Capitol Threat

61

Ben knew he had better things to do—most of his senatorial duties had waited on the back burner while he was obsessed with the Roush confirmation—but he couldn’t help himself. He was addicted to the CNN coverage of the whole affair. The Roush confirmation vote had been dramatic enough, but coupled with the discoveries about Judge Haskins and his subsequent suicide, it became an even more major news event. Pundits bickered about every aspect of the case, whether it held hope for a more bipartisan approach to judicial confirmation or evidenced a gross eroding of standards. Everyone weighed in on the subject—everyone except the President, who had remained silent. Ben’s final speech in the Senate had been replayed and sound bit almost nonstop, and after the twentieth viewing or so, Ben finally stopped wincing every time he saw himself on the screen.

“Ready to go?”

Christina stood in the office doorway wearing a bright blue tea-length dress with a brilliant opal brooch.

“You look stunning,” Ben said.

She curtsied slightly and fluttered her eyelashes. “Well, I try.”

“Where have you been?”

“In Senator Hammond’s office. We’re still working double shifts, trying to get that Wilderness Bill out of committee. We think there’s a chance. If anyone can do it in the current political climate, it’s him.”

Ben placed his hands on her hips and smiled. “How is it we work together every day but still don’t see enough of each other?”

She returned the smile. “Well, part of the problem is that we live in separate apartments.”

Ben coughed into his hand. “Yes, well, umm…one thing at a time. May I escort you to the Capitol steps?”

“I’d be honored,” she replied, offering him her arm.

The President was present on the East Wing balcony, feigning pleasure that his nominee had been confirmed, but what pleased Ben most was to see Ray Eastwick in attendance. He was seated in the front row behind the podium, just beside Roush, the seating sending an unequivocal message to every spectator or viewer. He wondered if they’d made up—or had even had time, given all that had happened so quickly. He felt certain the wounds would heal, eventually. They were two intelligent, successful men; they knew better than to waste their lives sulking when they could be celebrating life to the fullest.

And today was a great day to celebrate.

On cue, Roush took his position, put his hand on a very large Bible, and gazed across at the Chief Justice of the United States.

“Please repeat after me.”

Roush closed his eyes, said a silent prayer, and began. “I, Thaddeus Ronald Roush, do solemnly swear to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States…”

The newly appointed Justice Roush’s remarks were brief, so in less than half an hour the entire ceremony was over. Ben was anxious to congratulate Roush, but so were about a thousand other people, so he patiently waited his turn. Now that the excitement was over, he was back to being a less-than-one-term junior senator from Oklahoma, and as such did not get cuts to the front of the receiving line.

“He’ll make a fabulous Supreme Court justice,” Christina said. “I can tell already.”

“And what makes you so sure?” Ben asked. “His probity? Honesty? Integrity?”

“I was more focused on that pin-striped suit he’s wearing. What a snappy dresser! I’m always impressed by a snappy dresser.”

“I assume that’s what attracted you to me.”

“Mmm. No comment.”

Ben heard a buzzing sound from her purse. She took her cell phone out and reviewed the screen.

“Gina’s Instant Messaging me. Seems the police have learned even more about Haskins’s victim. She’s been linked to at least five different heists. And they’ve uncovered the name of her partner on that museum job, the one she killed. Jerome Charles.”

A synapse fired inside Ben’s brain. “Where was he from?”

Christina continued to scroll through the message. “Doesn’t say where he’s from. But they’ve disinterred the body from a Beaumont cemetery and—”

Ben’s head jerked around. “Where?”

“Beaumont. South Texas.”

Ben pressed the heels of his hands against his head. “No,” he gasped.

Christina’s eyebrows scrunched together. “What is it?”

“How could I have been so stupid?”

“Ben, you’re creeping me out. What is it?”

“I’ve got to get out of here.”

“You’ve—Ben! What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you as soon as I know. As soon as I know for sure.”

“But where are you going?”

Ben kissed her on the cheek. “To have a very serious talk with Ray Eastwick.”