Free Removal by Peter Murphy Page A

no advance copies, there was no prepared text. The room was abuzz although, as Martha well knew, it was not because there was any doubt as to what the President intended to speak about. The applause as he took the podium was more restrained than usual. There were even a few cynical chuckles. Martha was relieved to see that Wade appeared quite composed. His manner betrayed no hint of unease.
    ‘Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen,’ he began without undue haste. ‘I have only one thing to say this morning. And I’m sure it will come as no surprise to you to learn that it has to do with the story which appeared this morning in The Washington Post .’
    The male reporter who was sitting next to Mary Sullivan grinned at her and shook his head.
    ‘Bad girl,’ he scolded.
    Mary gave him a kick on his shin, but could not stop herself returning the grin.
    ‘I must admit,’ the President continued, ‘that when the subject was raised yesterday, I was rather taken aback. I may not have made myself as clear as I would wish. So I hope you will forgive me if I take a few moments of your time to do so today. For the record, I want to make it as clear as I possibly can that I know no one by the name of Lucia Benoni, I have had no relationship with any such person, and I find it disturbing that a newspaper as respected as The Washington Post would print a story like this without giving us a chance to comment on it. One might wonder, if there were any truth to the story at all, why this Miss Benoni has not come forward herself. I hope I have made myself clear, and I hope and expect that you will all consider this matter closed, and go back to reporting what really matters, which is the work the American people elected me to do.’
    The President stopped. There was a brief silence while the reporters finished making notes, and made sure that he was not going to continue. All eyes turned to Mary Sullivan, but she remained silent, appearing to concentrate on her notes. The White House correspondent for CBS News picked up the ball.
    ‘Mr. President, I wonder if you can comment on a report that was making the rounds this morning that Miss Benoni was an official guest at a White House function some time ago?’
    ‘No, I can’t, Bill. Several thousand people visit the White House every year for functions, yourself included, and I’m afraid I don’t remember them all.’
    ‘Following up, Mr. President, my network was told that Miss Benoni was the escort of a German diplomat at a function some months ago.’
    ‘If that’s the case, then that’s the case,’ Steve Wade replied testily. ‘I don’t personally supervise everything that goes on at the White House. And I repeat, I have no recollection of ever meeting this woman. Now, if you’ll excuse me…’
    A female reporter for Elle stood up.
    ‘Mr. President, have you talked with the First Lady about this story? How does she feel about it?’
    Steve Wade was already halfway to the door.
    ‘How do you think she feels about it?’ he replied angrily. ‘She wishes you people would leave us alone. And so do I.’
    Martha Graylor was seething as she made her way to the podium to resume what should have been a routine press conference. As soon as she was in place, almost every hand in the room was raised, and a chorus of voices erupted. She cut the first questioner off at the knees.
    ‘Don’t even go there,’ she said. ‘I have nothing to add to what the President has just said. And now, we’re going to talk about the situation in the Middle East.’
    * * *
    As she left the President at the Oval Office, Linda Samuels was fighting off a desire to throw up. Listening to his lies disgusted her. She had even had the uncomfortable feeling that some of the reporters were looking at her, as if they thought she might have something to tell them. Surely that was just her imagination? She walked slowly back to the Presidential Detail office, poured herself a cup of coffee, flopped into a