Стюарт Вудс - Indecent Exposure

“I told you, I’ve already discussed this with Kate, and she’s fine with me being a single woman with a sex life.”

“Tomorrow morning I want you to meet with your public affairs officer at State and discuss me with him or her.”

“Her.”

“Have her prepare a few statements to the press, to be distributed as soon as such an article runs. We’ll be mentioned in the more prestigious papers, too — you can count on that, so be ready for an instant response.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t mention a sex life — make it a personal life. They won’t need any help from you in bringing sex into the story.”

“Well, they won’t be able to suggest I’m a lesbian.”

“No, they’ll probably hint that you’re bisexual. Don’t let yourself be photographed hugging or kissing a woman. And, apart from the statements that you and your public affairs officer are going to write, don’t make any statements or answer any questions on your personal life. You’ll want to establish that rule immediately and stick to it.”

“All right. Anything else?”

“Yes. Do you recall an occasion in your personal life, many years back, when you were chief of police at Orchid Beach, when you liberated a suitcase full of cash before, during, or after a major drug bust?”

“I seem to recall such an incident,” Holly said.

“And you may recall opening a numbered account in a Cayman Islands bank, which issued you a credit card for your surreptitious use.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve given a great deal of thought as to how you might legitimize these funds, which now amount to, what, seven million dollars?”

“Eight and a half.”

“I’ve come to the conclusion that any action we might take with regard to laundering that money would be far too dangerous to contemplate, so you must immediately stop drawing on those funds with your credit card or depositing or withdrawing further funds. Do you have a legitimate investment account?”

“Yes, with a brokerage house.”

“Good. For as long as you’re secretary of state, and maybe for some time after that, don’t go near any of the Cayman funds.”

Holly nodded. “You’re right.”

“And avoid any trips — official or unofficial — to the Cayman Islands. When you opened the account, was your passport stamped on entering that country?”

“No. I’m not that stupid.”

“You’re going to be issued a diplomatic passport, so shred your old one and lock your credit card in your safe at home.” He paused. “On second thought, give the card to me, and I’ll secure it.”

“All right, I’ll give it to you tonight.”

“And I hope I don’t have to tell you not to use a personal e-mail server?”

Holly laughed. “Of course not.”

“And close any personal e-mail accounts you already have. Have you usually done your personal e-mail on your own computer?”

“Yes, it’s at home.”

“Then remove the hard drive from it and give it to me, along with your credit card, and install a new hard drive.”

“I know how to do that.”

“The State Department will issue you a new phone, perhaps more than one. Give me the old one and buy a new iPhone for strictly personal use, as in e-mails to your father and his wife or to me. Even then, be very circumspect about what you say in any e-mail and use that phone as little as possible.”

“Why not just destroy the old hard drive and the phone?”

“Because you may find yourself in circumstances where it’s to your advantage to turn over old devices. That way, no one can say you’ve destroyed them to hide something.”

“I see.”

“You’re also going to have to be circumspect in your personal life, especially with what invitations you accept, even to dinner parties. In those cases, always ask your hostess to send you a guest list. You don’t want to find yourself backed into a corner by a journalist who demands some background or a quote.”

“Can I see men other than you?” she asked slyly.

“Of course not!”

“I thought not.”

“Oh, all right, but before you make any dates, ask your people to run a background check on the men.”

“You’re serious?”

“Do you want to find out later that somebody you’ve slept with is an unregistered lobbyist for some creepy foreign regime? Or that he has two wives and families in different cities?”

Holly sighed. “You know what I’m really happy about?” she asked.

“What?”

“I’m just delighted that I don’t have an ex-husband out there, spreading lies about me, or even worse, the truth!”

Laughing, they got into the car and left for the White House.

They drove through the main gate of the White House and were met by two men, one who parked the car, the other who escorted them upstairs to the family quarters.

The Lees greeted them with hugs, handshakes, and kisses, and so did Kate’s son Peter Rule, and his fiancée, Celeste Saltonstall.

“Would you like a drink?” Kate asked them. A White House butler stood by to take the order.

“Yes, but first we have some business to conduct,” Stone said. “I’ll be as brief as possible.”

Everyone took a seat, and Stone placed his briefcase on the coffee table and opened it. “Presidents Lee, have you any objection to Holly, Peter, and Celeste being present during this meeting?”

“None,” the two said simultaneously.

“We’re going to need a notary standing by to authenticate your signatures.”

“We’re ahead of you on that,” Will said. “There’s one waiting outside in the hallway.” A Secret Service agent, who had been standing inside the outer door, discreetly stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him, and the butler vanished.

Stone removed three handsomely leather-bound, thick folders from his briefcase and handed them to Will, Kate, and Holly, whose names were embossed on the covers.

“I would like to make a recording of these proceedings,” Stone said, “for both accuracy and historical purposes. Have I your permission?”

“Yes,” they all said.

He set a recorder on the coffee table and switched it on. “If you will open your folders, the first document you see will be a letter appointing my firm and me as your personal attorneys. You have seen this before, and no changes have been requested since then. If you are agreeable, please sign the document. My signature is already present, representing the firm.”

Everybody signed.

“Now, we have set up a sort of mini law firm inside the larger firm, to be called The Barrington Group at Woodman & Weld. The members of the group are four partners, including me, four associates, and eight assistants. The second in command, as it were, is Herbert Fisher, who speaks for me in my absence. Their photographs and biographies are in your folders, along with all their contact information — phones, faxes, e-mail, et cetera. At some point when you’re in New York, drop by and be introduced to all of them. They are all available to you twenty-four/seven, and all of them will be briefed on all the client information, so that any one of them can help you. As you know, I live in more than one place, but in my physical absence, I am always available by cell phone and e-mail.”

Everybody leafed through the sheets.

“Currently eight clients are served by the group, the Presidents Lee, Secretary Barker, and five of my existing clients — Strategic Services, the Steele Insurance Group, the Arrington Hotel Group, Laurence Hayward, a private client, and Triangle Partnership, a new investment group set up by myself and two others, Michael Freeman of Strategic Services and Charles Fox, formerly of Goldman Sachs, who is our chief investment officer. Charley Fox will always be available if, in addition to your brokers, you require another opinion concerning the purchase or sale of an investment. Over the next few years the partnership will be conducting IPOs from our existing holdings, and you may have the opportunity to invest in those on favorable terms, after consulting your own financial advisors.