Lovers and Liars (8 page)

‘Am I missing something hereT he said in an arch voice. ‘Is there some little mystery, Gini? Does your father know him?’ ‘He may well have run into him.’ She gave a quick dismissive

shrug. ‘No, that’s not the link. As I’m sure you know, Nicholas, there are other contacts.’

‘Thought so.’ Jenkins beamed. ‘Go on.’

‘There’s very little to say. I’ve met Hawthorne precisely twice.

Qnce, years ago, when he was first a senator. This was before married, when I was still at school. I was about thirteen, and iN’, talked to him for about ten minutes - less.’

t” I qhis was in England? He was making a trip to EnglandT Jenkins

‘Th t’s right. The second time was last year, when he first arrived a

at the embassy here. I went to one of the parties given to welcome Again, I spoke to him very briefly. He was busy. There were about two hundred guests.’

:,Busy?’ “He was working the room, Nicholas.’ ‘Efficiently?’

‘Oh, very efficiently.’

‘And the lovely Lise, she was there tooT

‘Yes. But I never had a chance to speak to her. She was surrounded by admirers all night.’

,Interesting. Interesting . Jenkins leaned back in his chair. Pascal said nothing, merely sat and watched her in a thoughtful way. Gini could feel something emanating from that cool watchful j

ngard. It could have been hostility, it could have been dislike. It :,,jxkade her nervous, and self-conscious, and also determined. Let -,Ijpn remain silent; she refused to let him put her off.

up, Gini.’ Jenkins had leaned forward again. ‘I’m longto know … Impressions?’

f awthorne? Very little. The obvious things. He’s exceptiong d4ooking.,He’s as charming as most people say. I’ve heard be both kind and generous. He works a room ruthlessly, p

en a lot of politicians do.’

‘4T-ine Fine.’ Jenkins shifted in his seat. ‘Background, then. Is e anything you want to add to what Pascal’s just saidT

e paused once more, and glanced across at Pascal. His own on Hawthorne had puzzled her. Accurate it might be, had skirted the most important facts. Could Pascal’s new work made him obsessed with trivia - with society weddings, and

er gowns? She could not believe that. Possibly he had been g Jenkins’s pomposity. She could not tell. The fact remained Pascal, whose journalistic instincts had once been so sharp, .ignored the most important and most curious aspect of John

orne’s meteoric career. Now, why should he do that? stick to politics, I think,’ she said. ‘We ought to start with zle, a mystery, if you like. OK, so John Hawthorne is now

US ambassador here. Fine. But let’s remember that in his

59

terms, that’s a demotion. Five years ago, John Hawthorne was one of the best known senators in the country and he seemed poised for greater power still. Back in 1989, 1990, all the forecasters agreed: Hawthorne was all set to be the next Democratic candidate for the Presidency.’

‘Precisely.’ Jenkins smiled broadly. ‘And given his clout, his wealth and his charisma, he might even have made it to the White one

House. If, that is, he could be persuaded to run. And noanticipated any difficulties about that. Fascinating, isn’t itT Jenkins waited in silence, savouring the implications while he

performed an elaborate ritual of cigar lighting.

‘Fine,’ he said finally. ‘John Hawthorne might have been the

1992 Democratic candidate for the Presidency. He might even have made it to the Oval Office. But he didn’t. Gini, go on.’

‘John Hawthorne’s part of a machine,’ Gini began. ‘A family machine. There are parallels with the Kennedys obviously, though in Hawthorne’s case, no Irish connections. His descent is Catholic Scots. He was the third generation to make it to the Senate. He was groomed by his father for political office from his earliest childhood. Law school, a serving officer in Vietnam, congressman, senator - it was a smooth, perfect, unimpeded ascent. He’s rich, smart, charismatic, driven. Master of the sound bite. Perfect on TV. Almost unnatural good looks. A tough campaign record .

In a word, perfect modern presidential material. Hawthorne as the Democratic candidate in 1992 - that was the prediction . She paused. ‘Only something went wrong. Hawthorne never announced his candidacy. He resigned from the Senate early in

1991. He disappeared off the political map for an entire year to much rejoicing in Arkansas. Clinton had a clean run.’

‘ReasonsT Jenkins said.

‘It was never explained. That’s what’s so curious. Why resign from the Senate? He had powerful backers in the Democratic party - why disappoint them? Count the column inches on that. And the answer? No-one knows. There was no scandal, no hint of skeletons in the closet, no smoking bimbos, no bribes, no unfortunate connections with organized crime. Nothing. just, one day he was there - the next he was gone—2

‘There were reasons given,’ Pascal interrupted. ‘He put out a statement. One of the children, the younger son, had been seriously ffl.’

‘Oh, sure. And Hawthorne wanted to spend more time with fds family as a result. Don’t tell me you swallowed that.’ ‘Possibly not.’

‘If you did, Pascal, you’re in a minority of one.’

‘Children, children, please. Do I detect a note of hostility hereT Jenkins, who loved to detect such tensions, his guiding principle being divide and rule, made a calming gesture. ‘Let’s stick to the p, i t,’ he said. ‘Fast forward - we haven’t got all day. Hawthorne resigns from the Senate, as you say. He stays well clear of the subsequent presidential election. One month after the inaugur’ation, what do we find? John Hawthorne kissing hands with -the Queen. His Excellency the Ambassador. A very unexpected appointment, Gini, don’t you agree? Run that one past me. Explain that as a career move.’

Gini shrugged. ‘I can understand why the Clinton administifion might offer him the job - I can see them in the Oval (,)ffice saying, How do we get rid of Hawthorne, how do you bury America’s crown prince? I can see that. But for Hawthorne to accept 1he posting to London? All his life this man’s been like a lWat-seeking missile, straight on target to the White House-!

i’And then he veers off,’ Jenkins cut in. ‘Of course, one could “y that being ambassador to Britain is a prestigious post. Other ‘people even saw it as an effective launch-pad to the presidency Joseph Kennedy, for one.’

;., Aaybe so* But that was over fifty years ago. Times change. ambassadorships go to yesterday’s men, or women. As ,_,*I-reward for services rend

ered. In American terms right now, ‘fUwthorne’s invisible. Ambassadors don’t make headlines. All posting does for him is delay any political comeback. It cuts off from the power centre. I’d say he has to have accepted

t. He knows it’s over. Maybe he wants it to be over. Politically, orne’s all washed up.’

Zhere was a pause. Jenkins savoured the moment, then seemed decide he had held out long enough. He leaned forward, smoke at them both.

g cigar

ppose I told you that Hawthorne wasn’t washed up? Suppose you that Hawthorne was having second thoughts, that he -d

wishi he’d never abandoned that golden careerT ‘d say he, s left it too late.’

‘Are you sure?’ Jenkins smiled. ‘After all, make the calculations: Fs suppose Clinton enjoys office for two full terms. That takes to the year 2000. By which time John Hawthorne will be in his

mid-fifties. He’s a man, in any case, who looks a good ten years younger than his age. Would you rule him out of the presidential running then - a man of his looks and abilities, a man with his connections? If you would, I’m not sure I’d agree.’

‘OK,’ Gini said. ‘I agree. Up to a point. It’s feasible Hawthorne could make a comeback further down the road. But not without ot if he remains here too long. re-establishing his American base. N

If he does that, he’s dead in the water.’ She paused. Jenkins was watching her, smiling. Gini, who knew his techniques, realized that she had been given, and missed, a clue.

‘Connections,’ she said, leaning forward. ‘Oh, I see, Nicholas. You mean it might not just be a question of Hawthorne’s own ambitions? You mean there are other people promoting Hawthorne’s political future as well?’

‘Well, my dear Gini, I’d say so, wouldn’t you? His father, for one. That goes without saying, and old SS should never es

be underestimated, wheelchair or no. I’ve heard other nam mentioned as well, powerful names representing powerful vested interests. Still-‘

He broke off, and leaned back in his chair, drawing on his cigar. ‘We don’t need to concentrate on those details, not for now. I didn’t bring you both here today to discuss them. John Hawthorne may or may not have an illustrious political future. Right now, he’s

an one of his country’s most senior ambassadors, a man with

unblemished reputation. And - unlike you - I have been hearing stories about him. Very interesting stories. Revelatory, you might say. Your job will be to discover if they’re true. If they are, then Hawthorne will have no political future at all.’

He paused, looking from Pascal to Gini. The end of his cigar glowed. Gini hesitated, puzzled by Pascal’s silence. She glanced across at him, then turned back to Jenkins.

‘You mean Hawthorne has an enemy?’ ‘Oh, very much so.’

‘That doesn’t necessarily mean much. Men in Hawthorne’s position breed enemies.’

‘I do so agree,’ Jenkins said smoothly. ‘An enemy means nothing - unless that enemy could come up with something John Hawthorne hoped to keep well buried. Something never rumoured, never whispered about before. Now, if an enemy could do that—2

‘They’d go straight to an American newspaper.’ It was Pascal who cut in, making Gini jump. He was watching Jenkins closely.

‘They’d go straight to the New York Times, Nicholas, or the Washington Post. Their approach might be indirect, devious. But i` that’s whe

re they’d go. Not a British newspaper. You know that.’ True. Very true.’ Jenkins remained unruffled. ‘I agree. That’s i,E,,precisely what they’d do. Unless they happened to be in England

the time. Unless it just so happened that they had an English yffi,,,

‘i,Cpntact, someone whom they had reason to trust.’ V ,

There was another silence. Jenkins continued to sit there, smil—

,g at them both. He had every intention, Gini could see, of li spinning this out. Silently, she cursed him for this characteristic “‘C”apd labyrinthine approach. Jenkins parted with information as

as a glutton parted with food. The story, she saw, would have to be prised out.

1 ‘OK/ she said, ‘let me get this straight, Nicholas. You’ve heard “Anours about Hawthorne, yes? There’s something he wants to Fiscal? Some tax scam?’

1nfluences then. Friends in the wrong places? Electoral bribes? *me link-up with organized crimeT

j,Nothing like that. Not a hint. In that respect, Hawthorne’s imusual. The original Mr Clean.’

‘C ome on, Nicholas. I’m getting sick of guessing games.’ One more try.’

Ball right. Sex. It’s something sexual he wants to hide.’ e!Getting warmer. Go on.’

‘Well, if it’s sexual, it’s predictable . ‘The best stories often are.’

4A mistress? An illegitimate child? Call-girls? Unwise moments ‘th blondes

-ti ou re right about the blondes.’ Jenkins’s smile broadened. have to be blondes, or so I hear .

e broke off while they sat in silence, Jenkins enjoying their LR nse. He continued to puff at his cigar, pink, plump and gisterial, like a benign Buddha enthroned on a chair.

i finally, Gini said, ‘Have to be blondes? That’s an odd way of ttin

g .,”’!”-WOh no. It’s precise.’ Jenkins beamed. ‘When their services are :VAVanged, he stipulates blondes. He has other requirements as

11. Hawthorne’s extremely specific, or so I hear.’ _Get to the point, Nicholas.’

.,,k,‘Of course, Pascal. Blondes. Hawthorne needs blondes. But the ys in which he needs them are unusual to say the least. Even to

me, and I’ve heard it all. First,’ he held up one finger, ‘he requires a blonde, a hired blonde, with absolute regularity. One a month, always on the same day. Always on a Sunday, as it happens - the third Sunday of any calendar month.

‘Second/ he went on, ‘the blonde must remain silent at all times. During the … sessions they have together, she must not speak or cry out while in his presence. In view of what happens, that must present difficulties, but those are the rules.

‘Thirdly, the meetings last for exactly two hours and a costume is provided for the girl. Much of that costume will be removed. Except for one item. The girl is provided with long black leather gloves, and the gloves must be wom at all times. The girl is never permitted to touch Hawthorne, except with a gloved hand.’

‘Gloves?’ Pascal said, and Gini caught his reaction.

Jenkins, launched now, did not; he pressed on. ‘Fourth, generally speaking, the girl is there to obey Hawthorne’s commands. Some of those commands are … unusual, shall we say? Though each to his own, of course. Occasionally the girls have required medical attention afterwards. It’s partly for that reason, I imagine, that they’re so well paid. The going rate was twenty thousand dollars a session in America. It’s ten thousand pounds here. No girl is ever used twice.’

‘Twenty thousand dollarsT Gini stared at him in disbelief. ‘Generous, isn’t it?’ Jenkins smiled. ‘Maybe that accounts for the fact that none of these girls has gone running to the tabloids. There is another reason, of course. In view of what’s happened. They’re too scared.’

There was a silence. Nicholas Jenkins looked well pleased. He leaned back in his chair. ‘Fascinating, don’t you find? The patterns of obsessive behaviour. And Hawthorne a man with so much to lose…

‘It’s ridiculous/ Gini began a second before Pascal. ‘It’s trash. Garbage. Colourful, sure - and beyond that, Nicholas, I have to say I don’t believe a word.’

‘Nor do U Pascal rose. ‘This is a total waste of time. Once a month, every month? For God’s sake, Nicholas, the man’s an ambassador. He used to be a US senator. To arrange something like that, other people would have to be involved. Aides, bodyguards certainly. A man like Hawthorne is protected, rarely alone. There’s no way on earth you could keep that kind of thing under wraps. Two months, three at most - and the story’s all over town.’