Colt nodded. "And hungry. Probably waitin' for a couple of gentlemen to offer them a square meal."
"Or a crooked one."
They started pushing through the crowd, heading for the women's table.
"Seems to me," Colt yelled at Kinsman over the blaring music, "it's been a helluva long time since we tried this kinda maneuver together."
Kinsman nodded. "A helluva long time."
Colt's grin was pure happiness.
Washington lay sweltering in muggy late August heat. The air was thick and gray. The sun hung overhead like a sullen bloated enemy, sickly dull orange. Any other city in the world would be empty and quiet on a Saturday like this, Kinsman thought. But Washington was filled with tourists. Despite the heat and soaking humidity they were out in force, cameras dangling from sweaty necks, short-tempered, wet- shirted, dragging tired crying children along with them. Waiting in line to get inside the White House, swarming up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, clumping together for guided tours of the Capitol, the Smithsonian museums, the Treasury Department's greenback printing plant.
Kinsman waited in the cool quiet of the National Art Gallery beside the soothing splashing of the fountain just inside the main entrance. Wing-footed Mercury pranced atop the fountain. Kinsman laughed at the statue's pose. Looks like he's giving us the finger.
Diane showed up a few minutes late, looking coolly beautiful in a flowered skirt and peasant blouse. Kinsman went to her and they kissed lightly, like old friends, like siblings.
"How'd you get my phone number?" she asked. "I'm only in town for a few days ..."
"Neal's office."
"But he's back in Pennsylvania during the recess."
"Yes, but his office is still functioning."
He took her by the arm and began leading her back toward the museum's main doors.
"Where're we going?" Diane asked.
"I want to take you to dinner. This is my last day here. I'm moving out to Vandenberg tomorrow."
"I know. Neal told me."
They stepped outside into the glare and soupy heat. "He's up there in the cool Allegheny breezes mapping out his campaign for the Minority Leadership, playing family man for 265
Mary-Ellen and the kids and the voters down home."
"He's pretty sore at you." Diane said as they walked down the steps toward the jitney stop.
