Cut and Thrust

20

Ann Keaton sat at her desk in her small office in the presidential cottage and began working delegates, one by one. Molly, Kate’s secretary, sat at an adjacent desk. Her phone rang, she listened and then tapped Ann on the shoulder.

Ann covered the phone. “Yes, Molly?”

“Hang up.”

“I’ll call you back,” Ann said into her phone, then hung up.

“Evan Chandler, from Senator Mark Willingham’s campaign, wants to speak to you,” Molly said. “This could be important.”

Ann pressed the button. “Good morning, Evan, how are you?”

“Very well, Ann. Senator Willingham would like to meet with Director Lee — this morning, if possible.”

“She has meetings all morning and a lunch at twelve thirty,” Ann said. “I could make some time between the meetings and lunch — say, twelve?”

“That’s fine. The senator would like to meet in his suite at the Bel-Air.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible, given her schedule,” Ann said. “It will have to be at the presidential cottage at The Arrington.”

“Hold on.”

Ann found herself listening to piano music.

“What’s going on?” Molly asked.

“I’m on hold. Willingham wants a meet, but I won’t let the first lady go to him.”

“Ann?” Chandler was back on the line.

“Yes, Evan.”

“The senator will be there at noon.”

“I’ll leave word at the gate,” Ann said. “Security is very tight here.”

“He’ll be on time.” Chandler hung up.

Ann put down the phone and ran down the hall to the presidential office. She rapped on the door and opened it. Kate and Will Lee were sitting on the sofa, their laps full of papers.

“Director, you have a meeting with Mark Willingham at noon, here.”

“I do?” Kate asked, surprised.

“Unless you want me to cancel.”

Will looked at her and shook his head.

“All right, Ann.”

Ann smiled and went back to her desk.

Kate looked at Will. “Now, what do you suppose?”

“It won’t be State,” Will said.

“He’s not going to offer me the number two spot,” Kate said.

“Why not? Mark will do whatever he has to do, and he’s all out of time. Nominations are tonight, and he’ll want to have everything lined up. He obviously believes that Marty doesn’t have the votes to win on the first ballot.”

“It’s incongruous,” Kate said. “Willingham was your worst enemy among the Democrats in the Senate.”

“Doesn’t matter. Mark has decided you’re the only way he can win.”

Kate shook her head. “Impossible.”

“Well,” Will said, “all you have to do is listen.”

Kate had Arranged the furniture again in the library and was sitting when the knock came.

“Senator Willingham,” Manolo said.

Willingham strode into the room and shook Kate’s hand, then sat down. He didn’t wait for her to sit first.

“What can I do for you, Senator?” Kate asked.

“I have it on good authority that the California delegation is cracking,” he said.

“Cracking how?” Kate asked.

“On the first ballot, after California votes, someone will ask the chair to poll the delegation.”

“How much of a crack are we talking about?”

“A dozen, fifteen votes.”

“And whom will they crack for?”

“Me.”

“So that will give you, what, ninety, ninety-five delegates to the vice president’s one twenty, one twenty-five?”

“My people think that when California cracks, delegates from other states will start to jump ship. They think I’ve got a very good shot at a first-ballot win. And if it goes to a second ballot, we’re a sure thing.”

“That’s awfully optimistic of you, Senator,” Kate said.

“I know it is, that’s why I’m here. I want you to nominate me tonight. I think that could make the difference.”

“Well, I suppose there’s a weird kind of logic to that idea,” Kate said. “Of course, when delegates start to jump, many might go to Otero. And as strange as it may seem to you, Senator, many of them might even go to me.”

“Kate, would the vice presidency appeal to you?”

“Senator, is that an offer?”

“I’m just curious.”

“Satisfying your curiosity is not very appealing to me, Senator.”

“All right, if you’ll nominate me tonight, the vice presidency is yours.”

“Senator, the vice presidency is not yet your gift to give.”

“You know what I mean — you’ll have the number two spot on the ticket with me.”

“Shall I be frank with you, Senator?”

“By all means.”

“I don’t think California can crack enough to give you the nomination. I don’t think that enough ship jumpers would go to you, either. In fact, if suddenly Marty dropped out of the race, I don’t think you’d get the nomination.”

A flash of anger passed across the senator’s face and he stood up. “I’ll take that as a no,” he said.

“That’s very perceptive of you,” Kate replied.

“Good day.” He stalked across the room and out the door.

Ann came into the room. “He looked very angry, Director. Did you tell him to go fuck himself?”

“Pretty much,” Kate replied.