some cracks in the California delegation,” she said. “It looks as though at least a few are rethinking their vote for Stanton on the first ballot. This is good, because we didn’t think we’d get any California votes until the second ballot.”
“That’s wonderful,” Stone said. “I haven’t mentioned this until now, but you’re going to have some company at the convention. Strategic Services’ L.A. operation is handling security at the Coliseum and at The Arrington. I’m going out so that I can see Peter, and Dino and Viv want to see Ben, so we’ll all be there.”
“I don’t suppose I have to ask where you’ll be staying,” Ann said.
“We’ll be at The Arrington, of course. I have a four-bedroom house on the grounds, and Peter and Ben have bought houses of their own in Brentwood, so I’ll have room for everybody. Will you join us?”
“That’s a lovely invitation,” Ann said, “but the Lees will be at The Arrington, too, in the presidential cottage, and they’ve hinted that they’d like me to stay with them. But we’ll see. Can I let you know a little later?”
“Certainly,” Stone said. “If you stay with the Lees, then I’ll have to have them over for dinner, just so I can see you.”
“Well, I am going to be pretty busy,” Ann said. “Surprising how much time it takes to count votes, especially when the tally is always changing.”
Stone sipped his Knob Creek and looked around the table at his friends, feeling lucky to have them all, and all at the table. They would make L.A. and the convention more fun, too. All, he reflected, was right with the world.
—
Crane Hart got home from the office early, and surprised Don Dugan with a woman in the living room. There were half-finished drinks on the coffee table, and there was the smell of sex in the air. There was a thong on the floor, and the woman tried to push it under the sofa.
“Hey, baby,” Dugan said, sounding nervous. “This is Kristie. We’re doing a little business.”
“Oh, is that what you call it these days?” Crane stalked out of the living room and went to the bedroom, where she got out her suitcase and started packing.
Ten minutes later, Dugan came into the room. “What are you so hot about?” he demanded.
Crane said nothing, just continued throwing things at her suitcase.
“Kristie is my contact at the Creighton Arms. I couldn’t pull this off without her help.”
“You don’t seem to need any help pulling things off,” Crane said.
Dugan went to the chest of drawers and came back with an envelope and handed it to her. “This is a ticket from Atlanta to Mexico City, and the name of our hotel there. After the job I’ll meet you there.”
“Oh, you’ve already decided to run?”
“Just think of it as a vacation,” Dugan said. “When the dust settles and we’ve banked our new funds, we’ll be back.”
“And how am I supposed to explain a trip to Mexico to Mike Freeman?”
“Tell him you have a sick aunt.”
“Or something else as lame? When I’ve finished my business in Atlanta, I’m coming back here. It will be Friday afternoon. Be gone, if you like, and don’t come back, if you like.”
Dugan threw up his hands. “I can’t talk to you anymore.”
“Please don’t,” she said. She went into the bathroom, locked the door, sat down on the toilet lid, and cried a little. When she came out, he was gone.
58
Dugan didn’t come back to her house that night. Crane fumed for a while and finally fell asleep. She woke up Tuesday morning to a ringing telephone, and she grabbed it. “Don?”
“Hello, Ms. Hart, this is Mac, your Strategic Services driver. I’ll be picking you up in half an hour for the trip to the airport.”
“Right, Mac, see you then.” She hung up, took a quick shower, and put on some makeup. Looking in the mirror, she saw her hand trembling as it held the lipstick.
She had allowed Don to suck her into this, and now she was terrified. He was talking about walking away from everything in New York, and everything she had was in New York—house, job, friends, everything. He had said it might come to this, but she hadn’t believed him until now, and she was beginning to panic. She dressed, closed her suitcase, and sat down on the bed, trying to gain control of herself.
The doorbell buzzed, making her jump. The car was waiting. She picked up the phone and called a number