Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday…

By the time one of the marines took Jay's hood off, she already knew she was somewhere on the docks in Baltimore. There was the smell of diesel, decay, and salt air. Apparently an abandoned warehouse. In this economy, there are so many of them. I bet I know who owns it. "Sit," said the marine sergeant, as another offered a chair.

"Always the gentlemen," said Jay. "Tell me, who are you working for?"

"They're just marines, Jay. Obeying orders."

Stephanie Williams entered the dark room that had probably been the foreman's office in times gone by. Jay looked from the marines to the Vice President.

"I figured this went as high as you, Stephanie, because of the clone in the Philippines, your look-alike. Does it also involve President Fulton?"

The woman smiled at Jay. An enigmatic, Mona Lisa smile. She was still a beautiful woman. Helped along by new body parts, or just a skillful plastic surgeon? Jay couldn't tell from the ex-actor's expression what was going on in her mind. If she was uncomfortable with Jay and her friends' discovery of her plan, she didn't show it. She made a gesture and one of the marines brought her another chair. She sat down, still smiling.

"Do you know what it takes for a woman to get ahead in politics in this country?" she asked.

"Enlighten me," replied Jay with a scowl.