Mounting Fears

22

WILL, NOW UP AND DRESSED, SWITCHED OFF THE TV IN HIS SUITE, WHICH HAD BEEN tuned to C-SPAN. "That was very satisfying," he said to Kitty. "Good work."

"Thank you, sir."

"Have you the seating chart for the dinner this evening?"

"Not yet, sir, they're still working on it. All the guests have given at least one hundred thousand dollars to the Democratic National Committee, so they're being very careful about the seating arrangements."

"Did anyone besides Charlene Joiner give a million dollars?"

"Yes, sir. Helene Branley, the widow of William, former head of Branley Industries. She's ninety years old."

"Will she be at the dinner?"

"That's in doubt, sir; she's a bit frail."

"I want her there, even if she's in a wheelchair," Will said, "or, if that doesn't work for her, a gurney. And get me the chairwoman of the event on the phone."

"Yes, sir."

BACK IN HIS BORROWED OFFICE at the White House, Martin Stanton made a cell-phone call to Sacramento.

"Hello?"

"Did you watch this morning?"

"Every minute of it. You were superb."

"It did go well, didn't it. What's-his-name looked like a complete ass."

"What's-his-name certainly did."

"How are you?"

"Horny."

"Tell me about it."

"I'd love to. When?"

"In a few months."

"Oh. I made a formal application to the potential employer yesterday."

"Good. I expect I'll hear about it soon, but I'll have to keep the whole business at arm's length. You understand, don't you?"

"Of course. It's better for both of us."

"I'll be in town for a day, you know that?"

"Of course."

"We have to be very careful while I'm there; we can't act on our feelings."

She sighed. "I know. You can depend on me."

His phone began ringing. "Hang on. I've got a call." He picked up the phone. "Yes?"

"The president for you, Governor Stanton," the White House operator said.

"Of course." He whispered into the cell phone. "Gotta run." He cut off the cell call.

"Marty?"

"Yes, Will."

"I watched the second half of the hearing, and I thought it went brilliantly."

"Yes, it did. I don't know who that agent was, but she was perfect."

"I'd never heard of her, either, but I suspect Bob Kinney sent her for a reason."

"A very apparent reason. How's it going in L.A.?"

"Ask me tomorrow. I've got to get through this fund-raiser tonight."

"I know, all the heavy hitters."

"I'm not sure I've ever been in a room with that much money," Will said.

"I'm sure it won't be the last room like that. How do you feel about running against Bill Spanner?" The Republicans had nominated the comparatively young senator from Ohio the evening before.

"I think he could turn out to be a handful," Will said. "Since he doesn't expect to be elected, he can say and do anything he wants, and, from what I know of him, he will. The disadvantage is, next to either of the other two, I'd look young, but next to Spanner, I look old."

"Not old, wise."

"By the way, Marty, I had a call from Joe Tracy at Justice, and he tells me that your chief of staff in Sacramento, Barbara Ortega, has made a bid for head of the Criminal Division."

"Yes, she told me about it, but I'm staying at arm's length from the process, and she knows that. I don't want any appearance of any improper influence."

"I guess that's why she gave me as a reference instead of you," Will said.

"Did she? Do you know her?"

"Oh, yes, I've met her a few times. It was clever of her to use my name; that got Joe's attention."

"She's a very smart woman," Stanton said.

"I take it she has your wholehearted support?"

"Off the record, yes, of course. And if Joe Tracy should walk in front of a bus, I think she'd eventually make a fine AG."

"Well, on that recommendation, I'll write Joe a note, just to formalize my support."

"I'm sure Barbara would appreciate that."

"Marty, I'm sure Tom Black's people grilled you about any of your personal relationships that might jeopardize your candidacy."

"Yes, of course. You need have no fears on that account. Oh, were you referring to Barbara?"

"Well, yes."

"Our relationship has been very close but entirely professional. She has nothing to do with my divorce."

"I'm glad to hear it. Again, my congratulations on the hearing. I hear they're voting today, and your nomination will go to the full Senate tomorrow. I don't anticipate much of a debate."

"Anything I can do, anyone I can talk to, let me know, Will."

"You've already done your footwork. Let's have dinner in the quarters tomorrow night and celebrate."

"I'd love to. Good luck tonight."

"Thanks, Marty. Good-bye."

Stanton hung up and heaved a sigh of relief. He had not been kidding when he had told Barbara how horny he was. He was having wild dreams about her, and when he was back in Sacramento it was going to be very difficult to keep his hands off her.