deep scowl. “I don’t believe my nephew’s involvement needed to be discussed at this level.”
“I disagree,” Doug said. “Thank you for letting me know, Ollie. Did the Secret Service tell you how they intended to proceed?”
I gave a short laugh. “Do they ever?”
“Good point.” Doug scratched at the back of his head. What little hair he had was standing on end as though he’d been grabbing it with both hands and trying to yank it out. His eyes were bloodshot and small. “Okay, before I get to why I called you up here, is there anything else we need to cover about the incident at Lexington the other day?”
Incident? Doug made it sound more like an unfortunate wine spill rather than a case of double murder. “No,” I said. “Have you heard if the police have any leads?”
“The media is continuing to pursue the rumor that Chief of Staff Cawley and Ms. Woodruff were having an affair, but I think we all know that’s ludicrous.”
“Was the medical examiner able to determine how much earlier than Patty Mr. Cawley was killed?”
“Why on earth would you care?” Sargeant asked.
“I like when things make sense. You and I both know that Cawley and Patty were killed at different times. There has to be a reason. If the police are able to figure out why, they may have a clue to who killed them.”
He made a noise that sounded like
harrumph
.
“No idea, Ollie,” Doug said. “They keep me updated on a lot, but there are details I’m not privy to. All I know is that the police aren’t squelching the affair rumor because it keeps the media on the wrong track.”
If Doug didn’t have any idea about the two victims’ times of death, he surely wouldn’t know why Cawley’sphone was set to play the opening bars of “Mandy,” so I just said, “What’s on your mind, Doug?”
“As we discussed before, the First Lady has decided not to hold the secretary of state’s birthday party at Lexington Place.”
“But she’s still planning to host it?” Sargeant asked.
Doug nodded slowly. “It’s a tough call, but there’s more at stake than just a simple party. This event promises to bring two groups together. Groups that don’t ordinarily mix, let alone work together. The president and First Lady are working hard—and very shrewdly, I might add—to build consensus. Throwing a lavish event such as this one is a brilliant move. If it goes well, this could be the start of significant harmony in our government.”
“And if it doesn’t go well?” Sargeant asked. Always the optimist.
Doug wore a grim expression. “We need to make certain it does, and that not one single thing goes wrong.” His hands curled into fists so tight I could see the whites of his knuckles. “Not one.”
“Okay,” I said, “what do you need us to do?”
“First of all, thank you for the reports you sent me. I know I told you I wouldn’t need them immediately, but it turns out I did and I appreciate it. We’re moving ahead with these plans, despite the recent tragedy, because we all know how much lead time is necessary to get a project of this scope under way. There’s no time to waste.”
Doug was talking in circles, but maybe that made it easier for him to keep control of the many balls he was juggling.
“Based on Patty’s preliminary reports, which she recorded before her death, and the opinions you two submitted, Secretary of State Quinones’s birthday party will now be held at Jean-Luc’s. I believe both of you pegged that as your second choice. You probably also realize that Patty’s colleagues are having a difficult time dealing with this.” He waited for us to nod.
“Chief of Staff Cawley’s funeral is scheduled for Monday.I’m not quite sure about Patty’s arrangements yet. I haven’t heard from her family. Regardless of when her services will be held, her loss is being felt all over the East Wing. The people she worked with are some of her closest friends. You may not be aware that she
“I disagree,” Doug said. “Thank you for letting me know, Ollie. Did the Secret Service tell you how they intended to proceed?”
I gave a short laugh. “Do they ever?”
“Good point.” Doug scratched at the back of his head. What little hair he had was standing on end as though he’d been grabbing it with both hands and trying to yank it out. His eyes were bloodshot and small. “Okay, before I get to why I called you up here, is there anything else we need to cover about the incident at Lexington the other day?”
Incident? Doug made it sound more like an unfortunate wine spill rather than a case of double murder. “No,” I said. “Have you heard if the police have any leads?”
“The media is continuing to pursue the rumor that Chief of Staff Cawley and Ms. Woodruff were having an affair, but I think we all know that’s ludicrous.”
“Was the medical examiner able to determine how much earlier than Patty Mr. Cawley was killed?”
“Why on earth would you care?” Sargeant asked.
“I like when things make sense. You and I both know that Cawley and Patty were killed at different times. There has to be a reason. If the police are able to figure out why, they may have a clue to who killed them.”
He made a noise that sounded like
harrumph
.
“No idea, Ollie,” Doug said. “They keep me updated on a lot, but there are details I’m not privy to. All I know is that the police aren’t squelching the affair rumor because it keeps the media on the wrong track.”
If Doug didn’t have any idea about the two victims’ times of death, he surely wouldn’t know why Cawley’sphone was set to play the opening bars of “Mandy,” so I just said, “What’s on your mind, Doug?”
“As we discussed before, the First Lady has decided not to hold the secretary of state’s birthday party at Lexington Place.”
“But she’s still planning to host it?” Sargeant asked.
Doug nodded slowly. “It’s a tough call, but there’s more at stake than just a simple party. This event promises to bring two groups together. Groups that don’t ordinarily mix, let alone work together. The president and First Lady are working hard—and very shrewdly, I might add—to build consensus. Throwing a lavish event such as this one is a brilliant move. If it goes well, this could be the start of significant harmony in our government.”
“And if it doesn’t go well?” Sargeant asked. Always the optimist.
Doug wore a grim expression. “We need to make certain it does, and that not one single thing goes wrong.” His hands curled into fists so tight I could see the whites of his knuckles. “Not one.”
“Okay,” I said, “what do you need us to do?”
“First of all, thank you for the reports you sent me. I know I told you I wouldn’t need them immediately, but it turns out I did and I appreciate it. We’re moving ahead with these plans, despite the recent tragedy, because we all know how much lead time is necessary to get a project of this scope under way. There’s no time to waste.”
Doug was talking in circles, but maybe that made it easier for him to keep control of the many balls he was juggling.
“Based on Patty’s preliminary reports, which she recorded before her death, and the opinions you two submitted, Secretary of State Quinones’s birthday party will now be held at Jean-Luc’s. I believe both of you pegged that as your second choice. You probably also realize that Patty’s colleagues are having a difficult time dealing with this.” He waited for us to nod.
“Chief of Staff Cawley’s funeral is scheduled for Monday.I’m not quite sure about Patty’s arrangements yet. I haven’t heard from her family. Regardless of when her services will be held, her loss is being felt all over the East Wing. The people she worked with are some of her closest friends. You may not be aware that she
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