“I missed you, too.” She reached up to clasp his face between her hands. “Look at you. What happened?”
“Later.” He led her inside, then closed and locked the door behind him. “I can’t have the whole neighborhood gawking at this beautiful woman standing half naked for all of Washington to see.”
Katherine looked down at herself and started to laugh. “Beautiful woman? I look like a drowned rat.”
“A very beautiful drowned rat.” Jack kissed her as he picked her up and carried her up the stairs to what he assumed would be the general location of the bedrooms. He walked into the largest one. He gently lay her on the bed.
“Jack. I have so many questions…”
He silenced her with another passionate kiss as her robe dropped away.
They made love and fell asleep in each other’s arms, the first sound sleep for either of them in days. Jack awoke at five A.M. It amazed him that he slept so soundly when he was with Katherine. She seemed to be his cure for insomnia. He had never slept so well, not even with his wife.
He quietly got out of bed, then went down to the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later, he’d made coffee and a huge omelet to share with Katherine. As he walked back to the bedroom with his spoils on a tray, he heard her call his name.
“Jack?” Sleep still weighted her eyes.
He set the tray on the bed and carefully slipped in beside her, pulling the tray over his lap. As she sat up, he handed her a steaming cup of coffee.
“Good morning.” He kissed her, and then he cut off a piece of omelet with his fork and placed the large bite into her mouth.
“Umm, I didn’t know you could cook. Boy, did I hit the jackpot.”
Jack laughed. “This is the extent of my culinary skills, I’m sorry to say.”
“That’s okay, I can live on omelets.” Katherine took the fork and cut another piece.
Between bites of omelet and sips of coffee, Katherine asked Jack to explain the events that had taken place in Missouri. He told her what he remembered, blaming himself for not being more aware of what was going on around him. He didn’t tell her what he couldn’t prove – that Dailey was the man at the Golden Gate, and that he believed Carolyn was involved in illegal dealings that might include his father’s death.
“Who did it, Jack?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. The last person I talked to was Mark Dailey, and you know the rest.”
SIXTY-FIVE
Richard crossed his lees and relaxed in the chair opposite the president’s desk in the Oval Office. A fire burned in the fireplace, giving the room a soft glow. He stifled a yawn, and then glanced at the door, which remained closed. His watch read 8:26 P.M. Warner had scheduled this meeting for eight sharp, but, as usual, kept him cooling his heels.
The office door opened and Edmund Lane strolled into Richard’s view. “Good evening, Richard. I’ll try to keep this brief”
Surprised, Richard leaned forward. “What do you mean, you’ll try to keep this brief? My appointment is with Warner. What in the hell are you doing here?”
Edmund sat down behind the president’s desk, opened the top drawer, and pulled out a pen and pad of paper. “Warner’s running late. He asked me to get your recommendations for the Supreme Court.”
Face flushed, Richard stood. “I’ll come back when Warner can attend to his own appointments.”
Edmund set the pen down with an amused expression playing across his features. “Richard, sit down.”
The vice president’s eyes narrowed as his jaw clenched.
“I mean it, son. You’re about to trip on a rattlesnake, and you’re smart enough to know it. If you want any input into this administration. I recommend you show me some respect. Otherwise, you can walk out that door and kiss your political future goodbye.” Edmund spread his hands wide. “Your choice. I really couldn’t give a shit.”
Richard hesitated. He wanted to scream. “FUCK YOU and your asshole son,” while he pummeled Edmund Lane’s smug face. Instead, he sucked in a deep breath, clamped down on his rage, and returned to his chair.
“Now, about the Supreme Court,” Edmund continued.
“Brandon Ross,” Richard said.
Warner chose that moment to walk into the office. “Good choice, Richard. I see you’ve done your homework.”
“He’s the most qualified.” Richard said. standing to shake the president’s hand due to protocol rather than courtesy. “And the most moderate of any candidate for the post.”
“I agree that he’s qualified” Warner said. He looked at Edmund, then glanced back to Richard. “We’re done here. I need a few moments with Edmund, and I’m late for another appointment.”
Richard shook his head as he walked to the door. “I don’t know why I bother.”
“If you don’t like it,” Warner shot back, “I’ll accept your resignation at any time.”
SIXTY-SIX
Carolyn strolled through the White House residence toward her bedroom. Down the hall, she thought she heard a giggle. She turned and followed the sound.
Secret Service Agent Martin Riggs stood in front of Warner’s bedroom door.
“I thought I heard a woman laughing,” Carolyn said to the agent.
The agent shifted on his feet, his expression pained.
Carolyn held up her hand. “Thank you for not lying to me.” She took a step toward Warner’s bedroom.
Riggs blocked her path. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But the president has requested his privacy.”
She met the agent’s gaze. “I don’t care what he’s requested, I’m still his wife.”
“I’d rather you didn’t, ma’am” Riggs searched her eyes. “For your own good.”
Carolyn moved past the agent and flung open the door. Shock held her. She blinked, not wanting to believe the tableau before her.
Warner sat naked on the bed. A stunning blond paused in the midst of her striptease at the interruption, while a nude redhead continued to massage Warner’s shoulders.
“What the fuck-” Warner said, turning to the door.
Carolyn thought she was ready for anything, but her vision swirled in a wave of dizziness at the sight of Warner’s debauchery. “What’s become of you. Warner?”
He laughed. “I’d have invited you. Carolyn, but this just didn’t seem like your style.”
Agent Riggs caught Carolyn by the elbow as her knees buckled. He guided her out of the room, holding her steady until she whispered, “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am”
She squared her shoulders a moment later and walked away with all the dignity she possessed. And as she walked, she vowed to repay Warner for the humiliation he obviously enjoyed dispensing.
SIXTY-SEVEN
Jack spent most of the weekend in bed, sleeping and healing. On Monday, Katherine reluctantly left him to so to work. Jack dragged himself out to Erma’s car and unloaded the box of files she had given him from her husband’s office.
