Mike Freeman found Stone alone a few minutes later. “The Secret Service has taken Mervin Beam to a hospital for a psych evaluation,” he said.
“Will he be charged with anything?” Stone asked.
“Well, he didn’t do anything chargeable, did he?” Mike said. “You and Dino saw to that. My guess is, he’ll undergo treatment for quite some time — if he can be persuaded to commit himself. My people at our operations center said he was babbling about attacks on the Constitution and fighting for liberty, making no sense at all.”
“I’d love to read the psychiatric report on him when this is all over,” Stone said. “It’s scary that someone who was responsible for the lives of the president and first lady could degenerate like that without someone noticing.”
“You noticed,” Mike said.
Ann got away from the Oteros and joined them. “I’m going to want to hear all about what happened tonight,” she said.
“I will fill you in later,” Stone replied.
“What were you and Dick Collins talking about?”
“About nothing that he would admit to,” Stone said.
Manolo came and got Ann and took her from the room. A minute later, she returned in the company of the female Secret Service agent who had accompanied Kate from New York on the Strategic Services jet. “Gentlemen,” she said, “you met Christy Thomas on the way out here. Christy has been appointed by the director of the Secret Service to head up the presidential detail.”
Everyone shook hands with her. She was about forty, Stone thought, fit-looking, fairly short brown hair, dressed in a business suit. She was a big improvement on Mervin Beam, he decided. After a little polite conversation, she stationed herself near the door, her eyes sweeping the room.
“That’s a relief,” Stone said to Ann.
“Yes, indeed. I’ve had a chance to talk with her a few times since we arrived and she’s very smart. She’ll make a nice change for us.”
“What’s on your plate for tomorrow?” Stone asked.
“Tomorrow will be surprisingly relaxed,” Ann said. “Kate will be lying low, not speaking to a lot of people.”
“Perhaps she would enjoy touring Centurion Studios,” Stone said. “Peter would like to have us to lunch in his bungalow.”
“I’ll speak to her about it,” Ann said, and left to do that. She returned a couple of minutes later. “She and the president would both like to come,” she said. “I’d better go alert Christy Thomas. She’ll have some organizing to do.”
Stone took his cell phone from his pocket. “And I’d better alert Peter, and he’d better alert Leo Goldman,” he said.
27
Stone had breakfast on the patio with Ed Eagle and Susannah Wilde.
“Stone,” Ed said, “what are you expecting to happen with the balloting tonight at the convention?”
“Sam Meriwether, who’s the expert on counting heads, thinks Kate will get the most votes on the first ballot, and maybe get another fifteen or twenty of the California delegates, but that won’t give her the nomination. In that case, it will go to a second ballot, and the delegates will be free. I think they believe they can win then.”
“Is there any expectation that either Willingham or Otero will throw his delegates to Kate?”
“I haven’t heard that voiced, but if either did, that would get her the nomination. Frankly, I can’t see Willingham doing that. Maybe Otero would, though.”
“Tell them not to count on Otero doing that,” Eagle said.
Stone looked at him sharply. “Have you heard something?”
“I have, but I can’t say what it is. I’m a member of the New Mexico delegation and we’ve all promised not to talk about our business with anyone else.”
“Ed, do you think Otero thinks that on a second ballot he might get enough delegates for him to win the nomination?”
“I can’t tell you. But remember, the convention rules state that after a second ballot of freed delegates, if no candidate has a majority, then the top two candidates will be in a runoff.”
“I hadn’t been thinking that far ahead,” Stone said. “Anything else you can tell me?”
“No, but I can make suppositions.”
“Then what do you suppose?”
“Suppose that Otero and Willingham reach an accommodation.”
“What kind of accommodation?”
“Suppose they combine their delegates behind one of the candidates and the other gets chosen as his running mate?”
Stone did some quick arithmetic. “Then that candidate would have a chance of getting the nomination on the second ballot,” Stone said, “if he could pick up enough of the undecideds from California and the other states.”
Ed shrugged. “Let’s just say that I don’t think you’re the only one who’s thinking that way.”
Stone didn’t have to think that over.
Eagle changed the subject. “What are you doing with your day?” he asked.
“I’m taking Kate and the president out to Centurion Studios for a tour, and Peter’s giving us all lunch.”
“Peter has an excellent chef,” Susannah said.
“Have you and Peter made a deal, Susannah?”
“We have. Contracts should be ready for signature in a day or two.”
“Then I’ll try not to run into Charlene Joiner while we’re at the studio.”
“I’d go armed if I were you,” Susannah said.
They finished breakfast and rose to go their separate ways.
“Stone,” Eagle said, “one thing I can tell you without violating a confidence: Pete Otero won’t take the second spot on the ticket.”
“How recently did you hear that?” Stone asked.
“About two hours ago, in a phone call.”
When Stone got back to the house, he ran into Ann, who was going into the library. “I have a meeting with Sam Meriwether,” she said, “but we’ll be ready to leave for Centurion at noon.”
“Ann,” Stone said, “would you mind if I have a word with you and Sam right now?”
“Not at all. Come in.”
They went into the library, where the senior senator from Georgia was having a cup of coffee. “Good morning, Stone,” he said.
Stone took a seat. “Sam, what’s the latest on the delegate count?”
“As best we can tell, Kate has a hundred and eleven, Willingham eighty-nine, and Otero fifty-one,” the senator said.
“Not good,” Stone said.
“Well, I think that’s pretty good,” Meriwether said. “We won’t win on the first ballot, but we probably will on the second. And if it goes to a runoff, we’re a sure thing.”
“And is Otero still Kate’s favorite for the second spot?”
“I believe so. She dislikes and distrusts Willingham.”
“Is there anyone else in the running?”
“Not that I’ve heard discussed in the last twenty-four hours.”
“Sam, I don’t have any hard information to back this up, but I have reason to think there’s a deal for Willingham to throw his delegates to Otero on the first ballot, then take the number two spot on the ticket with Otero.”
Meriwether shook his head. “I don’t think Willingham would join the ticket of someone who’s younger and, in Willingham’s eyes, less qualified than he. He’s got too much ego for that.”
“Then let me ask you this,” Stone said. “If Willingham has a choice between the second spot on the ticket and nothing, which way do you think he would jump?”
Meriwether stared at him but said nothing.
“Oh,” Stone said, “one more thing: Otero told someone I trust a couple of hours ago that he would not accept the second spot on any ticket.”
“Oh, shit,” Meriwether said, half to himself. He picked up a phone. “I’ve got to call Kate. And, Ann, would you see if you can get Dick Collins over here right now?”