Flash

were scattered liberally in the vicinity. The rest were engaged in stylish loitering, their only aim to see and be seen. Green hair and nose rings gleamed in the late light.
    Sometime during the past three years downtown Seattle had come to feel like home, she thought. This was her neighborhood, and she thrived on its energy. She rarely even thought about the small, gloomy apartment she and Logan had shared for such a short time.
    "I hope you're right about Sloan," Todd said.
    "Don't worry." Olivia realized she was feeling more confident by the minute. "I'll keep an eye on him."
    Todd cocked a brow as he helped himself to the chips. "What good will that do?"
    She smiled. "I realize, dear brother, that Jasper Sloan looks like Godzilla in this partnership. But I'm not exactly Winnie the Pooh. If I don't like the way he operates at Glow, I can make life a living hell for him."
    "Hmm." Todd grinned, looking slightly abashed. "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but that's more or less what I told Eleanor."
    Olivia frowned. "What's Eleanor got to do with this?"
    Todd shrugged. "Nothing. It's just that she knew that I was worried about what was going to happen at Glow. We talked. When I told her that if anyone in the family could handle Sloan, it would be you, she laughed and said I was right. Eleanor has a lot of respect for your flair for business."
    Olivia chuckled, pleased in spite of herself. "Nice to know that the future governor of this state admires me. Speaking of which, how goes the campaign?"
    "Brilliantly, if I do say so myself." Todd's gaze lit with fervent enthusiasm. "Eleanor is right on message. She's got incredible energy. The response at the rally in Spokane yesterday was amazing. Donations poured in this morning. The phones never stopped ringing."
    "Great."
    "The Stryker campaign is starting to panic." Todd broke off, his glance shifting to the outer room. "Here come Eleanor and Dixon. The staff meeting must be over."
    Olivia looked over her shoulder and watched Eleanor rise to her feet. The volunteers clustered around her for a few last words of encouragement.
    Tall and statuesque, her jet-black hair pulled back in a sleek knot, Eleanor Lancaster was a commanding presence in any room. She had a strong, stunning profile that would have looked good on an ancient gold coin. She also had a way of focusing the attention of those around her.
Charisma
is the word you're looking for, Olivia told herself. Eleanor pulsed with it.
    Olivia felt Todd's eyes on her. "What?"
    "I know what you're thinking," Todd said. "You still don't like the idea that Eleanor and I have a relationship, do you?"
    "What do you want me to do, lie?" She turned her head to look at him. "I just don't want you to make the same mistake I made. Don't get yourself into a classic marriage of convenience. You and Eleanor have a lot in common, but don't mistake your mutual interest in her career for something deeper."
    Todd's jaw tightened. "Damn it, Olivia, don't try to big-sister me. I'm not your little brother any more. I know what I'm doing."
    He was not her little brother these days, but he would always be her younger brother. She decided not to point out that fine distinction. Instead she summoned up a smile.
    "You're absolutely right. I'll do my best to keep my mouth shut." She paused. "It won't be easy, you know."
    Todd relaxed. He grinned briefly. "Yeah, I know."
    In the outer room, Dixon Haggard left his boss to the gaggle of volunteers and walked toward the inner office. He was in his shirtsleeves.
    Olivia smiled at him through the window. She had met him several times since Todd had gone to work for the campaign. Haggard was a narrow-faced, high-strung man in his mid-thirties. His light brown hair was thinning rapidly. The skull that was in the process of being revealed was as narrow as the rest of him. He carried his tension in his shoulders, and he was always tense.
    He opened the door, nodded at Olivia, and headed straight for the coffee machine in the corner. He consumed coffee the same way she did these days, Olivia noticed. By the gallon.
    "Thought we'd never get finished with that meeting," Dixon said as he poured himself a cup of the thick, dark brew. "You know how Eleanor is, Todd. Hard to stop when she's got an agenda."
    Todd's eyes glinted with satisfaction. "One of the things that makes her a born winner."
    "True." Dixon gulped coffee. "How's it going, Olivia? I hear you've got some problems at Glow."
    "I don't know where