact was, Colin had no idea who he truly was. None. The question itself threatenedhim at a very deep level, far beneath his racing heart, utterly removed from the day’s imminent threat. And as for what he wanted … Colin wanted to tell her how wrong she was. He had never seen farther ahead than handling the next crisis, taking the next step. Just like today. Confront his father. Make another investment. And then … What? He had no idea.
He wanted to correct her, beg for answers he did not have, ask how she could be so confident, when Roland spoke from their other side. “Have you told Mira and Ethan who your father is?”
He was almost glad for the reason to turn away from Celeste and his own confusion. “No.”
“Probably best to wait on that. He’s a major supporter of Roger Eames.”
Colin nodded. “I was afraid I’d find Mira here.”
“Her Young Republicans are big on the candidate, no question.” Roland picked up his briefcase. “Heads up, people. We’re on.”
Colin looked over to find the men still clustered together watching them. He knew they were very displeased with how comfortable he appeared with Celeste and Roland. As he followed the attorney across the main room, Colin silently responded,Tough.
CHAPTER21
