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She had five minutes； and found her train as it was boarding。 Again； she sat in the rear and watched every passenger。 There were no familiar faces。 Surely； please； surely； they had not stuck to her on this jagged escape。 Once again； her mistake had been credit cards。 She had bought four tickets at O'Hare with American Express； and somehow they knew she was in New York。 She was certain Stump had not seen her； but he was in the city； and of course he had friends。 There could be twenty of them。 But then； she was not certain of anything。
The train left six minutes late。 It was half empty。 She pulled a paperback from the bag and pretended to read it。
Fifteen minutes later； they stopped in Newark； and she got off。 She was a lucky girl。 There were cabs lined up outside the station； and ten minutes later she was at the airport。
* * *
IT WAS SATURDAY MORNING； and the Queen was in Florida taking money from the rich； and it was clear and cool outside。 He wanted to sleep late； then play golf whenever he woke up。 But it was seven； and he was sitting at his desk wearing a tie； listening to Fletcher Coal suggest what they ought to do about this and about that。 Richard Horton； the Attorney General； had talked to Coal； and now Coal was alarmed。
Someone opened the door and Horton entered alone。 They shook hands and Horton sat across the desk。 Coal stood nearby； and this really irritated the President。
Horton was dull but sincere。 He was not dumb or slow； he just thought carefully about everything before he acted。 He thought about each word before he said it。 He was loyal to the President； and could be trusted for sound judgment。
〃We are seriously considering a formal grand jury investigation into the deaths of Rosenberg and Jensen；〃 he announced gravely。In light of what's happened in New Orleans； we think this should be pursued immediately。〃
〃The FBI is investigating；〃 the President said。 〃They've got three hundred agents on the case。 Why should we get involved？〃
〃Are they investigating the pelican brief？〃 Horton asked。 He knew the answer。 He knew Voyles was in New Orleans at this moment with hundreds of agents。 He knew they had talked to hundreds of people； collected a pile of useless evidence。 He knew the President had asked Voyles to back off； and he knew Voyles was not telling the President everything。
Horton had never mentioned the pelican brief to the President； and the fact that he even knew about the damned thing was exasperating。 How many more knew about it？ Probably thousands。
〃They are pursuing all leads；〃 Coal said。 〃They gave us a copy of it almost two weeks ago； so we assume they're pursuing it。〃
Exactly what Horton expected out of Coal。 〃I feel strongly that the Administration should investigate this matter at once。〃 He spoke as though this was all memorized； and this irritated the President。
〃Why？〃 asked the President。
〃What if the brief is on target？ If we do nothing； and the truth eventually surfaces； the damage will be irreparable。〃
〃Do you honestly believe there's any truth to it？〃 the President asked。
〃It's awfully suspicious。 The first two men who saw it are dead； and the person who wrote it has disappeared。 It is perfectly logical； if one is so inclined to kill Supreme Court Justices。 There are no other pelling suspects。 From what I hear； the FBI is baffled。 Yes； it needs to be pursued。〃
Horton's investigations leaked worse than the White House basement； and Coal was terrified of this clown impaneling a grand jury and calling witnesses。 Horton was an honorable man； but the Justice Department was filled with lawyers who talked too much。
〃Don't you think it's a bit premature？〃 Coal asked。
〃I don't think so。〃
〃Have you seen the papers this morning？〃 Coal asked。
Horton had glanced at the front page of the Post； and read the sports section。 It was Saturday； after all。 He had heard that Coal read eight newspapers before dawn； so he didn't like this question。
〃I've read a couple of them；〃 he said。
〃I've looked at several；〃 Coal said modestly。And there's not a word anywhere about those two dead lawyers or the girl or Mattiece or anything related to the brief。 If you start a formal investigation at this point； it'll be front…page news for a month。〃
〃Do you think it will simply go away？〃 Horton asked Coal。
〃It might。 For obvious reasons； we hope so。〃
〃I think you're optimistic； Mr。 Coal。 We don't normally sit back and wait for the press to do our investigating。〃
Coal grinned and almost laughed at this one。 He smiled at the President； who shot him a quick look； and Horton started a slow burn。
〃What's wrong with waiting a week？〃 asked the President。
〃Nothing；〃 shot Coal。
Just that quick the decision was made to wait a week； and Horton knew it。 〃Things could blow up in a week；〃 he said without conviction。
〃Wait a week；〃 the President ordered。 〃We'll meet here next Friday； and go from there。 I'm not saying no； Richard； just wait seven days。〃
Horton shrugged。 This was more than he expected。 He'd covered his rear。 He would go straight to his office and dictate a lengthy memo detailing everything he could remember about this meeting； and his neck would be protected。
Coal stepped forward and handed him a sheet of paper。
〃What's this？〃
〃More names。 Do you know them？〃
It was the bird…watcher list： four judges who were much too liberal for fort； but Plan B called for radical environmentalists on the Court。
Horton blinked several times and studied it hard。 〃You must be kidding。〃
〃Check 'em out；〃 said the President。
〃These guys are off…the…wall liberals；〃 Horton mumbled。
〃Yes； but they worship the sun and moon； and trees and birds；〃 Coal explained helpfully。
Horton caught on； and suddenly smiled。 〃I see。 Pelican lovers。〃
〃They're almost extinct； you know；〃 the President said。
Coal headed for the door。 〃I wish they'd been wiped out ten years ago。〃
* * *
SHE HADN'T CALLED by nine when Gray arrived at his desk in the newsroom。 He'd read the Times and there was nothing in it。 He spread the New Orleans paper over the clutter and skimmed it。 Nothing。 They had reported all they knew。 Calla…han； Verheek； Darby； and a thousand unanswered questions。 He had to assume the Times and maybe the Times…Picayune in New Orleans had seen the brief or heard about it； and thus knew of Mattiece。 And he had to assume they were clawing like cats to verify it。 But he had Darby； and they would find Garcia； and if Mattiece could be verified； they would do it。
At the moment； there was no alternative plan。 If Garcia was gone or refused to help； they would be forced to explore the dark and murky world of Victor Mattiece。 Darby would not last long at that； and he didn't blame her。 He was uncertain how long he would last。
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