Claudia gives me a warm hug like I've been gone for a week, whereas, the last time I saw her was three days back."Good to have you here," she says, expressing her gratitude."Don't. I would have come anyway."The Senator's house is Victorian. One of the men who still think that the old ways are better off. I don't know if he is the only one holding that thought."He just saw some visitors, he's still in the study. Doors are open," Claudia directs, and I nod in reply.Unlike other people who have their study situated on the first floor, Senator Jones Baldwin has put his on the last floor of his mansion. Says he thinks better on elevated ground. And he doesn't mean it comically.I knock on the door and he looks up at me from behind his table. The Senator looks shaken underneath his clothes, but those brown eyes of his shine with fervor, and I know he's thinking again. "May I?""Come in, Palmer," he says.I cross the space and sit on the other side of his table. "I know you're thinking again. What this time?""My wife told you I had some visitors?""Yes, she did," I reply, with a nod."Can you guess who they were?""No," I say, shaking my head."Good, which means you can be a better politician. Never make a guess on things you aren't sure of.""Sounds like someone telling me that I'm going to suffer because I believe in things I don't understand."Jones Baldwin tilts his head to the left, like he's trying to manipulate me. "Whoever that is, isn't far from the truth.""How have you been, sir?""Healthy," replies the Senator, as casual as ever."You should stop thinking that way, sir. You are ill. And you really need to start listening to people.""Telling me what?""That you need to rest and stop bothering yourself about the election. It's not even for another year.""Man, that's why you're here?" he says, and smiles.Claudia walks in with a tray of bread and tea. It's always been my favorite meal, regardless of what others think. "Thank you, Claudia.""One never stops thinking, Palmer. Not when it's politics.""Not even when it's self destructive?""How about you spend some time with me here, at the mansion? I can show you some things you need to see."I shake my head, not in refusal, but in uncertainty. "I don't know about that, sir. I think Claudia wouldn't approve. She'll shoo me off to go look for a wife or something."He smiles. "How's that part of your life coming, anyway?""It's not," I say. "It broke down. Unmoving.""Why is that?""I don't know," I say, with a shrug."You're just like me, Palmer. Want nothing else in your life except those charts and positions. If it doesn't buy or sell, it's not for Terry Palmer. Same as I. If it's not the ballots, I don't give an ass."We both laugh at this, then I say. "She wants me to change your mind.""Claudia wants you to save my life, Palmer. And she thinks that getting me out as soon as possible is the only way.""Well, she's seen what it's done to you. Think it would give her ample joy to witness it a second time, Senator?"He says nothing."And yes, you're right. We're not so different when you really consider the downsides of our avocation. You lose an election, and it feels like you've lost it all. I lose a trade and I feel like I've failed the bank and lost them a huge sum. But which one of us do you reckon has less certainty than the other, sir? Which one of us has something worth living for? I know I don't, but you do, sir. You have Claudia, and two great girls." I sigh. "I didn't save your life back in the Army only to have to watch you lose it, sir.""Oh, now you're schooling me, huh?" This brings a smile to my face."Did you watch the press conference earlier today?" asks the Senator. "No, sir," I say, and sip my tea. "It was Peacecholds. They have a new Chairman. Ms. Ashley Swift.""Heard about that.""She's got some fire, that one. You should watch that. The way she stood up to that reporter, I don't think he'll make himself available for conferences for some time, Palmer. And I hope his wife doesn't see it.""I'll give my judgment when I've seen it.""They are your major competitor. Just need you to be careful. If she gets obsessed with takeover bids, the road is going to be a bumpy one. Problem is, I have shares with them, and your bank as well. If it comes to taking a side, I'm unsure whose side I'll stand on.""Spoken like a true politician.""Maybe you might want to up your game, son," suggests Jones Baldwin as he steals one of my loaves. "What do you mean?" "How much does your trading office make a week?""About twenty-five million." "Well you need billions to do what I'm thinking."I roll my eyes. "And what is it that you are thinking again, Mr. Senator?""Have you ever thought of buying the bank? All at once? Not just by shares?""No.""Well, if you stack your lots, you might start making your weekly profit in a day.""We traders deal with greed too, sir. And why do you think I need to make a move first before she does? You think she's incapable of leading the bank?" "I think she's more capable, Palmer. I think she's dangerous."