may not agree with her on just about anything, but I respect her for raising the issues.”
More applause. More cheers.
I smiled, squeezing William’s hand. When you’re a winner on election night, anything seems possible. Fly to the moon? Sure. Balance the budget? Immediately! It’s like getting into your new car at the dealership and driving off into a brilliant orange sunset. Tonight, at this moment, these people were ready to follow Levi on a great journey. Would they feel the same way in sixty or one hundred days? Who knew? And that is the essence of politics. I really hoped Levi would enjoy the evening, because tomorrow the real work would begin.
After speaking, Levi stepped off the chair and disappeared into a crowd of well-wishers. Champagne corks were popping, the volume on the music rose and the group prepared to party into the night. It was, after all, officially a victory party and in politics, there is no better place to be.
My thoughts drifted to Lacy and whether she would concede. I wondered too, if Halbert would have the courage to dial my number. My answer came across a television screen, as a tearful Lacy climbed the stage at her campaign party and spoke into a microphone to say she “had called Levi Barnes to congratulate him.”
“This was not our moment,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, her mascara following in streaks. “God works in mysterious ways and I’m sure he has a purpose for us beyond tonight’s defeat. This is not the end. We will continue to fight for the things we believe in.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring her words. I had no doubt she would live to fight another day, but for now, she was no longer my concern, nor were her advisers. Still, I wondered where Halbert was, knowing he would be furious at his loss. When I opened I eyes, I noticed reporters entering the restaurant. My job was to lead each one of them to Levi for an interview. I made sure he gave them each a quote, but I wouldn’t let him speculate about what he would do next. For now, it was enough to declare victory and thank his supporters.
I sent word through William to ask Richard Lyon to stay in the back of the room while the press was around. I couldn’t ask the man who’d raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the campaign to leave, but I felt no compunction at asking him to make himself scarce for a few moments.
Levi seemed about finished with his interviews when I realized there was one major player missing from the room. JP had not been in the building all night. It didn’t seem possible that the valley’s biggest online journalist would skip the party, but I knew better than to assume anything. His relationship with Halbert had been a revelation, one that had taught me to assume nothing.
Finally, about a half hour after most of his colleagues had departed, JP appeared in the doorway. He looked timid, as if he expected to be stoned by the crowd. If anyone had been sober enough to care, there might have been trouble. In general, drunken winners are a magnanimous group, and JP was able to walk inside unscathed. I stood still, waiting for him to notice me. When he caught my eye, I waved him over.
I began by giving him my most professional greeting, a gracious winner’s smile. “Would you like some time with the congressman?” He nodded, a notebook and pen clasped in his hands. “Will you be videotaping this?” I added, unable to resist.
“Yes” he said tersely. “But…”
“This is on the record?”
“Yes,” he said. “Exactly.”
“That’s certainly a much better way to do things,” I said, my heart not really much into scolding him further.
I caught sight of Patrick from across the room and signaled that he should join us. Since the two men knew each other, I didn’t make introductions. Instead, I simply asked him to find a quiet place where Levi and JP could do an interview. As they were leaving, I pulled Patrick aside and whispered in his ear to keep the interview short and not to allow any questions about the fundraiser that was the scene of the controversial recording.
“If he dredges up the past even for a second,” I said, “stop the interview.”
Patrick nodded and escorted JP out of the main dining room.
“That was very magnanimous of you,” William said, coming to stand beside