It seemed no coincidence that his father was dead along with the men who’d spoken to him about the Lanes. But the deaths were either from natural causes or an accident. Explain that, Rudly.
FORTY-SIX
Jack ran for the gate. He never wasted time. scheduling appointments up to the last moment, and stepping onto the airplane as the door shut behind him.
“Please grab any available seat. We want to take off on time,” the gate attendant called as Jack darted down the ramp to the aircraft.
The plane was congested. Jack made his way down the aisle, spotting two free seats. Quickly, he sized up his options. With his long legs, the empty aisle seat was the most comfortable choice, but then he spotted her. Katherine Seals.
What was she doing in Jefferson City? Jack’s heart quickened. How long had it been? Years. Would she even speak to him? She sat in the window seat, the center seat was open. Jack stored his laptop in the overhead bin, then excused himself and slid into the seat next to her.
Katherine glanced at him. Her face flushed with recognition, but before he could speak, she deliberately turned back to her work.
So much for warm reunions, Jack thought. But what did he expect? As far as she was concerned, he’d shown himself to be the lowest life form ever to inhabit the earth. She’d never allowed him to explain. He understood why she hated him. He decided to say nothing. Chicken. No, he assured himself, only a brave man would have chosen to take this seat – or a man set on self-torment.
After take-off, someone doused his head with Coca-Cola. “Son of a…” Jack said.
He shot a look upward to see a woman giggling, her hand over her month. Standing behind him, talking to friends, she had spilled her drink.
Katherine was drenched as well.
“She got you too?” Jack asked unbuckling his seat belt.
“I’d say so. Damn! My computer.”
Jack pressed the overhead button for service. “Here, let me help. I’ll hold your computer, and you can wipe off the tray with this.” Jack handed her a drink napkin. They both looked at the four-inch square tissue.
“Somehow I don’t think it’s quite adequate.” Katherine laughed.
After a moment, the flight attendant brought them a towel.
“I’m impressed by your ability to concentrate through all this noise.” Jack said, holding her computer aloft as she did her best to blot the liquid on her tray.
“I was just getting some odds and ends done, nothing that requires much brain power.”
“It’s good to see you.”
“Let’s leave it at that.”
They dried everything off as best as possible.
“We need to talk.” Jack said.
“No.” Katherine clarified. “You may need to talk, but I’ve already learned more about you and your methods than I care to know.”
“At least, let me explain.”
Katherine pressed the light for service.
“What are you doing?”
“If you won’t leave me alone, I’m moving.”
Jack switched off the light. “Fine, have it your way.”
Katherine glared at him, then she returned her attention to her computer.
Damn, Jack thought, she had it all wrong. And her stubborn streak refused to let him explain. Katherine still believed he’d sold her out in a story about her trapping a German spy who was breaking into government computers. Even though she was never mentioned by name in the article, she’d lost her security clearance and her job. She held Jack responsible for the damage to her career and professional reputation.
The plane landed at La Guardia. Jack turned to Katherine. “It’s been good to see you.” They hadn’t spoken in two hours. He felt badly. If she’d just let him explain.
She gave a curt nod.
An expert at emotional shutdown, he surgically cut Katherine from his thoughts as he rode to his hotel in the cab. He pulled out his notebook, reviewing his notes. The delegates from Missouri and most of the Midwestern states, as well as the candidate himself, were staying at the Inter-Continental, as was he.
Jack registered, then grabbed a shuttle over to Madison Square Garden where the actual convention was being held. He noted that the usual propaganda was in full swing. Reading a program, he reviewed the schedule of appearances. Day one was packed with speeches from Kate Mills, Governor of Texas; Joseph Shiripa, Governor of New York; and Cork Mackney, Governor of California. The second day would feature speeches from various high profile activists, including Carolyn Lane. And the last day would end with Warner’s acceptance speech. Strange, Mort Fields’s name wasn’t on the schedule.
Jack turned away from the stage and battled his way through the crowd. In the lobby, he stood studying the faces and gauging the energetic atmosphere. T-shirts, banners, hats, and buttons all proclaimed Warner Lane for President or boasted the pride of a home state.
He spotted Katherine across the hallway, then lost her briefly in the crowd. Why was she here? Computers were her life, not politics. He ran after her. “Hi, did you ever dry off?”
“You just don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when I’m right.”
“Right and wrong are often a matter of perspective.”
“My point, exactly.”
Katherine looked surprised.
“Come on. Kate. Give me a few minutes, only a few. If you don’t like what I have to say, you can leave. No one will stop you. Hell, I’ll even buy you a sandwich.”
Katherine wavered.
Jack pushed. “Look at these lines.” He gestured toward the herds of people at the concession stands. “You’ll starve to death if you stay here. I’m going to head out for a bite. Come with me.”
“I thought I’d just give up all together,” she admitted as she laughed. “I don’t feel comfortable enough in New York to venture too far from the hotel or the convention floor. It was enough of a trauma just to get here.”
Jack felt immense relief. He’d forgotten how much he liked the way she laughed. “Let’s go. I know the perfect place.”
Jack led her out of Madison Square Garden and two blocks down to a deli, where they sat at a table in the corner.
“So what brings you to the convention?” Jack asked.
“I’m here to-”
“What can I get ya?” interrupted a waitress.
“If you’ll allow me, I know you won’t be disappointed.” Jack offered.
Katherine smiled at his attempt at chivalry. “Thank you.”
“Two pastimes on rye.”
Katherine laughed. “You made ordering sound so serious.”
Jack grinned. “Hey, in New York ordering pastrami is serious. It can be a religious experience.” God he’d missed her.
Katherine looked at him expectantly. How to start? he wondered. Just tell the truth. Focus.
“The notes were stolen.” Jack blurted.
“What?”
“My notes. The ones on the espionage story. They were stolen.”
“All this time, and that’s the best you can do?” Anger flashed in Katherine’s eyes.
“It’s the truth. You said you’d give me a chance. So, please, listen.”
Katherine remained silent.
“If it had been up to me that story would not have broken until you consented. I would never do that to you. Shit, I wouldn’t do that to anyone. Gregory White stole the notes out of my desk and broke the scoop as his own.”
He could tell she didn’t believe him.
“Think about it. Kate. If I wanted the story so bad that I’d risk our relationship, then why was my name below his on the byline? For that matter, why was his name on the byline at all?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’ve thought about that.”