Page 110 of Not the Plan

She waited, straining to hear anyone else in the hallway. It was quiet, so she slipped from behind the desk and tiptoed to the door. She left his office, went past the Majority offices, and returned to her own without being seen.

Her mind was whirring away.

I was right. The flips on Peter’s insurance bill had been a sign that something was going on.

She sat in front of her computer, trying to remember the specific rules about pro tem nominations, beyond the general rules for voting on officers.

I cannot believe that asshole is planning a coup.

A “coup.” The word brought up a faint memory. Her first year in the Assembly, a coup had failed in the senate. She didn’t remember who had been involved, but she had the year. If she had the year, she could find the story. Her phone chirped.

Daniel:Any developments?

Isadora:Maybe.

Daniel:Maybe good? Maybe bad?

Isadora:Maybe good. Working on it. For now, hold off on Peter’s ins bill.

Daniel:Got it.

—

Within an hour, she’d made some headway. Peter’s insurance bill was the end of the line for Daniel’s pro tem hopes and a humiliating defeat for Isadora. The reputation she’d counted on getting her to D.C. was in serious jeopardy. If the senators who had flipped in the War Room voted for Julian to become pro tem, they might not have enough other senators to vote for Daniel.

Voting against the majority leader on major legislation like the insurance bill, plus breaking a pledge, were two massive no-no’s in a senator’s life. Whatever this “intel” was had to be huge for multiple members to break those unwritten rules.

Where and how could Julian have gotten some sort of serious information about enough members for them to flip as they had in the War Room? What could he possibly have on so many people to stop Daniel from becoming president?

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Karim

Karim’s week really wasn’t going well. He’d thrown himself into work and gone back to San Diego for the weekend. He met up with Gabriel, who’d become close enough to ask Karim what was wrong, but not close enough for him to feel comfortable sharing. He’d been disappointed with his sluggishness during their jog on Sunday, then realized why on Monday when he’d gone to put on his belt: He had to tighten it by two holes so his pants wouldn’t sag below his waist.

Then on Wednesday night, he noticed something positive in his personal inbox, though at first it threw him for a loop.

From: Sanders Esq., Martin

Subj: Sarda v. Sarda Resolution

Hi Karim, Good news. Laila’s accepted. Your divorce is final.

“Upon consideration of this case, upon evidence submitted as provided by law, it is the judgment of this court that a total divorce be granted between the parties to the above stated case upon…”

Karim read the email again. Then a third time. The living room got quiet, though he hadn’t turned the TV on in days, so there hadn’t been any noise before. Suddenly his pulse was loud. Not fast, just loud and steady. He was extremely aware of the beating of his own heart. He was divorced. Free. Some small part of himwas waiting, anticipating the shouts, the joy, the triumph he should be feeling. But…there was just silence. He looked around the room. It was the same as it had been a moment ago. Nothing had changed, even though his entire world had shifted. He should be happy. Instead, he felt…empty? Before he could avoid it, he glanced down at his hand, at his ring finger. It was as bare as it had been for the past year. And suddenly he felt sad about that. Why? What on earth was the matter with him? He picked up his phone.

Normally, Khalil would be the one to call. Without hesitation. But now hewashesitating. This was divorce, the end of something. And Khalil was so happy with Vanessa right now, Karim didn’t want to bring him down. He rested the phone on the coffee table. An itchy jumpiness pushed him to his feet, to the sliding glass door that led to the patio. He should be happy. His next reflex was to reach out to Isadora, to let her know that he was well and truly single. But he was dead to her now, and rightfully so. He gazed out the door, rubbing his head, then pushed his glasses up so he could rub his eyes. Who would understand? He went back to his phone and opened a messaging app.

Karim:Hey, Mo. I’m officially divorced. Should be happy. And I am. But not 100%. Weird?

Mo’s divorce had been finalized years ago and was pretty amicable, so maybe he wasn’t the right person to reach out to. Karim put the phone down and turned to the kitchen for some water.Who am I kidding? Mo? Talk? About feelings? That’ll be a cold day in he—Karim nearly jumped out of his skin as his phone started ringing. He went back to pick it up, staring at the caller ID. It said “Mo.” He read it again. Mo wascallinghim? Mo had never called him in reply to a text. Had Mo ever called him at all? Other than when their grandfather had died? Karim answered.

“Hello?” he asked.

“Hey,” grunted Mo.

“Hey.”

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