“But you said—”
“No, I didn’t,” Collins said. “I didn’t say my offer was open-ended. And Kate didn’t offer you State.”
Stanton’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t see how you can say that, Dick, you weren’t there.”
“I didn’t need to be.”
“Why not?”
“Because I know you, Marty, and I know Kate. The fact is, your personal conduct has made it impossible for you to be nominated.”
“I know it hasn’t helped,” Stanton admitted.
“In the Senate, Marty, no one will care who you take to bed, you’ll be a bachelor again. You’re rich enough to buy a nice house in Georgetown — the women will be all over you. Think about it.”
“I’ll have no seniority in the Senate.”
“Your stature in the party will get you good committee assignments, and the press will always want to know what you have to say, especially the TV reporters. You’ll be a regular on the Sunday-morning shows.”
“Do you know something I don’t, Dick? About who’s slipping in the delegation?”
“Nobody has told me anything, I just know what I know. It’s time for you to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life. You can spend it doing good work in the Senate, or you can spend it serving on corporate boards and playing golf.”
“Come on, Dick, I’ve done a lot for you. You wouldn’t be governor—”
“And I’m very grateful to you, Marty, that’s why I’ve offered you the Senate seat. Most politicians would kill for that.”
The governor finished his eggs. Stanton hadn’t touched his. Collins looked at his watch. “Well, I’ve got a nine-o’clock across town.” He pushed his chair back.
“Time to decide, huh?” Stanton said.
“Yes, it is, Marty.”
Stanton pushed his chair back and stood up. “All right, Dick, I’ll take the Senate seat.”
Collins stood up and shook his hand. “Wonderful, Marty, and I’ll be there when you run for reelection in four years.”
“Thank you, Dick.”
“Now,” said the governor, taking Stanton’s arm and propelling him toward the door, “let me tell you how this is going to go.”
The two men walked slowly through the bungalow’s living room and outside to where their cars waited. The governor did all the talking; Stanton nodded. At one point, Stanton seemed to object, but Collins kept him moving, talking earnestly in a low voice.
They reached their cars, and a Secret Service agent was holding the door open for Stanton.
“Then we’re agreed, Marty.” It wasn’t a question.
Stanton nodded, got into the car, and was driven away. Collins did the same, but he was smiling.
20
Ann Keaton sat at her desk in her small office in the presidential cottage and began working delegates, one by one. Molly, Kate’s secretary, sat at an adjacent desk. Her phone rang, she listened and then tapped Ann on the shoulder.
Ann covered the phone. “Yes, Molly?”
“Hang up.”
“I’ll call you back,” Ann said into her phone, then hung up.
“Evan Chandler, from Senator Mark Willingham’s campaign, wants to speak to you,” Molly said. “This could be important.”
Ann pressed the button. “Good morning, Evan, how are you?”
“Very well, Ann. Senator Willingham would like to meet with Director Lee — this morning, if possible.”
“She has meetings all morning and a lunch at twelve thirty,” Ann said. “I could make some time between the meetings and lunch — say, twelve?”
“That’s fine. The senator would like to meet in his suite at the Bel-Air.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible, given her schedule,” Ann said. “It will have to be at the presidential cottage at The Arrington.”
“Hold on.”
Ann found herself listening to piano music.
“What’s going on?” Molly asked.
“I’m on hold. Willingham wants a meet, but I won’t let the first lady go to him.”
“Ann?” Chandler was back on the line.
“Yes, Evan.”
“The senator will be there at noon.”
“I’ll leave word at the gate,” Ann said. “Security is very tight here.”
“He’ll be on time.” Chandler hung up.
Ann put down the phone and ran down the hall to the presidential office. She rapped on the door and opened it. Kate and Will Lee were sitting on the sofa, their laps full of papers.
“Director, you have a meeting with Mark Willingham at noon, here.”
“I do?” Kate asked, surprised.
“Unless you want me to cancel.”
Will looked at her and shook his head.
“All right, Ann.”
Ann smiled and went back to her desk.
Kate looked at Will. “Now, what do you suppose?”
“It won’t be State,” Will said.
“He’s not going to offer me the number two spot,” Kate said.
“Why not? Mark will do whatever he has to do, and he’s all out of time. Nominations are tonight, and he’ll want to have everything lined up. He obviously believes that Marty doesn’t have the votes to win on the first ballot.”
“It’s incongruous,” Kate said. “Willingham was your worst enemy among the Democrats in the Senate.”
“Doesn’t matter. Mark has decided you’re the only way he can win.”
Kate shook her head. “Impossible.”
“Well,” Will said, “all you have to do is listen.”
Kate had Arranged the furniture again in the library and was sitting when the knock came.
“Senator Willingham,” Manolo said.
Willingham strode into the room and shook Kate’s hand, then sat down. He didn’t wait for her to sit first.
“What can I do for you, Senator?” Kate asked.
“I have it on good authority that the California delegation is cracking,” he said.
“Cracking how?” Kate asked.
“On the first ballot, after California votes, someone will ask the chair to poll the delegation.”
“How much of a crack are we talking about?”
“A dozen, fifteen votes.”
“And whom will they crack for?”
“Me.”
“So that will give you, what, ninety, ninety-five delegates to the vice president’s one twenty, one twenty-five?”
“My people think that when California cracks, delegates from other states will start to jump ship. They think I’ve got a very good shot at a first-ballot win. And if it goes to a second ballot, we’re a sure thing.”
“That’s awfully optimistic of you, Senator,” Kate said.
“I know it is, that’s why I’m here. I want you to nominate me tonight. I think that could make the difference.”
“Well, I suppose there’s a weird kind of logic to that idea,” Kate said. “Of course, when delegates start to jump, many might go to Otero. And as strange as it may seem to you, Senator, many of them might even go to me.”
“Kate, would the vice presidency appeal to you?”
“Senator, is that an offer?”
“I’m just curious.”
“Satisfying your curiosity is not very appealing to me, Senator.”
“All right, if you’ll nominate me tonight, the vice presidency is yours.”
“Senator, the vice presidency is not yet your gift to give.”
“You know what I mean — you’ll have the number two spot on the ticket with me.”
“Shall I be frank with you, Senator?”
“By all means.”
“I don’t think California can crack enough to give you the nomination. I don’t think that enough ship jumpers would go to you, either. In fact, if suddenly Marty dropped out of the race, I don’t think you’d get the nomination.”