Eggsecutive Orders

“Where do you want to meet?” Steve asked as I was about to say good-bye.

“Excuse me?”

“We need to talk,” he said. In the background, I heard Suzie reiterate his statement.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

Suzie must have been listening in, because she grabbed the phone and started in on me. “Please, Ollie. You know we only agreed to come film at the White House because you wanted us to. We did this as a favor to you.”

That wasn’t how I remembered it. “I thought your production team wanted to use this for ratings week.”

“No,” she said, chastising now. “We did this because we knew it was important to you.”

It hadn’t been important to me in the least. I’d done it as a favor to them. Correction: The White House had agreed to the favor. I’d been left out of this decision entirely. Although they were indeed friends of mine, I’d been against them being in the kitchen while we were preparing a di

“Please,” she said. “We really do need to talk.”

“Later,” I said. “I’ll call you back.”

“Please,” she said again. “But we have to meet in person. Just in case others are listening in.”

“I highly doubt anyone is tapping your line.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” she said, sounding unconvinced. “But Steve and I will be more comfortable in person.”

I heard another beep. I wanted to switch over to talk with Tom. Now.

“Okay, fine. But I really need to get going.”

“Hang on.”

Steve took the phone. “We can’t get into this over open lines.”

“Got it,” I said, my exasperation evident. “But I can’t…” I took a look at my handset and realized Tom was no longer waiting for me to pick up. I bit my lip in anger and hoped he would leave a message.

“Let’s meet later,” Steve said.

Tom had said that there was no law keeping me from talking with friends. And right now there was no longer any need to get off the phone quickly. I sighed. “Sure. Where and when? I know my mom and nana will be excited to meet real television personalities.”

After a beat of silence, he said, “Just you, Ollie. Okay? Maybe we can meet your family another time.”

This was starting to feel a little bit strange. Steve persisted. “How about tonight? Do you think these camera crews will be gone by then?”

I heard Suzie in the background. “A police car just pulled up.”

“What do they want?” Steve asked her.

“How should I know?”

“Are they coming for us?”

“Steve,” I said, “you sound busy. How about I let you go?”

The balcony door opened behind me. “Are you okay out there?” Mom asked. She held the receiver of my apartment phone.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“Tom’s on the line.” She held out the receiver and looked at me with hopeful eyes. “Maybe you should take this one.”

Steve was pleading in my ear. “Ollie, no. Don’t hang up.”

“I really have to-”

“The police are making them leave!” I heard Suzie say.

“But are the police coming for us?” Steve’s obvious tension made me wonder what he was so worried about.

My mom gave me one of those looks only moms can give and shook the phone at me. “He’s waiting.”

I tried again. “Steve, let me give you a call back in-”

“This is great,” he said. “They’re all taking off.” He breathed heavily into the phone. “The cops are gone, too. Good. We’ll be able to make it to the studio after all. Thanks so much, Ollie.”

“I really didn’t-”

“Let’s make her di

“Yeah,” Steve agreed. “The studio will be better than here.” Sounding a bit distracted, he added, “Tonight, you’re our guest. We’ll have a chance to chat in real privacy.”

“Okay, fine,” I answered hastily, trying to pantomime my frustration to my mom. “You have my e-mail, right? Just send me the address and a time. I really have to go now.”

“Sure thing, Ollie. And thanks again for all your help.”

I said good-bye quickly and grabbed the apartment phone while snapping my cell shut. “Sorry,” I mouthed.

My mom smiled and headed back in, leaving me on the cold balcony once again. “Tom?” I asked. “You still there? I was on another call with Suzie and Steve.”

“That was quick. You sure didn’t waste time getting in touch with them.”

And just like that, his tone a

“Like you said,” I answered my tone sing-song, “there’s no law stopping me from having conversations with my friends.”

He made a noise-acknowledging the jab. “Are you going to be home later? Say, around eight thirty, nine tonight?”

I thought about Suzie and Steve’s offer to make me di

“Craig wants you to look at a few things.” The dismissive tone was back. “I’ll stop by then.”

“You remember my mom and nana are still here?”

He blew out a breath. “I forgot.”

I started to appreciate how much pressure he was under. “They’ll give us privacy if we need it.”

“Fair enough.” He sounded all-too-eager to get me off the phone. “See you then.”

When I reentered the apartment Nana shook her head. “You look like a drowned rat.”

“Thanks.”

Mom wore one of her worried looks. “What’s up with Tom?”

“He’s stopping by later.”

At that they both brightened. I held up my hands. “Just official business,” I said, and just like that, their cheer dissipated. “Sorry.”

“Oh, Ollie,” Mom said. “We just want you to be happy.”

“Then let’s get out today,” I said, longing for something-anything-to get my mind off this mess. “I’d like to take you to the National Mall.” Turning, I cast a glance outside at the rain. “Of course, it’s not a very good day for that, is it?”

“It’s going to clear up by noon,” Mom said.

“It said that in the newspaper?”

“Nope,” she said with a grin. “I checked the forecast online.”

I touched base with Cyan, then Bucky. Neither had heard anything more than I had, but my second-in-command was greatly agitated.

I searched for something calming to say. “It’s just a matter of time before our staff is vindicated.”

Through the phone’s receiver I heard a rhythmic click-clack and I realized that Bucky was pacing across what sounded like a tile floor. At the same moment, I realized I’d been pacing as well. Weren’t we a nervous bunch?

Click-clack, click-clack. “How can you stay so calm?” he asked.

I couldn’t tell him that I wasn’t calm. That every moment of every day was agony until the word came down that we’d be allowed back into the kitchen. I couldn’t tell him that having my mom and nana here was both a blessing and a burden. If they weren’t here, maybe there would be something I could do to hasten the process along.

I thought about my promise to Tom and reconsidered that. Maybe having my family close by right now was the best thing I could ask for. They kept me out of trouble.

“I’m calm because I believe in our team,” I finally said.

“Do you? Or are you just saying that to make me feel better?”

“When have I ever said anything just to make you feel better?”

That got a laugh out of him, and I pounced on the break in the tension.

“Bucky, you know what a tight ship we run.”

“But what if someone set us up? What if this is a conspiracy?” He sucked in an audible breath. “We all know what the press can do to us. Won’t matter whether it’s really our fault. People are just too happy to watch other people fail.” There was validity in his words. “Every day people are uncovering dirt about each other. Even if none of it is true.”