Conspiracy by Allan Topol Page A

people that you're in control."
    "The Democrats will scream that it's political."
    "It is, but so what? Fuck 'em. You're the president. You get the advantages of the incumbent."
    "Good advice. I'll do it. How about sitting in on my meeting with the Russian ambassador tomorrow?"
    "Your distinguished secretary of state doesn't like it when I poach."
    "Don't worry about Tom. I'll tell him I want you there. I feel more comfortable with your advice."
    McDermott glanced at his gold Franck Muller. He knew that the president had a state dinner tonight. "There was something you wanted to talk to me about after the others left?"
    "Oh, yeah," Webster said, remembering where they were before his phone call. "You want a drink?"
    "Why not? It's about that time of the day."
    Just off the Oval Office was a small pantry. McDermott poured scotch over ice in two glasses, added a splash of water, and handed one to Webster.
    "To your new job," Webster said, raising his glass and taking a long sip of the drink.
    McDermott was puzzled. "What new job?"
    "You're going to get your wish. What do you want most in life?"
    "The Supreme Court."
    Webster clinked his glass with a smile. "Not just a seat. You'll be chief justice."
    "You're kidding."
    "Nope. Gerhard Hall invited himself over this morning for breakfast. He didn't want anybody to know why he was here."
    "He's resigning?"
    "Not yet." His face grew darker. "He was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma. It's unclear how much longer he has."
    "When's he going to resign?" McDermott asked anxiously.
    "March first unless he just can't function before then."
    "That bastard!" McDermott cried out.
    "Yeah, I know. He wants Boyd to make the appointment if he wins. Hall was up-front about that. He knows I'd pick you, and he's not one of your biggest admirers."
    McDermott sipped his drink, finding it tasted bitter. "It's not just me," he said. "He thinks Boyd would appoint some candy-ass liberal. Somebody who's soft on abortion and thinks it's a good idea to keep the criminals on the streets so they can commit more crimes."
    "Well, there's only one way to solve that problem. Isn't there?"
    "Damn right. You get a second term."
    The president finished his drink.
    "You want another?" McDermott asked.
    "I'd better not. It's tuxedo time. If it's Thursday, then it's the king of Sweden, and I've got to preside over the usual gathering of penguins and fancy ladies."
    "In Washington they're called women."
    "I know that. But where I come from, they're still ladies, and there's no press around now. Don't worry; I won't let that one slip."
    They both laughed loudly. McDermott rose and started to leave.
    "Listen, Hugh, there is one other thing." The president hesitated. "God, I hate asking you this."
    "Don't worry. Fire away."
    "Let's assume I win, and you get the nomination for chief justice of the Supreme Court. Do you envision any trouble during the confirmation hearings?"
    McDermott was blindsided by the question, but he kept his emotions under control. Don't show a thing, he told himself. You're a good poker player. You know what it's like to keep raising when all you've got is a pair of deuces.
    "What do you mean, trouble?" McDermott asked.
    "Well, you know what's happened with some Supreme Court nominees during the congressional hearings. I just don't want to cause any problems for you."
    "Oh, those kinds of problems," McDermott replied, forcing a natural-sounding laugh from his mouth. "You don't have to worry about me. Personally, I've got nothing to worry about. And politically—"
    The president interrupted. "Politically I don't see a problem. You've been close enough to the middle of the road as attorney general to satisfy a sizable number of Democrats in the Senate."
    "Happily, I'm clean as a whistle."

 
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    Chapter 8

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    It all fits together, Cady decided, once again eating a turkey sandwich for lunch at his desk. The evidence against Senator Boyd was clear and convincing. He should convene a