Absolute Power by David Baldacci

her in vast waves. She clenched her teeth, gripped the chair. The image of total destruction would not budge from her mind.
    The President scanned the copy, memorizing some, the rest he would ad-lib; his memory was phenomenal, an asset that had served him well.
    “That’s why I have you, Gloria, isn’t it? To make it all better?”
    He looked at her.
    For a moment she wondered if he knew. If he knew what she had done with him. Her body stiffened and then relaxed. He couldn’t know, that was impossible. She remembered his drunken pleadings; oh how a bottle of Jack could change a person.
    “Of course it is, Alan, but some decisions have to be made. Some alternative strategies have to be developed depending on what we find ourselves faced with.”
    “I can’t exactly cancel my schedule. Besides, this guy can’t do anything.”
    Russell shook her head. “We can’t be sure of that.”
    “Think about it! He’ll have to admit to burglary to even place himself there. Can you see him trying to get on the evening news with that story? They’ll put him in a rubber room in a New York minute.” The President shook his head. “I’m safe. This guy cannot touch me, Gloria. Not in a million years.”
    They had worked out a threshold strategy on the limo ride back to town. Their position would be simple: categorical denial. They would let the absurdity of the allegation, if it ever came, do their work for them. And it was an absurd story despite the fact that it was absolutely true. Sympathy from the White House for the poor, unbalanced and admitted felon and his shamefaced family.
    There was, of course, another possibility, but Russell had chosen not to address that with the President just yet. In fact she concluded it was the more likely scenario. It was really the only thing allowing her to function.
    “Stronger things have happened.” She looked at him.
    “The place was cleaned, right? There’s nothing left to find, right, except her?” There was a hint of nervousness in his voice.
    “Right.” Russell licked her lips. The President didn’t know that the letter opener with his prints and blood on it was now in the possession of their felonious eyewitness.
    She stood up and paced. “Of course I can’t speak about certain traces of sexual contact. But that wouldn’t be linked to you in any event.”
    “Jesus, I can’t even remember if we did it or not. It seems like I did.”
    She couldn’t help smiling at his remark.
    The President turned and looked at her. “What about Burton and Collin?”
    “What about them?”
    “Have you talked to them?” His message was clear enough.
    “They have as much to lose as you, don’t they, Alan?”
    “As us, Gloria, as us.” He fixed his tie in the mirror. “Any clue to the Peeping Tom?”
    “Not yet; they’re running the plate.”
    “When do you think they’ll realize she’s missing?”
    “As warm as it’s been during the day, soon I hope.”
    “Real funny, Gloria.”
    “She’ll be missed, inquiries will be made. Her husband will be called, they’ll go to the house. The next day, maybe two, maybe three tops.”
    “And then the police will investigate.”
    “There’s nothing we can do about that.”
    “But you’ll keep on top of it?” A trace of concern crossed the President’s brow as he thought swiftly through various scenarios. Had he fucked Christy Sullivan? He hoped that he had. At least the night wouldn’t have been a total disaster.
    “As much as we can without arousing too much suspicion.”
    “That’s easy enough. You can use the angle that Walter Sullivan is a close friend and political ally of mine. It would be natural for me to have a personal interest in the case. Think things through, Gloria, that’s what I pay you for.”
    And you were sleeping with his wife, Russell thought. Some friend.
    “That rationale had already occurred to me, Alan.”
    She lit a cigarette, blew the smoke out slowly. That felt good. She had to keep ahead of