Стюарт Вудс - Shakeup

He tried to respond, but the rotors drowned him out. Holly handed him off to the sergeant, who ushered him aboard, then entered and closed the door. The machine lifted off and made a climbing turn to the north.

Holly made her way back into the Oval Office and picked up a phone. “Is Kirby Reese here, yet?”

“Yes, Madam President.”

“Please send him in.”

The door opened, and a short, dapper man in his sixties came in.

“Good morning, Kirby, I hope you’re well,” Kate said, showing him to the sofa and taking her seat.

“Thank you, yes, Madam President.”

“This is the perfect moment to have you here,” Holly said. “Perhaps you’ve heard, we’re short a cabinet member.”

“No, I hadn’t heard.”

“Don Clark is, of course, broken up about the death of his wife and feels that he can’t accept commerce at this point.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Reese said.

“And so I want to offer you the post of secretary of commerce, and I hope you will accept.”

“Thank you, Madam President, I’d be honored to join your cabinet.”

“Oh, good.” She rose, bringing him to his feet. “Our first cabinet meeting is at three o’clock this afternoon. I’ll look forward to seeing you then. My secretary will give you some briefing papers as you leave.”

They shook hands, and Reese left.

Holly went back to her study and to work. Once again, all was right with the world. For the moment. She knew that couldn’t last. Then she had a thought and buzzed her secretary.

“Yes, Madam President?”

“Will you send in my briefing book for this afternoon’s cabinet meeting?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And is that young lady from Ralph Lauren’s office still in town?”

“I believe she leaves for New York this afternoon.”

“Could you get her on the phone for me?”

“Of course, Madam President.”

A moment later, her phone rang. “Ms. Roth,” her secretary said.

Holly picked up the phone. “Shelley?”

“Yes, Madam President.”

“I wonder if you could do something for me. I need a dress made for a friend of mine. Her birthday is this weekend. Could your people run something up for me?”

“Of course. What did you have in mind?”

“A burka.”

“Did you say a burka? ”

“I did. She’s Muslim. Nothing too colorful, but not black, either. Something that doesn’t attract too much attention.”

“Shall I send you some swatches?”

“No, I’ll trust your judgment.”

“What dress size is she?”

“Fortunately, exactly the same as mine; you can use the dummy you made up for me.”

“And when do you need it?”

“If you could deliver it to the attention of Claire Dunne — she’s the head of my Secret Service detail — at the Carlyle Hotel by noon on Friday.”

“Of course.”

“And send the bill to my friend, Stone Barrington. You have his address. It’s a gift from both of us.”

“Consider it done, Madam President.”

“Goodbye, Shelley.” Holly hung up. It would amuse Stone to get the bill, she thought...

On Friday morning, Joan entered Stone’s office and handed him a thick, creamy envelope with the words Ralph Lauren printed on the backflap. “This came for you,” she said. “I suppose it’s a tailoring bill, but somehow, it doesn’t sound like you.”

Stone removed the contents of the envelope and scanned it, then burst out laughing. “I didn’t think she’d do it,” he said.

“Who’d do it?”

“Holly. We can expect her sometime this afternoon. She’ll drive straight into the garage.”

“I’m confused,” Joan said. “In a burka? ”

“Exactly. It’s the only way she can travel around the city without being recognized.”

Joan laughed, too. “God, I hope the tabloids don’t get wind of this.”

“They won’t, because you and a Secret Service agent are the only people who know. If the press finds out, we’ll know who to shoot.”

“Oh, I almost forgot. A Mr. Donald Clark phoned, and he insisted on coming over here immediately. He says you know him.”

“We’ve met,” Stone said. “I’ve met his wife, too. Send him in when he arrives. And send Ralph Lauren a check.”

“Will do.”

Five minutes later, Joan ushered in Donald Clark.

Stone shook his hand. “Hello, Don. Once again, my condolences.”

“Thank you, Stone.”

“And thank you for your hospitality on Inauguration Day.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“What brings you to see me, Don?”

“I have a problem, and I hope you can help me with it.”

“That depends on the problem.”

“You may not have heard, yet, but the president has withdrawn my name for consideration by the Senate for the cabinet office of secretary of commerce.”

“I heard,” Stone said, not mentioning that he had heard before Clark.

“Her reasons were, first, that I looked tired and should have a rest, far from Washington. And, second, that I was unlikely to have enough support in the Senate for confirmation to a cabinet position.”

“Well, for the first, I can confirm that you do look tired, Don, as I would think any normal human being would after being subjected to the treatment that you have received from the media. As for the second reason, I am not a politician, but the president certainly is, and she is advised by political experts. If they see your confirmation by the Senate as a problem, then it is, ipso facto, a problem.”

Clark’s face reddened. “That is the conventional wisdom, of course,” he said.

“Sometimes the conventional wisdom is the best wisdom available,” Stone replied. He shrugged. “I’m afraid I can’t see how I could be of help to you.”

“Here’s how: I want to launch a private investigation into my wife’s murder. I know that you have a police background, and I’d like you to head the investigation.”

“To what effect?”

“To the effect of clearing my name and making me suitable for a cabinet post.”

“So you want me to conduct an investigation that clears you of your wife’s murder?”

“That is correct.”

“Don, an investigation that ends in a preconceived verdict would not be an investigation. It would be a sham, and no honorable attorney or firm would be a part of that. I think what you need is a publicist, what those in Washington like to call a spin doctor. The problem is that preconceived verdict I mentioned. What a publicist can do is to hear your story, read all the news reports, and write a statement for you to deliver to the media — preferably in person — that asserts your claim of innocence. That might dispel some doubts, but not all doubts. Some people are just doubters.”

“Then what am I to do?”

“I’m afraid that you will have to wait for the police to announce the results of their investigation into your wife’s murder. It would be very helpful to your cause if they also announced the arrest and charging of a perpetrator — one who is not you.”

“So you think that I killed or hired someone to kill my wife?”

“I have not formed an opinion on that subject, not having heard the results of the police investigation,” Stone said. “I can tell you, though, that if you, before the police investigation is concluded, make a public declaration of your innocence, then the results of the investigation could turn public opinion against you. My advice is to wait for that announcement, then make a public statement either accepting or denying the results of the investigation. It is likely, though, that a police announcement establishing your guilt will have been preceded by your arrest, so you will have to wait for your arraignment to declare your innocence to the public.