Alexander Death(107)

“Why?” Darcy whispered. “Are y'all in trouble or something?”

“Don't worry about us, Darcy,” Jenny said. “Just take care of the girls.”

“I will,” Darcy said solemnly. “I promise.”





***





Representative Eddie Brazer felt a little uncomfortable as he was escorted into the senator's office. Junius Mayfield belonged to the opposition, the president's party. Still, based on the polling, it looked like Eddie might be joining the august body soon, and there was no reason to snub one of his future colleagues in the Senate. Mayfield's people had been very insistent that Eddie meet with the senator ASAP. Eddie had no idea what the man wanted with him.

“Eddie Brazer,” Senator Mayfield said, standing up to greet him. The man looked like what he was, an old backslapping politician from the Deep South, jowly and gray, the nose and cheeks of a heavy drinker. “Whiskey for you?”

“No, thanks.”

“One for me, then.” Mayfield sank into his chair and poured himself a glass. “Looks like you'll be taking over Buddy Cobden's old seat.”

“So far, so good,” Eddie said.

“Old Cobden won't last for shit in retirement,” Mayfield said. “I give him two weeks on the golf course before he's dead of boredom. Or maybe he'll have a heart attack in the arms of his favorite hooker, the way he always wanted to go. What do you think?”

“I couldn't guess, Senator.”

Mayfield cleared his throat several times, as if a thick wad of phlegm were wedged inside.

“What can I do for you, Senator?” Eddie asked.

“Hell, call me Junius, we're practically co-workers,” Mayfield said. “There's just a little mess I need your help mopping up. This damn Fallen Oak thing. I know you folks in the House aren't really planning to hold public hearings, are you?”

“We are,” Eddie said. “We have substantial evidence that the President conspired to hide information of great importance to public health and national security—”

“The President is dumber than a paper bag full of donkey shit,” Mayfield said. “Couldn't pee without Nelson Artleby holding his pecker.”

Eddie was amused to hear that from a member of the President's party. He nodded.

“Nobody really cares what the President knew or didn't know,” Mayfield said. “Hell, nobody cares much about anything, except who's diddling who. There's no good reason to raise a big stinking mess here, Brazer. You're just pulling a rabid dog's tail. You're gonna get bit.”

“Is that a threat?” Eddie asked.

“Hell, yes, it's a threat. Look, those people down in that little place in South Carolina have been through enough. Nobody needs you upsetting them.”

“I don't see how a thorough investigation would upset anyone.” Brazer grinned.

“I think you're missing the big picture here, Brazer. Our basic job is to keep the public feeling safe and secure, so they go to work, pay their taxes, and leave us the hell alone. You don't want to get a reputation as a boat-rocker.”

“That's pretty cynical.”

“Hell, yes, it is,” Mayfield said. “You don't think I survived this long in the game by believing a bunch of airy-fairy nonsense, do you? Now, look here. You're a freshman. You don't want to come in here making enemies, when you could be making friends. Why make your life harder than it has to be?”

Brazer waited to see if Mayfield was really finished. Then he said, “Okay. I'll consider your advice.”

“Oh, will you 'consider' it, you little snot? You might want to consider this.” Mayfield turned his flat-screen computer monitor to face Eddie, and then he pawed and clicked at his mouse.

Eddie watched as the monitor shifted from a PowerPoint presentation, to a couple of news websites, to an online poker game.

“Damn, I hate computers,” Mayfield muttered. Eddie couldn't suppress an amused smile at the man's bumbling.

Mayfield pressed a button on his speaker phone. “Jordan, get in here and play that video of the congressman diddling his assistant.”

The smile vanished from Eddie's face, and a jittery feeling formed in his stomach.

A stunning girl in a long, tight black skirt entered the office, smiling.

“Hey, Senator,” she said in a Southern accent. She leaned across his lap and took the mouse from his hand. While she focused on the computer, Mayfield leered at her rear end, which was just in front of his face. He waggled his eyebrows at Eddie, as though expecting him to join in the leering, but Eddie wasn't exactly in the mood.

“Here you are, Senator,” the girl said. On the monitor, a video window popped up. It showed Eddie taking Esmeralda from behind on the hotel bed, his face very clear as he grunted in pleasure.