"And for all our pains, we’re back in the political wilderness again." Oscar knocked a reeking branch from his jacket shoulder. "You think Mrs. Bambakias really wants some goddamn rare animal? I get a voice call at six in the morning, from the new chief of staff. He tells me the Senator’s wife is very interested in my current assignment, and she would like to have her own exotic pet animal, please. But she doesn’t call me—and Bambakias doesn’t call me—Leon Sosik calls me."