Free Upside Down by Fern Michaels Page B

lives.”
    Isabelle burst into fresh tears and fled the room.
    Myra grimaced. Maggie looked pained, but neither said a word.
    â€œThe word divorce might give her pause for thought. It was worth a try. Personally, I don’t see it working. How can it when both of them are so stubborn. If they’re meant for one another, they’ll find a way. Actually, you two might not agree with me, but I’m on Abner’s side in all of this,” Annie said.
    â€œI am, too,” Myra said.
    â€œBelieve it or not, I’m on his side, too,” Maggie said. “I hate it that I feel so disloyal, but it’s how I feel. They have to work it out. So, are we on for dinner, or should I leave? I’m sure you two have a lot to think and talk about, so I think maybe I should get back to town. Are you up for lunch tomorrow with the girls? Betty Lou’s. Dupont Circle. Kathryn is in town but only for a few hours.”
    â€œWe’ll be there,” Myra said. “It will be great to get together again.”
    â€œWhat time is Isabelle’s flight?” Maggie asked.
    â€œI think she said it was eleven-ten, so unless she has some kind of an epiphany, she will not be joining us,” Annie said.
    Maggie grinned as she pulled on her jacket. “Annie, how many times have you said to me, if you snooze, you lose?”
    Annie laughed. “Too many to count. Be careful driving back, dear. We’ll see you at lunch.”
    Maggie hugged the women, looked toward the family room, and winced. “Tell Isabelle I said good-bye.”
    Maggie’s cell phone pinged just as she was ready to make a left turn onto the highway. She listened to Annie’s voice telling her to hire a new investigative firm with twenty-four/seven surveillance of the boys and to bill it to the paper.
    Maggie’s fist shot high in the air. “Yesssss,” she almost screamed as she careened out onto the highway.

Chapter 9
    Abner Tookus sat in a traffic jam in the middle of Dupont Circle. He drummed his fingers in frustration on the steering wheel as he stared at the long line of cars ahead of him. He was just ten minutes away from the White House and five minutes away from prestigious Embassy Row. Too bad neither place was his destination. Behind him, cars blasted their horns. Ahead of him, cars blasted their horns. He felt like doing the same thing but resisted the impulse because he knew it wouldn’t get him anywhere. He could just imagine the curses being bellowed behind the closed windows of the cars. He looked into his rearview and side mirrors and saw dozens of raised middle fingers.
    He’d just come from the area in the District called Foggy Bottom, where he had a midmorning meeting at the crown prince of the U.S. government—the Department of State—where he’d turned down a job that wasn’t to his liking. He was absolutely certain that his contact person would be back in touch and offer to sweeten the offer by the end of the day. It always happened that way. Today, he knew, would be no exception. He loved it when he could make big government sweat.
    Ah, traffic was finally moving. Abner inched forward, then came to another stop as the light changed from green to yellow, then red. “Crap!” He slumped in the seat of his Hummer and stared out the side window. Nine miserable days of weather just like today: gray, ugly, and depressing. He could hardly wait to get to BOLO and the bright, fluorescent lighting.
    Abner blinked, then squeezed his eyes shut and quickly opened them. Did he just see what he thought he just saw? What a stupid question. Of course he had. Nikki and Alexis were literally running toward Betty Lou’s Café. Right behind the running duo were Yoko and Kathryn, both of whom were sprinting to catch up. He frowned. “Hmmnn.” He eyed the traffic in front of him, which still wasn’t moving. Aha, Maggie, running solo, her flaming red hair billowing