Divide and Conquer

THIRTY-FOUR

“Hello, Paul.”

Sharon’s voice was thick and cold on the other end of the phone. Hood glanced at the clock on his computer. “Hi,” he said warily. “Is everything okay?”

“Not really,” she replied.

“I just got back from the hospital.”

“What happened?”

“The short version,” she said, “is that Harleigh freaked out about ninety minutes ago. I called an ambulance — I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You did the right thing,” Hood said. “How is she?”

“Dr. Basralian sedated her, and she’s sleeping now,” Sharon went on.

“What does he think is wrong?” Hood asked. “Is it physical—?”

“He isn’t sure,” she said. “They’re going to run tests in the morning. The doctor said that sometimes a traumatic event can have physical repercussions. It can affect the thyroid, cause it to get hyper, or create a surplus of adrenaline. Anyway, I didn’t call so you’d drop what you’re doing and go to see her. I just wanted you to know.”

“Thank you,” Hood said. “I’ll still get over as soon as I can.”

“No need for that,” Sharon told him. “Everything’s quiet. I’ll let you know if there’s a change.”

“All right,” Hood said. “If that’s what you want.”

“I do. Just some down-time. Tell me, Paul. Is there a problem?” Sharon asked.

“With what?”

“The world,” Sharon said.

“Always,” Hood replied.

“I tried the motel first,” Sharon told him. “When you weren’t there, I figured you must be putting out a fire somewhere.”

Hood was not exactly sure how to take that remark. He tried not to read anything into it.

“There’s a problem in the Middle East,” Hood said. “Could be a bad one.”

“Then I won’t keep you,” Sharon said. “Just don’t kill yourself, Paul. You’re not a kid anymore. You need sleep. And the kids need you.”

“I’ll take care of myself,” he promised.

Sharon hung up. When Hood and his wife were together, Sharon used to be frustrated and angry whenever he worked long hours. Now that the two of them were apart, she was calm and concerned. Or maybe she was holding it all together for Harleigh’s sake. Whatever the reason, it was a sad, sad joke being played on the Hood family.

But Hood did not have time to consider the injustice of it all or even the condition of his daughter. The phone rang a moment after he hung up. The call was from another concerned wife.

The president’s.