Free Cut and Thrust by Stuart Woods Page B

would kill for that.”
    The governor finished his eggs. Stanton hadn’t touched his. Collins looked at his watch. “Well, I’ve got a nine-o’clock across town.” He pushed his chair back.
    “Time to decide, huh?” Stanton said.
    “Yes, it is, Marty.”
    Stanton pushed his chair back and stood up. “All right, Dick, I’ll take the Senate seat.”
    Collins stood up and shook his hand. “Wonderful, Marty, and I’ll be there when you run for reelection in four years.”
    “Thank you, Dick.”
    “Now,” said the governor, taking Stanton’s arm and propelling him toward the door, “let me tell you how this is going to go.”
    The two men walked slowly through the bungalow’s living room and outside to where their cars waited. The governor did all the talking; Stanton nodded. At one point, Stanton seemed to object, but Collins kept him moving, talking earnestly in a low voice.
    They reached their cars, and a Secret Service agent was holding the door open for Stanton.
    “Then we’re agreed, Marty.” It wasn’t a question.
    Stanton nodded, got into the car, and was driven away. Collins did the same, but he was smiling.

A nn Keaton sat at her desk in her small office in the presidential cottage and began working delegates, one by one. Molly, Kate’s secretary, sat at an adjacent desk. Her phone rang, she listened and then tapped Ann on the shoulder.
    Ann covered the phone. “Yes, Molly?”
    “Hang up.”
    “I’ll call you back,” Ann said into her phone, then hung up.
    “Evan Chandler, from Senator Mark Willingham’s campaign, wants to speak to you,” Molly said. “This could be important.”
    Ann pressed the button. “Good morning, Evan, how are you?”
    “Very well, Ann. Senator Willingham would like to meet with Director Lee—this morning, if possible.”
    “She has meetings all morning and a lunch at twelve thirty,” Ann said. “I could make some time between the meetings and lunch—say, twelve?”
    “That’s fine. The senator would like to meet in his suite at the Bel-Air.”
    “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, given her schedule,” Ann said. “It will have to be at the presidential cottage at The Arrington.”
    “Hold on.”
    Ann found herself listening to piano music.
    “What’s going on?” Molly asked.
    “I’m on hold. Willingham wants a meet, but I won’t let the first lady go to him.”
    “Ann?” Chandler was back on the line.
    “Yes, Evan.”
    “The senator will be there at noon.”
    “I’ll leave word at the gate,” Ann said. “Security is very tight here.”
    “He’ll be on time.” Chandler hung up.
    Ann put down the phone and ran down the hall to the presidential office. She rapped on the door and opened it. Kate and Will Lee were sitting on the sofa, their laps full of papers.
    “Director, you have a meeting with Mark Willingham at noon, here.”
    “I do?” Kate asked, surprised.
    “Unless you want me to cancel.”
    Will looked at her and shook his head.
    “All right, Ann.”
    Ann smiled and went back to her desk.
    —
    KATE LOOKED AT WILL. “Now, what do you suppose?”
    “It won’t be State,” Will said.
    “He’s not going to offer me the number two spot,” Kate said.
    “Why not? Mark will do whatever he has to do, and he’s all out of time. Nominations are tonight, and he’ll want to have everything lined up. He obviously believes that Marty doesn’t have the votes to win on the first ballot.”
    “It’s incongruous,” Kate said. “Willingham was your worst enemy among the Democrats in the Senate.”
    “Doesn’t matter. Mark has decided you’re the only way he can win.”
    Kate shook her head. “Impossible.”
    “Well,” Will said, “all you have to do is listen.”
    —
    KATE HAD ARRANGED the furniture again in the library and was sitting when the knock came.
    “Senator Willingham,” Manolo said.
    Willingham strode into the room and shook Kate’s hand, then sat down. He didn’t wait for her to sit first.
    “What can