Family Jewels

55

Stone looked up a White House number and found the direct line for Paul Kale, a young man who was one of three secretaries to the President. He dialed the number.

“Paul Kale.”

“Good morning, Paul, this is Stone Barrington. How are you?”

“Very well, thank you, Mr. Barrington, and you?”

“Very well. Can you tell me if the President is available at this hour? She asked me to call.”

“If you will kindly hold, I’ll see if she can talk. I know she’s expecting your call.”

“Of course.” Stone waited for about a minute and a half, then Katharine Lee came on the line.

“Stone!”

“Good morning, Madam President.”

“Please, it’s Kate when we’re alone.”

“I know, but I have trouble with that.”

“Get over it or I’ll hang up on you.”

“I’m over it, Kate.”

“Have you a report for me?”

“I do. You asked not to have it in writing.”

“I did. Speak to me.”

“Very well. First, Tiffany Baldwin. Ms. Baldwin is an outstanding prosecuting attorney with no judicial experience. She seems to be best in black-and-white situations, which lends itself to criminal prosecution, but perhaps not the bench. She lacks subtlety in every part of her life that I am familiar with, and I have known her for some years. In a confirmation hearing, the question of judicial temperament will surely be raised, and justly so. In those circumstances she is likely to respond to questions in a manner demonstrating her complete lack of such temperament. Need I continue?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve heard similar but less blunt assertions from others about her. Continue?”

“Next is Senator Marisa Bond, with whom I was very impressed.”

Kate laughed. “I rather thought you would be.”

“Impressed in every possible way. She is highly intelligent, has spectacular credentials, and a temperament that would go a long way toward giving the Court a more collegial atmosphere. In spite of her liberal leanings, she has made a continuous effort over the years to get along with Republicans without necessarily going along. For this reason, I think confirmation would be quick.”

“I’m delighted to hear you say that. Anything else?”

“Yes. Senator Bond went out of her way to convey to me that her sexual preferences are, well, broad.”

“Oh? That surprises me.”

“I believe she told me this in response to a question of what might surprise you about her. She also made it clear that she has exercised her tastes in a highly limited and very discreet manner. There is only one living female partner in her past, who is the wife of a sitting senator — she didn’t say which one. I had the impression that, once confirmed, she might be less discreet in that regard, but we must remember that she likes men, too.”

“She had a bad marriage, I believe.”

“She did. It ended twelve years ago with recriminations on the part of her former husband that she says were outright lies. He died two years after their divorce. It’s possible that opposition research might unearth some of the man’s comments.”

“It was a long time ago, and she’s conducted her life impeccably since that time.”

“I agree.”

“So you think she’s a serious candidate?”

“I think she’s a very fine one, though it occurs to me that women are already well represented on the court.”

“That has to be considered. What did you think of Terry Maher?”

“I liked him enormously, as I have often in his television appearances. He is frank to the point of bluntness, charming when he wants to be, and very, very smart. He offsets being gay with a macho mien, which was well-earned in the U.S. Marines, in his youth. I don’t know whether you’re aware that he was the middleweight boxing champion of his service.”

“I am aware of that. I like it, too, that he retired as a gunnery sergeant, not a colonel.”

“He didn’t mention that to me, but it’s a good point.”

“So, Stone, do you have a preference among the three?”

“Maher.”

“No doubts?”

“None. He’s made a very successful effort, like Senator Bond, of getting along with his opposition, and I think that after the uproar from the right wing about his gayness has subsided, he would be easily confirmed and look good doing it on television. He’s also only in his mid-forties, so given good health, he’d be on the Court for a very long time.”

“I invited him to a State dinner a few weeks ago, and I loved it that he and his husband turned up in their Marine dress uniforms. Lots of ribbons.”

“That must have been a sight. Is there anything else I can do for you, Kate?”

“Yes. Will and I are going to be in New York this week and we thought we might attend the showing of Ms. Fiske’s jewelry at Sotheby’s. Will you come with us?”

“I would be delighted.”

“Have you a date?”

“No.”

“I’m sure Holly Barker would love to attend. Shall I bring her with us?”

“That would be wonderful!”

“Oh, good! She works far too hard on the National Security Council. Once in a while I have to take her away, just to be sure she has some fun in her life.” Kate paused. “I believe she has a New York apartment.”

“She does, but it’s small and cramped.”

“I trust I won’t have to put her in a hotel.”

“Certainly not. I’ll see that she’s made... comfortable.”

“Thank you so much, Stone. Come for a drink at the Carlyle and we’ll have dinner afterward. Say, five o’clock?”

“I’d be delighted.”

“Goodbye, then, and give Holly a call.”

“I will certainly do so. Goodbye, Kate.” He hung up and called Holly’s direct extension at the White House.

“Holly Barker.”

“It’s Stone. I’ve been reliably informed that you will be in New York this week, and that, if I play my cards right, I might have the pleasure of your company.”

“That depends. How are you planning to play your cards?”

“Is this phone call being recorded?”

“Thank you, no further details will be required. I’ll see you in Turtle Bay late tomorrow afternoon.”

“I will look forward to that.”

“May we see Dino and Viv?”

“That will be my next call.”

They said goodbye and hung up.