party. "It was my job to make sure that whatever the vice president did and however he did it, national security interests would not be compromised."
"That's a nice spin," said Harry. "But what does it mean?"
The president said, "You said it yourself, Harry. I couldn't stop Phil. But if we left it up to the vice president to pursue her, he was bound to end up like every other man who cheats on his wife. He'd get caught, eventually."
Harry said, "So Agent Madera became the Secret Service facilitator--like JFK and Marilyn Monroe?"
"When it comes to sex," the president said dryly, "few things are without precedent in Washington."
"Are you telling me that Chloe Sparks was with Phil Grayson on the night of his death?"
The Secret Service agent took the question, even though it was directed to the president. "The good news is that the answer to that question is no."
"Then why was he pumped full of ED medication?"
"How did you know that?"
"Jack told me," said Harry.
"Your son has been busy, I see."
"He has it on good authority that the toxicology report is going to show that Vice President Grayson was full of ED medication at the time of his death. So I want the whole truth: Was she with him in Florida?"
The president looked at his Secret Service agent and said, "Frank, the whole truth, for our distinguished nominee."
"Yes, sir," he said. "She was supposed to come, but it didn't work out. Too much media surrounding the vice president's visit to Florida, too many guests around who might see something they shouldn't see."
"But he took the ED medication anyway?" said Harry.
"It was a time-released dosage, good for thirty-six hours. I presume he wanted to be ready whenever she showed up."
Harry fell quiet again, but he seemed satisfied that he was finally getting the straight dope.
"So, how do we deal with this toxicology report?" he said.
"Fortunately," said the president, "the medical examiner doesn't plan to release it for another week."
"It will leak before then. We need a plan."
The president smiled. "I like the way you say we"
"I have no choice," said Harry. "The media will undoubtedly feast on this. Since I was with the vice president on the night he died, I am going to spend a lot of time answering questions about something that has very little to do with my qualifications to be vice president."
"Are you okay with that?"
Harry paused, thinking. It didn't take long. "Here's the way I see it. I can decline the nomination and be accused of having arranged for Phil to come to Florida and bed his former White House intern. Or I can accept the nomination, and be accused of the very same thing."
"You're a smart man, Harry Swyteck."
"Or a fool for having gotten back into this game."
"Do I take that to mean that you're in for the long haul?"
"Only if you can assure me that putting Agent Madera on the vice president was for national security reasons, as you said, and not simply to cover up a potential scandal."
"You have my word on that."
The two men looked each other in the eye, and the president searched for that certain body language that said lies were unacceptable--unless they were believable.
"Then I'm still in," said Harry. "With one caveat."
"Name it."
Harry turned deadly serious. "No more ticking time bombs like Chloe Sparks. No more secrets of any kind. Or not even Agent Madera will be able to stop me from kicking your ass."
The president smiled, even though Harry didn't.
"Fair enough, my friend."
They shook on it, the president applying his famous double touch, shaking with his right hand while applying his left to Harry's right shoulder.
The president said, "While we're on the subject of security, I feel we should talk more about this anonymous e-mail Jack received. You still seem concerned about that."
"Anyone who claims to have the power to bring down the president sounds like a nut case to me," said Harry. "With my son on the front line, concern is probably a good word."
"I can understand
"That's a nice spin," said Harry. "But what does it mean?"
The president said, "You said it yourself, Harry. I couldn't stop Phil. But if we left it up to the vice president to pursue her, he was bound to end up like every other man who cheats on his wife. He'd get caught, eventually."
Harry said, "So Agent Madera became the Secret Service facilitator--like JFK and Marilyn Monroe?"
"When it comes to sex," the president said dryly, "few things are without precedent in Washington."
"Are you telling me that Chloe Sparks was with Phil Grayson on the night of his death?"
The Secret Service agent took the question, even though it was directed to the president. "The good news is that the answer to that question is no."
"Then why was he pumped full of ED medication?"
"How did you know that?"
"Jack told me," said Harry.
"Your son has been busy, I see."
"He has it on good authority that the toxicology report is going to show that Vice President Grayson was full of ED medication at the time of his death. So I want the whole truth: Was she with him in Florida?"
The president looked at his Secret Service agent and said, "Frank, the whole truth, for our distinguished nominee."
"Yes, sir," he said. "She was supposed to come, but it didn't work out. Too much media surrounding the vice president's visit to Florida, too many guests around who might see something they shouldn't see."
"But he took the ED medication anyway?" said Harry.
"It was a time-released dosage, good for thirty-six hours. I presume he wanted to be ready whenever she showed up."
Harry fell quiet again, but he seemed satisfied that he was finally getting the straight dope.
"So, how do we deal with this toxicology report?" he said.
"Fortunately," said the president, "the medical examiner doesn't plan to release it for another week."
"It will leak before then. We need a plan."
The president smiled. "I like the way you say we"
"I have no choice," said Harry. "The media will undoubtedly feast on this. Since I was with the vice president on the night he died, I am going to spend a lot of time answering questions about something that has very little to do with my qualifications to be vice president."
"Are you okay with that?"
Harry paused, thinking. It didn't take long. "Here's the way I see it. I can decline the nomination and be accused of having arranged for Phil to come to Florida and bed his former White House intern. Or I can accept the nomination, and be accused of the very same thing."
"You're a smart man, Harry Swyteck."
"Or a fool for having gotten back into this game."
"Do I take that to mean that you're in for the long haul?"
"Only if you can assure me that putting Agent Madera on the vice president was for national security reasons, as you said, and not simply to cover up a potential scandal."
"You have my word on that."
The two men looked each other in the eye, and the president searched for that certain body language that said lies were unacceptable--unless they were believable.
"Then I'm still in," said Harry. "With one caveat."
"Name it."
Harry turned deadly serious. "No more ticking time bombs like Chloe Sparks. No more secrets of any kind. Or not even Agent Madera will be able to stop me from kicking your ass."
The president smiled, even though Harry didn't.
"Fair enough, my friend."
They shook on it, the president applying his famous double touch, shaking with his right hand while applying his left to Harry's right shoulder.
The president said, "While we're on the subject of security, I feel we should talk more about this anonymous e-mail Jack received. You still seem concerned about that."
"Anyone who claims to have the power to bring down the president sounds like a nut case to me," said Harry. "With my son on the front line, concern is probably a good word."
"I can understand
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