Time to go back to Missouri and pick up his father’s investigation, Jack thought. He was not into tabloid press, but there were a lot of loose facts that didn’t add up. Carolyn’s relationship with Mort Fields, for one, and why Mort would expose Carolyn to Bill Rudly. This made no sense. And the reference to Winston Cain, made to Bill Rudly from Adam Miles, alarmed Jack.
Winston Cain’s agency would stop at nothing to complete a job, and his father’s notes implied a relationship between Cain and Carolyn. Jack followed up on the hottest lead by visiting Cain’s office in Washington, D.C. Not surprisingly, he was thrown out.
Then, there were the strict orders from the news magazine to report only the standard campaign rhetoric. They wanted him off any real story and essentially threatened his job if he didn’t comply. Jack debated on how hard to tread on very thin ice.
He wasn’t used to having his hands tied by his employer. This job might be considered the big-time by industry standards, but compromising his journalistic integrity wasn’t worth any dollar amount. To Jack, journalism demanded honesty, anything less was a misuse of power and betrayed the readers.
He had expected support for Lane from some of the competition, like National news magazine. Andrea Walden was Lane’s media advisor, and her father was editor-in-chief of National. But he didn’t expect a complacent, even defensive, attitude from his own employer. Could the Lane machine have power sources that deep into the press? It had happened before, and he believed it was happening again.
Jack thought of his father. It must be a family character flaw, he mused, to find oneself pushing against the grain of popular opinion. He had to go back to Missouri. Back to the source of the questions.
He didn’t care if his editors didn’t approve. He’d chased lesser stories against greater odds. The fact was, he had a job to do, and he’d be damned if he’d let someone else tell him how to do it.
He wasn’t dropping his investigation of Warner Lane. He owed as much to his dad.
Jack pulled his tape recorder from his pocket and checked to make sure it was rewound and ready to record. The back door of the auditorium swung open and Warner Lane’s entourage made their exit to the waiting cars. First the Secret Service agents, then the handlers, and finally the candidate.
Jack found himself face to face with Warner Lane.
Immediately, one of Warner’s top aides stepped between them. The handlers held up their hands to say they were not allowing any questions.
A female reporter managed to sidestep next to Lane. “Senator, you’re promising a renewed war on drugs and a tax break for all Americans. But do you really think it’s possible to do all of that in one term?”
Warner Lane stopped. “I don’t intend to do it all alone.”
“Please explain.”
“With my wife by my side leading one attack while I lead the other, we’ll accomplish all of that and more.”
“So. Mrs. Lane is a large part of your campaign?”
“No. She’s a large part of my life.”
“Senator Lane, tell us about your affiliation with Mort Fields and Winston Cain?” Jack shouted.
Warner’s head snapped around, his gaze locking with Jack’s.
“Have you hired Winston Cain’s agency?” Jack saw Warner’s jaw clench.
“Who’s Winston Cain?” another reporter yelled.
Warner flashed a grin. “You’ll have to ask Mr. Rudly. I have no idea.”
Quickly. Matt Carson wrapped his arm over Warner’s shoulders and pulled him into the limousine.
Associated Press
March 28, 2000
Lane Nails Down Nomination
SACRAMENTO – Warner Hamilton Lane secured the party nomination yesterday by taking California’s 165 delegates. The win came as no surprise to campaign officials, who predicted the landslide after Lane swept the Great Lake states on March 21. Sources close to the candidate say that Senator Lane is now looking forward to the convention and to squaring off against President Washman.
FORTY-ONE
“I don’t care what it takes. Warner, shut her down. We made a deal. I got you Governor Hick’s endorsement, and I expect you to hold up your end of our bargain.” Richard Young slammed the phone into its cradle and reached for the Tums. Damn. Carolyn’s escapades were destroying his digestive tract. And he had to keep Warner in line. Warner was the key to his success. He rubbed his stomach.
The aggravation was worth it, though, he thought with a smile. These little episodes served a purpose. They kept Warner off balance and caused further estrangement between him and Carolyn. They weren’t problems: they were opportunities. Young reminded himself. Opportunities to shift the balance of power to himself. Richard knew how to exploit the exercise. If he shut off his support of Warner, Warner’s campaign would deflate like a punctured balloon.
Richard gazed out the window of his senatorial office in Washington. D.C. Sitting back, he interlocked his fingers on his stomach. If only he’d known how quickly his son was going to recover, he’d never have dropped out of the primaries. The presidential nomination would have been his. Fucking doctors. They always painted the worst scenario to make themselves look like heroes.
He closed his eyes, visualizing the vice-presidency and beyond. He’d simply adjust his strategy. By the time the election came, Warner would be convinced he couldn’t function without him. Carefully he plotted to make himself indispensable to Warner and ingratiate himself with Carolyn. Considering the friction between them, the challenge lay in showing loyalty to one without revealing dedication to the other.
An interesting match, Richard reflected. A loveless marriage brought together by one man. Edmund Lane, and held together by one cause, the White House. He’d done his homework and realized that Warner and Carolyn’s estrangement was to his benefit. They were both damaged goods, yet possessed the skills to present themselves as the perfect couple.
They had to get elected! Nothing was going to stop that process. Nothing.
Carolyn’s insistence that she be the vice presidential running mate could not be tolerated. Warner would act, or he would call upon the Council. The deal was done and Richard intended to hold them to it. He was the vice presidential candidate. This was his shot at power, real power, and he would win.
Warner hung up the phone, Richard’s angry voice still ringing in his ears. He leaned forward, resting his chin on his fists. A cluster of pain pounded behind his eyes. Damn Carolyn! Her insistence on running as the V.P. had thoroughly pissed off Richard, and they couldn’t afford to lose his support. Unfortunately, Carolyn had no idea that Richard was even a factor, nor could she be allowed to find out.
But, Warner thought, Richard needed to understand that she had to be handled carefully. Her national profile was too strong. The safest way for them to deal with her was to make her candidacy someone else’s concern. Nick was the perfect messenger.
Warner pressed a button on the intercom. “Call Stan Braunson, and get him in here pronto,” he said to his assistant.
Ten minutes later the campaign pollster stood in the doorway of Warner’s office. “Stan, hi. We need some information. I want a current read on the public’s perception of Carolyn’s reform ideas and my economic policy. See how it compares to President Washman’s policies and try to pinpoint the areas where people are most dissatisfied with Washman.”
Stan looked surprised. “Nick and I have already discussed this. I suggested we do a dial group.”