10

Sean’s best ideas came when he was on the move. So, with Will’s Senate race off, there was nothing to hold him back. After his restless night, it had taken only a couple of hours and a few well-placed calls to book a visit to a new NGO in Nepal that had sprung up after the earthquake to handle health care delivery. If all panned out, he was prepared to offer the company’s executives up to three million dollars to expand their emergency response platform.

He’d booked his usual first-class seat on a commercial flight from JFK. He easily could have chartered a plane, but he preferred having lots of people around him when he was on an airplane. It helped pass the time, especially on cross-Atlantic flights.

His flight wouldn’t depart until evening. Sleeping on planes was no fun. Sean didn’t know anyone who did it well. But he didn’t want to burn any more time. He certainly didn’t want to sit around his apartment, which was more a landing place in between trips than a home. He’d much rather people-watch at the airport and engage a few characters in interesting conversation. Within 10 minutes, he’d gain a new contact or two.

He and Jon Gillibrand kept up a healthy competition in comparing their social networking skills. Thus far, Sean had the contest nailed with Facebook and LinkedIn and his more than 1,700 mobile contacts, but Jon towered above him on Twitter.

With several hours to spare before his flight, Sean grabbed one of his well-stocked travel bags that the housekeeper kept ready for him, strode out the door of the building to the limo, and was off to JFK.

Will knew he was living on borrowed time. It had been over 24 hours since his aborted campaign announcement. It wouldn’t be long before his father, Drew, or both contacted him. When Will’s cell rang, he was surprised either had waited this long.

His father was first. “So what’s next, if not the Senate race?”

Will halted, stunned, in the corridor outside his office at Worthington Shares. He doesn’t want to know why I pulled out? Just what’s next? “I’m evaluating my options. First, though, I want to make sure I’m up to speed on Worthington Shares.”

Will was certain he’d stay at the helm of Worthington Shares, but he was also open for an additional challenge. He didn’t know what that might be, but he was confident there was a next step. He simply needed to uncover it.

“That’s good, William. Okay then.” His father paused. “Give your mother a call sometime, would you? She’s taking this little fork in the road hard.” Bill cleared his throat. “I think she needs to know you’re all right.”

“I’ll call her. Very soon,” he promised.

For any other father-son relationship, it might have been a traditional checkup call. But it was so unlike Bill that Will was unnerved. His father had pushed for what was next—nothing different there. But he didn’t address Will pulling out of the campaign or ask why. Instead concern and gentleness had colored his father’s tone.

When Will walked into his office, Drew was sitting in one of the leather chairs opposite his desk. Guess it’s a two-for-one event, Will thought.

Drew didn’t say a word, only studied Will with his keen blue-gray eyes. Will knew that unsettling gaze. Whenever it landed on him, since childhood, he’d had no choice but to confess either what he’d done or what was on his mind. He had no choice now either. Likely the man who seemed to know everything about everyone already had some of the information Will was withholding. But how much? Which of the two secrets, or both, should Will reveal?

At that moment, Will decided to choose the easier one, if either revelation could be considered easier. “You’re wondering why I pulled out of the race?”

Drew gave one short nod.

“It had to do with a visit in the park with Jason Carson.” Will stared at Drew, trying to judge by his response how much he knew.

Drew didn’t even flinch.

“He showed me a photo of Sean chatting up a guy at a bar. A guy now identified as the Polar Bear Bomber.”

Still no flicker in Drew’s expression. So he does know, Will realized. That’s why I haven’t heard from him. He’s been busy with his contacts. In that regard, Drew and Sean were quite similar.

Will drew a deep breath. “You know what that means—for Sean, for our family. Carson assured me the photos wouldn’t go viral as part of the investigation if I stepped out of the race.”

At last Drew spoke. “You know Sean’s not connected, right? He would never do that.”

“I know, or at least I think I know. But Sean has seemed awfully different of late, more unsettled. What if . . . ?”

Drew frowned. “It’s a setup, and you know it. Your sister’s on edge too.”

“My sister? Sarah knows about the photos?” Will sank onto his desk chair.

“No, but she called me. Saw Jason Carson in the shadows by the stage and you getting in his face afterward. Sooner or later she’s going to follow that rabbit trail. With Sandstrom and AF already in her sights, I believe she just added Carson to that list. She knows something’s up, but not exactly what.”

Will jumped to his feet and started to pace. “So we target him in our sights too.” He eyed Drew. “Just like in the old Westerns.”

The normally solemn Drew cracked a smile. “I’d hate to go up against this posse of gunfighters.”

Will smiled back. “Exactly.”