“He’s now got a nine-point lead over the incumbent in the Republican primary,” Damien said.
“Yeah,” Hank chimed in, “but that will disappear in the general election. Independents and young people are going to be harder to attract than your standard Republican voters.”
“A good point,” Damien said. “I’ll see what I can do about it.”
The couple had just come simultaneously for the first time, and they lay in each other’s arms, panting.
“Oh my God,” Annie said.
“If you’re speaking to him, tell him I concur,” Ari said.
His Skype ring nearly blasted them out of bed. Annie clutched a sheet over her breasts. “Can he see me?”
“He’ll be able to, unless you get out of the bed,” Ari said, “as soon as I answer.”
She ran for the bathroom while Ari got into khakis and a polo shirt. “Yes, William?” he said, pressing a button.
“Good afternoon, Ari,” the man said. The bandages that had been concealing his face were down to just one over his chin. Above that, his face was looking more normal.
“I hope you’re well,” Ari said, struggling to find a little sincerity.
“I’m very well, and so is Senator Box, if the speech I just watched is any measure.”
“He’s coming along very nicely,” Ari said.
“I think we need to shift gears,” Smith said.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“It means we should take Senator Box to a higher level.”
“What level do you mean? We have to get him nominated first.”
“What I mean is: We’ve been appealing mostly to a Republican audience during the primary. Normally, we’d wait until after the primary, then begin appealing to independents, young people, and more conservative Democrats.”
“I understand.”
“But I don’t think we should wait until after the primary, I think we should start now.”
“I think that’s a very good idea,” Ari said.
“Perhaps he could say a kind word about Medicare,” Smith said. “Perhaps even Obamacare.”
“Health care is certainly going to be an important talking point in the general election,” Ari agreed.
“He’s speaking in Burlington tomorrow. That would be a good place to swing him more to the political center.”
“I believe you’re right,” Ari replied. “I’ll write him something tonight, and he can memorize it with his breakfast.”
“Good, get right on it,” Smith said. “I won’t keep you any longer.”
Ari signed off. He had already drafted a half dozen speeches of the kind Smith was asking for. He had only to touch up one for a Burlington audience.
Henry Thomas hung up the phone and grinned at his two companions. “They’ve made us a very good offer,” he said. “I’ll call them back in a few minutes and edge them up a little — less than they’re expecting — and we’ll be done.”
“When do they want to close?”
“I haven’t suggested a date; I don’t want to sound anxious. I think they’ll want to move quickly, though. We’re at forty-two dollars a share. They think I’ll come back with forty-eight, but I’ll make it forty-six. I know we’d all like to have the extra two dollars, but if we get greedy we might delay or even blow the acquisition. After all, it’s a cash offer. They’ve brought in a huge pile of overseas earnings, and they’re itching to spend some of it.”
“What are our personal obligations as managers of the company?” Hank asked. “How long do we have to stay? A year?”
“My guess is their final offer will come with a condition of our immediate departure.”
“God, I’d love to be out from under,” Hank said.
Henry’s phone rang. “Yes? Hello, Harman. I’m listening.” He listened, then said, “Hold the phone a minute, will you?” Henry covered the receiver. “The offer is $46.50 a share, closing within a week. He says they’ve already done their due diligence. And our duties end at closing.”
Hank and Damien nodded.
“All right, Harman,” Henry said. “Congratulations! You’ve got yourself the finest investment bank in the country. Just e-mail me a signed offer, I’ll e-mail you back my signature, and we’re done until closing.” He said goodbye and hung up.
“Thanks for the extra fifty cents, Poppa,” Hank said.
“Yes, sir,” Damien echoed.
“So,” Henry said, “what are you boys going to do?”
“I’m thinking Switzerland for a while,” Hank said.
“It’s someplace with no extradition treaty for me,” Damien said. “I may hang around until the election.”
“I’m staying right here,” Henry said. “The house in the Hamptons in the summer, Aspen in the winter. I’ve got another season or two of skiing left in me.”
44
Stone, Dino, and Viv were at Brasserie Georgette, having just arrived.
“You’d better double the guard on the Grants,” Stone said. “Jamie’s story runs tomorrow in the Times.”
“I have already done so,” Dino replied.
“I’ll double Jamie’s guard, too,” Viv said, reaching for her phone and making the call.
Stone’s phone rang. “Hello?”
“It’s Jamie.”
“Viv, Dino, and I were just talking about you. All of it good.”
“I’m delighted, but I have new news.”
Stone looked around; nobody was too close. “I’ll put you on speaker, to save me having to repeat it to Viv and Dino.”
“Okay, ready?”
Stone pressed the button. “Ready.”
“A reporter on our business page got a hot tip a few minutes ago. A preliminary agreement has been signed between H. Thomas & Son and DigiWorld, a hedge fund specializing in bank acquisitions.”
“Who’s buying whom?” Stone asked.
“DigiWorld is the buyer, at $46.50 a share, twenty-five percent over the stock price at closing.”
“So the Thomases are getting richer,” Stone said.
“The two remaining Thomases and a family member named Lawrance Damien own a majority of the shares.”
“Well, your breaking story is going to put the fear of God into them, isn’t it?”
“I can’t imagine that it won’t torpedo the acquisition, or at least lower the price significantly.”
“It couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch,” Dino said.
“By the way,” Viv chimed in, “I’ve already doubled your security. You’ll have two outside men as well as the two inside women.”
“Do you really think that’s necessary, Viv?”
“It can’t hurt,” Viv replied.
“No, I guess it can’t,” Jamie agreed. “Well, I have some calls to make. Enjoy whatever dinner you’re having wherever.” She hung up.
“Well,” Stone said, “if either of you has any H. Thomas shares, you’d better unload them on the foreign markets before bedtime.”
“None here,” Dino said.
“None here, either,” Viv echoed.
“Have you got people on Huey, our computer whiz?” Stone asked Viv.
“Yes, and I’d better double that, too. I think Huey should know, too,” Viv said.
Stone dialed the number.
“Huey here.”
“Hi, Huey, it’s Stone Barrington.”
“Hey, Stone. You should see my new place. It’s coming right along.”
“Huey, have you been contemplating a vacation lately?”
“No, why do you ask?”
“Because this would be a good time to contemplate one. Two major stories about the Thomases are breaking tomorrow morning, and they are going to be very upset when they read them.”
“Then they’ll think I’m in my old place, not here,” Huey said. “I’ll lock the door.”