Free Claire Gulliver #06 - Carnage Goes Coastal by Gayle Wigglesworth Page A

“It’s no fun being the one left at home, wondering and worrying. If you had contacted me I would have understood your need to fill out reports and cross all the T’s before coming back, but at least I would have known you were out of imminent danger and I could have relaxed a bit.”
    “It wasn’t that I wasn’t thinking of you, or missing you. It’s more like when I’m on a mission I tend to just zero in on that task, putting everyone and every other thing out of my mind. It helps me stay alive. But, I should have considered how you were coping.” He paused, thinking a moment. “Maybe that’s part of why my first marriage failed.”
    He had an earnest expression on his face as he promised, “I’ll do better. And if I don’t, please call me on it. I don’t want to take a chance of destroying our relationship. Promise me?”
    She nodded. “Okay, hopefully you won’t be going on more missions so I won’t have that to worry about. Did you get the job as liaison in San Francisco?”
    He nodded, smiling. “I start in a month.”
    Just then little Jack let out a loud satisfying burp and they both laughed. Jack, still gently patting the baby’s back, noticed how heavy the baby’s eyelids were getting. Little Jack sighed as he went to sleep and his grandfather looked questioningly at Claire. She pointed to the back bedroom and followed him quietly, tucking a light blanket around the sleeping baby after Jack laid him in the crib.
    As they walked back down the hall to the front of the bungalow, Jack whispered, “Where is Karen? I’m anxious to see her and hear her story. Should I go over to the store?”
    “No, I’ll call her. If you go over there I’m afraid I won’t see either of you for hours.” She picked up the phone and poked in the number on speed dial.
    “How’s it going, Karen? Will you be much longer? Well, why don’t you stop what you’re doing and come home? We have some company you’ll want to see. No, it’s a surprise. Just come home.”
    She hung up with a smile. “I would guess that will get her here in about six minutes.
    She was wrong. It was only five minutes later before Tuffy-Two went racing for the front door.

CHAPTER 13
    “Scott Ellington here.” Scott answered his phone grudgingly, irritated at the interruption.
    “Have you had the radio on?”
    Scott was surprised to hear his father-in-law’s voice. “No, should I?”
    “Hell, yes. Grayson collapsed and was rushed to the hospital a short time ago. No wonder he was worried about his health, obviously he knew something was wrong. It hasn’t been announced yet, but he won’t be recovering any time soon. His family is arguing about when to pull the plug.
    “The party guys are all over this. They’re talking to the governor as we speak. When Grayson comes off the machines the Governor will be charged with appointing another senator to finish up his term. The party is going to recommend that appointee be you.”
    Scott was thinking fast. Grayson’s tragedy could be his miracle. If he got the senate appointment for the remainder of the current term, he could run in the next election as incumbent. That would make winning an almost sure thing. “What are the chances of the governor appointing me?” he asked, trying to contain the glee in his voice.
    “Well, he needs our support for his next election so he’s apt to follow the party line. And I intend to have a little talk with him. He already owes me plenty, so I think there is a pretty good chance he’ll do it.” Stanford’s voice was pensive as he considered all angles.
    “I think it’s safe enough for you to start shopping for a house in D.C., boy. Don’t tell anyone just yet; let’s give it a little time to play out. But you’d better let Phoebe know.”
    Scott felt the smile spread across his face.
    “And Scott, be prepared for an invitation to meet with the governor. He’ll want your assurance you’ll support his pet projects before he makes his final