Lisa?
Kevin was standing in the bathroom doorway wearing Bens red paisley robe. It was one of the few garments of Bens that Kevin liked. He had a fond-ness for bright colors that shed had to curb. Ben rarely wore anything but navy or black.
He was frowning. Is something wrong?
She forced a smile. A little problem with Timwick.
Can I help?
Not in this. Let me handle it. She went to him and slipped her arms around his neck. He smelled of Bens specially blended lemon cologne. Fragrances were important. Even when you didnt realize it, it was a subtle reminder of who a person was. Sometimes when she woke suddenly in the middle of the night she thought Ben was still lying next to her. She whispered in Kevins ear, You were superb today at that AARP meeting. You had them in the palm of your hand.
Really? he asked eagerly. I thought I did pretty well.
Brilliant. Better than Ben could ever have done. She kissed him gently. Youre doing such a good job. We could be in the middle of a war now if you hadnt taken over.
He was that unstable?
She had drummed Bens supposed instability into Kevins head a hundred times, but he always wanted reinforcement. Guilt? No, he just liked the idea he was saving the world. For an intelligent man, Kevin could be incredibly vain and naive. Do you think Id be doing what were doing now if I hadnt been afraid of what hed do?
He shook his head.
And youve been magnificent. I think well get the health bill passed this year. Have I told you how proud I am?
I couldnt do it without you.
Maybe I helped you in the beginning, but youre surpassing anything She threw back her head and grinned impishly at him. My God, youre getting hard as a rock. Ive got to re-member what praise does to you. It keeps me a happy woman. She backed away from him and slipped off her robe. Now, come to bed and Ill tell you how marvelously you handled the Japanese ambassador.
He chuckled and moved toward her, eager as a kid for the romp to come. She kept the teasing, bold smile as she slipped into bed.
She and Ben had shared a bed, and bringing Kevin immediately into hers was a necessary part of the plan. He had been hesitant, even shy at first, and shed had to use her every skill to draw him in without appearing too aggressive. She could have found other ways to manage him, but this was best. It was her job to make sure Kevin was controlled.
And sex was the greatest controller of all.
Arrogant bitch.
Timwick leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. It was all very well for Lisa to order him around and then go to bed and let him do the work. She was there in the White House, acting like royalty, and he was in this crummy office, working his ass off. She wanted results, but she didnt want to dirty her hands, and she turned a blind eye to what she didnt want to see. He was the one who kept things running and pro-tected them from disaster. Where would she be now if he hadnt stepped in?
Eve Duncan. She was Logans tool, nothing more. It was stupid to make her a priority. If Lisa hadnt been such a feminist, she would have admitted that Logan was the prime threat.
Jesus, it seemed as if there were threats closing in all around him.
His hands clenched the arms of the chair. Keep calm. He was doing everything he could to save the situation. He would save it. He had too much at stake to take off and run. If he stuck it out, hed have every-thing hed ever wanted.
He reached for the telephone. Do what she saidfor now. He needed her to help stop the expo-sure of the cover-up and he needed her to push Detwil into the White House for another term. After that hed find a way to gain control. Let Lisa think she was running the show.
Hed give her enough information on Eve Duncan to choke her.
Wake up, were here.
Eve opened her eyes to see Logan getting out of the drivers seat.
She yawned. What time is it?
After midnight. Gil reached for the door latch. You slept most of the way.
It seemed impossible that she could have fallen asleep. Her nerves had been taut as wires.
Youve had a rough couple of days. Gil an-swered her unspoken question. I dozed a little my-self. But I admit Ill be glad to stretch out.
She was so stiff, she had to catch hold of the door when she got out of the car. She watched Logan climb the steps and unlock the front door. He was car-rying the leather case with Chadbournes skull. Trust Logan to keep his priorities in order, she thought dryly
Ready? Gil asked as he grabbed her suitcase. Ill take that.
I can manage. Take Mandys box. He was al-ready following Logan up the steps.
She didnt want to go inside. The air was cool and wet in her nostrils, and the sound of the sea against the shore was like a blessing. She hadnt been to the shore in a long time. Joe had taken her to Cumber-land Island after shed left the hellhole but she had no memory of what the island looked like. All she could remember was Joe
