Стюарт Вудс - Indecent Exposure

“Yes, Stone?”

“Here’s what I’ve learned, Eliot. It is expected that Judge Ellis, who is presiding, will approve the Blakes’ property settlement next Friday, and if so, Benton will announce his resignation early on the following Monday, so as to make the morning shows.”

“That’s wonderful news, Stone. Is that a certainty?”

“No, it’s a target date, subject to change for all sorts of reasons, and you should treat it as no more than that.”

“That’s troubling.”

“Life is troubling, Eliot.”

“All right, then I’ll suggest that Peter announce next Friday.”

“I hope it all works out, Eliot.”

“Oh, I expect it will. Goodbye, Stone.”

“Goodbye, Eliot.”

They both hung up. Stone was exhausted.

The following Friday, Stone was watching Morning Joe with his breakfast when Mika Brzezinski broke off an interview with some politico, pressed a finger to her ear, and said, “Hold on, we have breaking news. Let’s go to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., where Senator Eliot Saltonstall is making a statement.”

The scene switched to the steps of the Capitol; fortunately, the sun was shining brightly. Eliot Saltonstall stood at a bank of microphones with a couple of dozen people, some of them United States senators, gathered behind him. “Good morning,” the senator said. “This is an important announcement for the people of New York State and of the United States. I wish to introduce to you Peter Rule, who, four years ago, joined my Senate staff as a junior assistant and who has since risen quickly to be first my senior legislative advisor and then my chief of staff. The people of New York State have come to know him as a supremely competent Senate staffer who has dealt with our constituents from Buffalo to New York City, helping to solve their problems with their government. Peter has an announcement to make. Peter?” Saltonstall stood aside and left the microphones to the younger man.

“Good morning,” Peter said, in a rich, deep voice. “Today I am privileged to announce my candidacy for the seat in the United States Senate being vacated at midterm by Senator Len Scott. I will work, hand in hand with Senator Eliot Saltonstall, who will become senior senator and who has given me the honor of representing his staff in every corner of the state, an experience that has deepened my knowledge of our citizens’ problems and expectations of their government. Between now and the election I will put forward a detailed program for our state and the nation, but for now, I will let you return to your breakfast. Thank you.”

The group behind him applauded and cheered, and Senator Saltonstall shook his hand.

The scene shifted back to Morning Joe . “That was the newest candidate for the United States Senate, Peter Rule. For those of you not acquainted with him, here are his biographical details.” She read from a sheet of paper:

“Peter Rule is the son of the late Simon Rule, a high official of the Central Intelligence Agency for many years, and the current President of the United States, Katharine Rule Lee, who was formerly director of Central Intelligence. He is a graduate of Princeton, with a bachelor’s in constitutional history, and Harvard, where he earned a master’s and a Ph.D. in American political history. He also studied at Oxford for a year as a Rhodes Scholar. After completing his education, Mr. Rule joined a London investment bank, where, while also attending the London School of Economics and earning another Ph.D., in economics, he specialized in international lending. He is currently chief of staff to Senator Eliot Saltonstall, of New York, and he was recently married to Senator Saltonstall’s younger daughter, Celeste. They live in New York City and in Georgetown.”

The discussion was thrown open to the group around Morning Joe ’s table, who seemed all to be favorably impressed with the new candidate’s credentials.

“I know this young man well,” said John Heilemann, a frequent contributor to the show, “and anyone crazy enough to run against him is going to have his hands full.” Everyone at the table seemed to agree with him.

In Albany, the governor of New York State, Benton Blake, threw his breakfast tray across the room and screamed obscenities, alarming two members of his staff, who rushed into the room to clean up after him.

That night, Gloria Parsons cradled Benton in her arms. “Don’t worry about it, baby,” she cooed. “You’ll take this kid with one hand tied behind your back.”

Benton sat up in bed. “Listen,” he said, “this kid is the son of the current President of the United States and the stepson of the former President of the United States, not to mention being the son-in-law of the other senator from New York and the husband of his daughter, possibly the most beautiful woman on the North American continent. From what I’ve learned, he knows this state better than anybody else alive, including me. That is what I’m up against, and I am going to need not only both my hands, but every brain cell in my possession and half the money in the state to defeat him. Now do you understand why I’m upset?”

“Well,” said Gloria, “you don’t have to run against him. You can run for another term as governor or just join Woodman & Weld and make a lot of money, then wait for Eliot Saltonstall to have a stroke or something, so you can run for his seat.”

Benton fell back onto the bed. “I hate this,” he said. “I just hate it.”

She began fondling him. “It’s going to be all right, baby,” she cooed. “You’re going to have the most wonderful life. And,” she said, “you can take consolation in the fact that you fucked that kid’s beautiful wife before he did.”

Later in the day, Joan buzzed Stone. “Bill Eggers on one.”

Stone picked up the phone. “Afternoon, Bill.”

“Good afternoon, Stone. I just had a call from Benton Blake.”

“And how is Benton feeling today?”

“Well, let’s see. The court has accepted his financial agreement with Vanessa and issued a decree in their divorce. He’s a free man, and he still owns all his real estate, but about fifteen million dollars less in cash. He’s still the governor of New York, but he will announce his resignation on Monday, then, after a couple of weeks’ holiday, presumably with his new girlfriend, he’ll join our firm as a senior partner, so I’d guess he feels pretty good.”

“What’s he going to do about running for senator?” Stone asked.

“He didn’t say.”

Fifteen minutes later Joan told him Senator Saltonstall was on the phone.

“Good afternoon, Eliot,” Stone said.

“Good afternoon, Stone. Did you watch Peter on TV this morning?”

“I watched his declaration on Morning Joe , followed by interviews on half a dozen television shows,” Stone replied.

“And what did you think of the impression he made?”

“I thought he came across as handsome, brilliant, and fully qualified for office. I missed only Celeste.”

“Funny, that’s what I thought, too. Don’t worry, you’re going to see Celeste on every daytime television show next week, starting Sunday, and in a dozen magazines’ next issue. Faith Mackey is doing a superb job.”

“I’m delighted to hear all of that.”

“Now,” Saltonstall said, “tell me if Benton Blake is going to declare for the Senate.”

“I have no idea, Eliot,” Stone said with some satisfaction, “and I doubt if Benton does, either. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

On Monday morning Stone watched on TV as Morning Joe switched to a shot of Benton Blake at the governor’s desk in Albany.