I’ve never met him.” I frowned.

“My father mentioned him once.

Years ago, when I was sixteen.

I walked into his study while he was on the phone, shouting, and he slammed it down and told me the Senator sent his regards — and then he caught himself, and told me it was nothing, and ordered me never to say that name to anyone.”

Beside me, my mother made a small sound.

“He said the same words to me,” she whispered, “the night Brandon was born.