Jackson nodded noncommittally, and murmured, “I suppose.”

He half-expected Andrew to offer his support at that point, just as most people who’d been inspired to during the memorial service.

But he didn’t. Instead, Andrew blew out a breath, and turned his head imperceptibly to the left, as if looking over his shoulder. Seconds later, one of his staff appeared at this side.

“Are we late?” Andrew asked the young woman who walked over, turning to look at her.

“By twenty minutes, Mr. Green,” she answered smartly, as she tabbed through a tablet’s screen. “But if we leave now we can still make it to the next meeting, which is with Treasury.”

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath. “Reschedule the one we had with Commerce. See if he’ll meet me for drinks in the Jefferson later. Tell him I’m leaving for New York at 10.”

The woman walked smartly away, heading out the door, talking into an extended earpiece. Jackson could overhear her talking to someone in a firm voice, brooking no pushback to the suggestion of drinks with Mr. Green.

He and Andrew shook hands seconds later, and then the man turned on his heel to follow the young woman out the door.

Jackson sat down next to Bette, still shaking his head. That was strange. A man like him didn’t need to stay more than 10 minutes for the reception, and yet Andrew had stuck around for an hour, at least, having arrived late. It would make sense if he’d offered to give either Bette or him some counsel, or words of support, or even resources, just like some of the other people had. But Andrew Green did nothing of these. Instead, he’d massaged Bette’s feet and then had asked Jackson some questions.

He was still thinking about the mysterious encounter when he noticed that Bette was awake, and was staring straight ahead.

“Bette!” he exclaimed. “You’re awake!”

She turned to him and smiled, “Yeah.”

“What were you thinking of just then?” Jackson asked, smiling gently.

When she didn’t answer immediately, he asked, “Peter?”

She nodded, and then added, “This whole thing … the shooting … hearing about Peter not making it … watching Diane struggle … it just keeps going round and round in my head.”