Conspiracy

116

The difficulty with a campaign strategy, especially a successful one, was knowing when to end it. You wanted to cut it off just as it peaked, though that could be difficult to determine.

Not in this case. The news media reverberated with the Vietnamese connection to the attempted assassination. The administration’s denials were fanning the frenzy. With everyone screaming, it was surely time to move on.

“I have a problem with my mother’s aunt that I have to take care of,” Jimmy Fingers told McSweeney as the senator waited to go on the radio with a local Rush Limbaugh wannabe. “I’m going to have to fly to Ohio to night.”

“You have a mother?” said McSweeney.

“She denies it. I’ll be back in time for tomorrow night’s receptions.”

Jimmy Fingers started for the door.

“Jimmy?”

He turned around. McSweeney had a worried look on his face.

“Good luck with your aunt.”

“Thanks, Senator.”

“And listen — take as much time as you need. Don’t rush back. It’ll be OK.”

McSweeney’s expression gave his true feelings away — he was worried that he’d be lost without his aide. Jimmy Fingers didn’t know which he liked McSweeney more for: needing him, or lying and telling him to go ahead and do what he had to do.

“I’ll be back. Maybe even by the morning.”