Girl Power (24 page)

message: telling the incredulous TV audience what they knew just wasn't true—

that the NFA gun nuts and the GOP were not tied at the hip like Siamese twins.

He knew other conservative pundits and politicians fighting for their

political life were making the rounds also, but it didn't seem to matter. The polls inexorably kept falling for Coop Richardson and GOP candidates in general and

there didn't seem to be anything they could do about it. They were desperate, so on election eve, Crowe found himself once again in the Republican 'Little Shop of Horrors', sitting across from Rose Maddock as she spun a monologue of common

sense. She shook his hand. "Welcome, back Mr. Magnon." With a mischievous grin she continued, "I hope your nose is better today. You gave us quite a scare on your last visit. What was wrong anyway?"

"A blood vessel broke near my sinuses, causing me great pain, and yes,

thank you, I'm better now and ready to tell our side of the story."

Rose shuffled some papers around. "Yes, that the Republican Party had

nothing whatsoever to do with the shooting at the SAFE National Committee

Headquarters."

"Right. We had no connection whatsoever with that shooting and I'm not

sure the NFA did either. After all, there's still an investigation going on."

"That's true, however, is it not also true that politicians, especially

Republican politicians both federal and state get
beau coups
dollars a year from NFA lobbyists."

"Yes, but—"

"Let's suppose the NFA or persons within the NFA paid the suspects to

shoot up the SAFE Building."

"Okay."

"And your party is the biggest beneficiary of the NFA largess."

"Yes."

"And SAFE is the political party closest to your candidates in the polls."

Crowe fidgeted in his seat. "I see where—"

"Is it unreasonable to suspect that Republicans who have had a

longstanding relationship of mutual assistance with the NFA requested the

building to be shot up or at least knew about it and looked the other way."

Crowe jumped up. "We're not gangsters. I'm telling you, as the Chairman of

the RNC Republicans, no republican knew or had anything to do with this

occurrence."

"No?"

"No."

"I ask you to look at the monitor on the wall. Those three forms are the

Smiley Brothers voter registration forms. Please note that all three checked the Republican box."

Crowe felt anguish. "Rose, you know I wasn't talking about the rank and

file. I meant no one involved in policy knew anything about this."

"Really. Then take a look at the two new documents."

Crowe looked at the monitor and rolled his eyes. Those stupid mothers.

They make Willie Joe look like a genius.

"Document one shows that Frank Smiley was a Republican delegate at the

recent Republican Convention."

Crowe ran his fingers through the long hair below his bald spot.

"Isn't that interesting? Take a look at document two. Well I'll be. Darrel was a registered NFA lobbyist. I don't think the Smiley brothers can be any more

connected to the NFA and the Republican Party than that. What do you think

Mr. Magnon?

"We're dead meat," Crowe said softly to himself.

"Pardon me, I didn't hear you."

"I said, I can't answer that question without counsel, on the grounds it may incriminate the Republican Party."

Chapter Twenty-One – Election Day

I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a

bitch, okay. –
Madonna Ciccone

Win, lose or draw, because of their numerous appearances on TV, on the

internet, at Town Hall meetings, and elsewhere, the six original members of

SAFE and Lee Casey became well known. The omnipresent member of the unit

was, of course, Presidential Candidate Sally Cummings, who graced the cover of

no less than sixty-seven magazines and tabloids and appeared on twenty-nine

TV shows. And that didn't include four covers with a group shot of the original

six members.

On a bizarre note, Lee Casey received no less than five proposals of

marriage via snail mail and email from women he'd never met. Each proposal

included at least one snapshot of the love struck woman, and in one case a shot

purported to show the potential bride as the groom would see her on their

wedding night. However, Lee was all eyes for another very special target.

~ * * ~

For the week before Election Day, Sally was a nervous wreck. Each of the

main members took turns taking Sally out for cocktails and dinner to keep her

mind relaxed. It just so happened that her host for election eve was Lee Casey.

For the occasion, Lee took her to Marceau's, a romantic, French restaurant

on Pennsylvania Avenue. Marceau's was not particularly busy that Monday

evening, and once Lee slipped the Maître d' a generous tip, he led them, and her secret service detail to a beautiful secluded section with a fountain and statues.

The Maître d' sat Sally and Lee in a semicircle booth on one side of the fountain and the two agents on the other side. After they ordered dinner and the wine

steward served the wine, Lee took her hand. He'd done this occasionally as he

coached her for the debates, and like then, his touch sent tingles to all the places that reminded her she was more than a politician. He lowered his lips to her

hand and kissed it. "You look dazzling tonight."

She wore a lavender, V-necked, knee length sheath with matching costume

jewelry and pumps. She dipped her head. "Thank you. Melissa is an amazing

fashion and beauty consultant." She snickered. "If anyone could put lipstick on a pig and end up with an object of beauty, it would be her. You also look extra nice tonight in your dashing summer tux."

His other hand joined the first, elevating her pulse to dangerous limits.

Lindy's idea for a week of dinner and cocktails to calm her down and take her

mind off the upcoming election had worked until now. With Lee, it had the

opposite effect. Oh sure it took her mind off the election, but it did anything but calm her down. Especially, being alone with him in this romantically intimate

setting.

He kissed the top of her hand again. "Sally, I've been meaning to say this for a long time, but there never seemed to be a good time." Her heart sped up as he paused, staring into her eyes. "I can't tell you how glad I am Kelly brought me into your organization."

Sally tried to say something but Lee continued, "Let me finish, please," he paused again then shrugged. "There are so many things I want to say, and now I seem at a loss for words. Let me say this. Sally, I think you're a wonderful

woman. You're smart, insightful, compassionate, fair-minded, perceptive and so

good-hearted, it rubs off on everyone around you. I think…no…I know I'm a

better person from having been around you."

Never taking his gaze from her, Lee took a sip of Pinot Noir. "I think you

have an excellent chance to win the election tomorrow, but, if you don't and

you're willing, I'd like to start seeing you—keeping company."

Sally, choked on her wine. He wants to date me! I had no idea! He wants

to…oh my God! She glanced at her security agents. Despite an almost twenty-

year age difference, she'd always been attracted to Lee—even before she met

him. She never dreamed the movie-star-good-looking, political consultant would

be interested in a semi-frump like her. She inhaled deeply, thinking her response through. She snickered. "Funny, I seem to be as unable to collect my thoughts as you. Let me say this. I find you extremely attractive, and I get goose bumps

thinking about what you're proposing. Part of me would love to start a

relationship with you, but—"

Lee leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. "No buts. I know you have placed politics above everything—even romance, but, with me, you can have

both. I have been in politics all my life and that is why we are the perfect match."

Still feeling the gentle touch of his lips on hers, Sally admitted the idea of

taking up with Lee was intriguing. "You said if I don't win. Are you offering yourself to me as a consolation prize?"

Tight lipped, Lee furrowed his brow. "Of course not. President Sally

Cummings would be under much more scrutiny than citizen Sally Cummings. It

would seem unbecoming to have the first lady President carrying on a romance

with her Chief of Staff."

Sally sighed. "Don't make me regret choosing you to be my chief of staff.

Which is worse, an unmarried female president romantically involved with her

Chief of Staff or a male President having an extramarital peccadillo with a young intern?"

Lee held his hands out. "The latter, but neither is good politics."

Sally waggled her eyebrows. "I think if the President of the United States

and her Chief of Staff wanted to be together romantically without being obvious, it wouldn't be that hard to do."

Lee chuckled. "Maybe." He kissed her on her cheek and whispered. "Let's get you elected, and then we'll find out."

~ * * ~

After rising at 9:00 a.m., Sally Cummings drove to her Baltimore polling

place. For the first time in a couple weeks, her stomach wasn't in knots. One way or the other, by late that night, the campaign would be over. Strangely, she found that fact reassuring. Then remembering her conversation with Lee the previous

night, she started getting queasy.

On the way back to her car, Sally dug her phone from her handbag and

dialed his number.

"Hello?"

"It's me. Excuse me for being a Nervous Nelly, but I need to make sure the

wine, the atmosphere, and the dancing into the wee hours didn't influence you in the commitment you made to me last night."

He chuckled. "Don't worry, sweetheart, I've never been more serious in my

life. Did you vote yet?"

Sally sighed. She felt much better. "Just left. I'll be at headquarters in forty-five minutes."

"We'll be waiting for you President-Elect Cummings."

Ending that call, Sally punched in a second number. "Winfred?"

Visualizing her running mate, Sally smiled. "Did you vote, yet?"

"Just did. Did you?"

"Yep. Surprise, surprise, I voted for us. And then I voted for every SAFE

candidate on the ballot."

"Me too. Sally, I think the voter turnout is going to be huge."

"I hope you're right, because Lindy says the bigger the turnout, the better for us."

"What are you doing for the election?"

"We rented a hotel banquet room for our supporters. Dillon, me and a

couple others will watch the returns in a room at the hotel and when the election is called by the networks we'll join the crowd and I'll give one of two speeches.

How about you?"

"Same. It's too early to go to the banquet room so I'm going to the office

first. Anyway, like you, Lindy, Lee and I will watch the returns and we'll join the others when the results are known."

~ * * ~

Lindy and Melissa arranged to hold Sally's election return party in a nearby

hotel banquet hall. It would serve as a place for the faithful to watch the returns, and if fortunate enough to win, celebrate. The hotel installed a stage at the back of the sprawling room for a band to perform, and later for speeches. Pink drapes hung at the back of the stage around an enormous TV monitor. Huge

Cummings/Opry banners adorned either side of the monitor and campaign

signs and smaller, but still large TV monitors were spaced on the walls around

the room.

When Sally arrived, in addition to Lindy, Lee, Carla, and Brenda, about a

dozen more staff members set up sixty-some round tables with pink tablecloths,

pink, white, and blue centerpieces and assorted trinkets. From their collective

experience, the campaign team knew supporters would start trickling in around

four-o'clock. They would be hungry and thirsty so SAFE arranged for a buffet,

starting at 5:00 p.m., along one wall and a beer and wine bar on each side of the large open room.

East coast polls closed at seven p.m. meaning returns wouldn't start filtering

into networks until several minutes later. As customary, shortly after supporters began to arrive, Sally left the meeting room and headed for the hotel suite they'd rented, where she and her campaign confidants would follow the returns.

Carla had prepared two speeches for Sally. She dreaded the idea of

delivering one of the speeches, and prayed it wouldn't be needed, but she knew

the odds were against that. Sally had been fortunate in politics. From mayor to

Congress she'd never lost a race and didn't know how'd she'd react.
At least I'd
have the shoulder of a dreamy man to cry on.

Sally walked in the door and glanced around. As she'd been told, the suite

contained living and sleeping rooms. She thought of taking a nap, since the

actual returns wouldn't be forthcoming for a couple more hours, but decided

against it since her associates would be joining her. The living area was well-

appointed in a contemporary motif with a beige davenport/settee set with

matching iron and marble end and cocktail tables. Making sure the big screen TV

was operable she turned it on. When the picture appeared, she tuned it to her

favorite channel, National News Network, but muted the sound. She didn't want

to listen to inane network babble until they had something tangible to report.

Sally had opened the door of the small courtesy refrigerator, surveying its

contents when a knock came at the door.