"If we can’t solve this problem, Pittsburgh will have to declare bankruptcy."

"Daniel, if that happens, we’re finished. For this year’s midterm elections, Pittsburgh will be a wasteland. We won’t have a single cent to support other candidates in the party, and we won’t even be able to manage basic mobilization."

Murphy finished and held his breath.

Leo also leaned forward, staring intently at the phone.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

BEEP—

He had hung up.

The buzzing from the receiver was particularly jarring in the quiet office.

Murphy’s hand, still holding the phone, froze in mid-air. The expression on his face shifted from tension to disbelief, then quickly slid into fear.

"He hung up?" Murphy muttered, unable to believe his ears. "He didn’t say anything? Just hung up?"

Leo’s face darkened as well.

’This didn’t match any of their prepared scenarios.’

’If he were giving up on them, he would have at least offered some hollow platitudes. If he were angry, there should have been a torrent of shouting.’

’What did it mean for him to just hang up?’

’Was Sanders so angry he couldn’t even be bothered to say another word?’

"It looks like things are headed down the hardest path," Leo said in a low voice, his hand unconsciously tightening its grip on the edge of the desk.

"You mean... a fallout?" Murphy’s voice trembled.

Just then, a sharp ringing shattered the dead silence.

Murphy’s personal cell phone began vibrating frantically on the desk.

The caller ID displayed Sanders’s number, pulsing on the screen.

Murphy glanced at Leo, swallowed hard, and picked up the phone.

"John."

The voice on the other end wasn’t loud. There was no expected roar; in fact, it was quite mild.

But this mildness sent a chill crawling up Murphy’s spine.

"Is Mayor Wallace with you?" Sanders asked.

"Yes, Senator." Murphy glanced at Leo.

"Walk to the other side of the room," Sanders said. "There are some things I don’t want that young man to hear."

Murphy froze for a moment, his finger hovering over the speakerphone button.

Leo, sensing that something was off, nodded at Murphy, signaling for him to do as he was told.

Murphy took the phone and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the office, his back to Leo.

"I’m listening," Murphy said, lowering his voice.

"Listen, John." Sanders’s voice was ice-cold. "The situation in Pittsburgh right now is a disaster. Not a financial disaster, a political one."

"I had my concerns about this before, and it seems I was right. This Leo Wallace, he’s too weak. He’s got a knack for riling up emotions, but he has none of the skill needed to actually govern a city."

"He was dealt a good hand and played it into the ground. All to pick a fight with the Speaker, he’s actually driven the government to the brink of bankruptcy." Sanders sighed. "He doesn’t have what it takes to be a mayor. At least, not right now."

"So... what do we do?" Murphy’s throat felt dry. "Abandon him?"

"Not now," Sanders said, ever the pragmatist. "The midterms are just around the corner, and Pennsylvania is a key battleground. If Pittsburgh’s Democratic Mayor causes a major scandal or the government shuts down, the Republican Party will use it as ammunition against our candidates nationwide."

"We can’t cause trouble for the party. At least, not before November."

"You stay there, John. You need to watch him like a babysitter."

Sanders issued his orders.

"Help him stabilize the situation. I don’t care if you have to use duct tape and glue, just patch that mess up and don’t let the fire spread to Washington."

"If he can still salvage this, then let him hang on by a thread for a while longer."

"If he can’t handle it, or if he dares to cause any more trouble..."

Sanders’s voice was laced with indifference.

"Then get a backup plan ready. As soon as the midterms are over, we’re replacing him. Whether it’s through a recall or by forcing him to resign."

"His political career is over."

"Do you understand me, John? Don’t tie yourself to him too tightly. He’s a sinking ship."

The call ended.

Murphy stood holding the phone, which felt like a block of ice in his hand.

He turned around and looked at Leo, who was sitting behind the desk.

Leo was watching him, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

"He wasn’t furious, was he?" Leo asked softly.

Murphy nodded stiffly.

"His tone was calm, even gentle."

"Exactly."

Leo leaned back in his chair, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Call him back," Leo said, his voice leaving no room for argument as he stared into Murphy’s eyes.

Murphy was stunned. "Now? He just hung up."

"Don’t hesitate, John. He’s already accepted the reality of Pittsburgh’s situation. Now is the perfect time to make a deal."

Murphy hesitated, but the conviction in Leo’s eyes made it impossible for him to refuse.

He took a deep breath and dialed the number again.

"John? What is it now?" On the other end, Sanders’s voice was filled with nothing but impatience. "If this is about pleading for that young man, don’t bother."

Murphy looked at Leo, his throat suddenly dry. He swallowed unconsciously.

His heart hammered against his ribs, as if trying to break free.

Leo nodded at him.

Murphy closed his eyes and began to speak. "Daniel, we have a way. A way to not only save Pittsburgh from this crisis and resolve this damned debt..."

"...but also to achieve the most important thing of all."

"And what’s that?" Sanders asked.

"We can make it so the Progressive flag is truly planted in Pennsylvania," Murphy’s voice began to steady. "Not just in this corner of Pittsburgh, but across the entire state. We can use this crisis to turn this place into a stronghold for us Progressives."

A contemptuous snort came from the phone.

"With that Wallace who can’t even get a budget passed?" Sanders’s tone was full of disdain. "Are you still dreaming, John? He can’t even handle his own city council."

"Not Leo."

Murphy gripped the phone tighter, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

"Me."

This time, the other end of the line went completely silent.

After a long moment, Sanders’s voice came again.

"You?"

"What are you playing at, John?"

Murphy lifted his head and glanced at Leo.

Leo was standing at the window, his back to him, looking out at the brightly lit city.

"I want to run for Senator," Murphy said, enunciating each word.