you calling to tell me that Levi has an opponent?” I could feel his disbelief over the telephone. He thought he was going to be the one to surprise me. I liked being able to surprise him; it almost made the visit from the demon cowboy worth it.
“How did you know?” he asked.
“I ran into someone who knows Stoner Halbert,” I said. “He let me know there was going to be a opposing candidate. But I don’t know who it is.”
“Her name is Lacy Smith,” JP said. “She’s an attorney and a member of the local Tea Party.” I was listening to JP and formulating my statement. I knew he wanted a comment, an official one from the campaign.
“I assume you are looking for a quote from the campaign?”
“Yes,” he said.
“OK. Here it is,” I said. “We welcome Ms. Smith’s entrance into the race, and look forward to a spirited debate about the issues as the campaign progresses.”
JP snorted into the phone. “That’s it? You don’t want to comment on her credentials?”
“I’m really not familiar enough to make any further statements,” I said, knowing I sounded very much the reticent campaign manager. “So...is that it?”
“Actually I have one more question,” he said. I knew before he asked that whatever he was about to say, he felt nervous. “Do you want to have dinner sometime soon?”
His request surprised me. Setting aside William and my already head-over-heels feelings for him, it was a plain old bad idea to date the reporter covering your campaign. It was unprofessional and downright dangerous, since the line between lovers and adversaries can get blurred in a hurry. And let’s face it; the press is often a campaign’s adversary. I decided a work-related brush-off was my best tactic.
“You know, these days my schedule is pretty jam-packed with work,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. “Why don’t you ask me again in a few weeks?”
This elicited an “OK, will do,” and we said our goodbyes. I turned the ringer volume up on my phone, expecting similar calls from reporters during the next several hours. I decided to make another espresso and work from home until it was time to meet with Gabriel.
After I hung up with JP, I left a voicemail for Gabriel telling him about Lacy. Then I called Levi and briefed him on both Lacy and the quote I’d given to JP. Levi asked if he should make a statement. I discouraged him. “You can comment when she says or does something that deserves your attention,” I said. “In the meantime, let me be the one who speaks.”
When I’d finished with Levi, I called Paul Levant, the head of the Democratic Party, to let him know his prediction had come true.
“Shit, that was fast…Love the name though. Doonesbury has a character named Lacey, except she is a tough old Democrat; nothing like what you’re facing.”
“And what am I facing?” I asked, knowing I would enjoy his answer.
“It’s like I told you before,” he said. “To me, a Bible is something you put your hand on to make a point. With her, it’s a manual for living.”
“I’m not sure if you know, but Stoner Halbert is running her election,” I said, changing the subject.
“Interesting,” he said. “That guy seems to pop up everywhere. It should make for a great race; the two of you will both give as good as you get.”
****
CHAPTER 21
A large picture of Lacy Smith was staring down at me from a screen on the wall when I walked into the conference room to start my meeting with Gabriel and other members of the Council. Joining us were Elsa, Aidan Burke and an older woman in her fifties with beautiful, long grey hair, who was introduced to me as Madeline Klein, the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S., as well as a witch and longtime member of the Council.
The meeting began with a briefing about some of the other campaigns the Council was working on in the United States. Political issues in Europe and beyond were not going to be a part of my agenda for the time being.
Aidan opened up his laptop and began reporting on a number of political races—some in California, some in other states. There was a congressional race in Alabama, several contests to retain the seats of incumbent superior court judges in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Ohio. All told, the Council seemed to be involved in, or monitoring, more than two dozen races.
“Why do these particular fights interest you?” I asked