Стюарт Вудс - Indecent Exposure

“Well, our first thought was about a year out from the election, but if Blake announces sometime soon, that could change.”

“I suppose that, if they both announce, that might discourage other potential office-seekers.”

“That’s a very good point and an argument for an early announcement. Perhaps Peter should announce before Blake has a chance to.”

“Do you think Peter’s announcing would discourage Blake from doing so?”

“That’s a very good question, Stone, and one I’ll have to contemplate at length. Do you have an opinion?”

“Well, off the top of my head, I would think that Blake possesses sufficient ego to cause him to think of Peter as a kid and not much in the way of competition. It couldn’t hurt to have Blake underestimate Peter and his chances.”

“Hmmmm,” Saltonstall responded.

“I hope I’ve been helpful,” Stone said.

“You’ve certainly given me food for thought, Stone. Are you free for lunch today?”

Stone didn’t want to prolong this conversation. “I’m afraid not, Eliot, and I have a client waiting to see me now, so I’d better run.”

“Of course. Let me know if you hear any rumors.”

“Take care, Eliot.” He hung up and buzzed Joan.

“Yes, boss?”

“If Senator Saltonstall calls back before lunch, tell him I’m with a client.”

“Gotcha.”

Stone called Dino.

“Bacchetti.”

“Have you heard any new rumors?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because Eliot Saltonstall just called me and related most of what I told you last night.”

“You think I blabbed to Saltonstall?”

“Of course not, Dino. I trust you implicitly. I just wonder where he’s hearing this stuff.”

“Apparently everybody is hearing it because I’ve heard most of it from at least two people this morning.”

“How much of it?”

“Just about everything except the pregnancy thing.”

“Did you hear Gloria Parsons’s name mentioned?”

“Come to think of it, no. Do you want me to start that rumor?”

“Good God, no — we don’t want Benton’s name sullied before he can join Woodman & Weld.”

“But after that, it’s okay?”

“Not until we’ve milked him dry.”

The following morning, Stone received another call from Senator Eliot Saltonstall. “Good morning, Stone.”

“Good morning, Eliot.”

“With regard to our conversation of yesterday, and the possible forthcoming announcement that Benton Blake is declaring for the Senate, Peter and I have decided that he should announce first.”

“And when will that be?” Stone asked.

“Preferably the day before Benton plans to announce.”

“And what date will that be?”

“Frankly, Stone, I was hoping you could tell me. After all, you hear things.”

“Eliot, when I hear things I, more than likely, hear them from you, as I did yesterday.”

“All right, then how about the day before Benton announces his resignation from the governorship.”

“Eliot, it may surprise you to learn that the governor does not report his intentions to me on any sort of regular basis. I think it would be more productive if you backtracked.”

“Backtracked? What does that mean?”

“It means that you should call the person or persons who passed on to you the rumors that you passed on to me yesterday and ask them for any further rumors.”

“But why should those persons have information any better than what you could get?”

“That would seem obvious, if you think about it.”

The senator paused for a moment. “All right, I’ve thought about it, and I think you are as good a source as they.”

“Eliot, I don’t know, nor have I heard any rumor concerning the date of Benton’s announcement.”

“But surely you know someone who knows.”

“Not only do I not know anyone who knows, I have no idea whether Benton himself knows. I think he did say he would do so after his property settlement had been approved by the court.”

“And when will that be?”

“I got the impression that it should be sooner, rather than later.”

“That’s very imprecise, Stone.”

“I’m aware of that, but it’s all I know — or think I know. May I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.”

“I expect that, over the course of your political life, you have come to know a person or persons who work for or have regular dealings with the family court.”

“I expect so.”

“Then perhaps you could call one or more of those persons and make inquiries. For instance, it might be helpful to know which judge is presiding over Blake v. Blake, would it not?”

“I expect it would.”

“Perhaps you might even be socially acquainted with that judge, and if you took him to lunch or engaged him in conversation on the subject of the Blakes, he might refer to the status of their petition.”

“Perhaps you could do that for me?”

“Eliot, since I have never handled a divorce as an attorney, nor have I been divorced, I have no knowledge of the inner workings or personnel of the family court.”

“Oh.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“I was responding to your ‘oh.’”

“Oh.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s not start this again,” the senator said.

“No.”

“Perhaps Bill Eggers might have a better idea than you of the timeline in question.”

“Why do you think that, Eliot?”

“Well, if Benton is going to join Woodman & Weld upon his resignation as governor, that might relate to the date of his joining Woodman & Weld, and we could work from that time.”

Stone sighed. “All right, Eliot, I’ll ask Bill if Benton is going to join us, and if so, when. I think that’s all I can do.”

“That would be most helpful, Stone, and I would be most grateful.”

“I’ll get back to you.” They said goodbye, and Stone called Eggers and was connected.

“Good morning, Bill.”

“Good morning, Stone.”

“Eliot Saltonstall is driving me crazy,” Stone said.

“That could be the title of a popular song,” Eggers said, “as in ‘You, You’re Driving Me Crazy.’”

“Perhaps in an earlier era,” Stone replied.

“Why is he driving you crazy?”

“He wants to know the exact date Benton Blake will resign as governor.”

“Why?”

“So that Peter Rule can announce for the Senate before Benton has a chance to.”

“Peter is running for the Senate?”

Stone slapped his forehead. “I seem to have inadvertently started a rumor to that effect. Is it too late to swear you to secrecy?”

“I’ll be happy to keep your secret, Stone — or rather, Peter’s secret.”

“Thank you. I would not like to have Eliot trace such a rumor back to me.”

“I understand entirely.”

“Do you know the date Benton will resign?”

“I do.”

“Would it entail a breach of confidence if you were to tell me that date?”

“It would.”

“Oh.”

“But I’ll tell you anyway, just to give young Peter a leg up on his announcement.”

“Thank you.”

There was a long silence, which Stone finally broke.

“Bill?”

“Yes?”

“You were going to give me the date of Blake’s announcement.”

“Oh, yes, I’m sorry, my mind wandered for a moment. The date. Now, let’s see — Benton expects Judge Ellis to approve his property settlement next Friday, and if he does so, Blake will make his announcement early on the following Monday, so as to make the morning shows.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Of course, if Judge Ellis gets busy or something, that could change.”

“Of course. Thank you, Bill. I’ll pass that on to Eliot.” They hung up, and Stone called Saltonstall.