Client 09-31: Day Five

Dorothy, magic miner of electronic data, found Emily F.: receptionist, 07-08. Just out of curiosity, I asked her to run a literature search on Mrs. X - credit report, public records, etc.

First phone call of the day was to Senator X's office, but not to the Senator himself. Pretended to be a potential employer, checking references on Emily F. Got the office administrator, who would do nothing but confirm employment dates. She did ask whether this was for a job in Washington. Confidentiality works both ways; I said my client did not want to be identified. This flustered her. "Oh," she said, "I just thought she'd gone home to Alabama." Useful: home is Alabama. I passed the info on to Dorothy, who's narrowing the search.

Left another message on Senator X's private line: "When can we talk?" Late in the day he called, suggested breakfast tomorrow morning at the Phoenix Park, a hotel on the Senate side.

Arts calendar in the City Paper said Mrs. X was co-hosting an art gallery reception tonight, so I thought I'd stop by. I was underdressed, which surprised me. Never did get entirely clear on what the event was, or what her role was. She recognized me, but ignored me. The art was not to my taste -- who buys this stuff? -- so I didn't stay long, and went home to watch Wake Forest ruin my NCAA bracket picks.