Читать книгу Capitol Crimes - H.L. Katz - Страница 14

Nine

Callie checked her watch before stepping out of her office building and onto the K Street sidewalk. She headed west towards 21st Street. Back when she first started at M&G, Callie used to enjoy strolling the downtown area on her way to a mid-day meeting or an early dinner reservation, but now she found it increasingly difficult to saunter the streets without bumping into someone she knew. For most people that wouldn’t be a problem, but for the number one lobbyist in the nation’s capitol, it put limits on availability that she didn’t have. Callie soon hired a car service to drive her from place to place. She was through with encountering random acquaintances she barely recognized, and more often than not, spending the majority of their conversation trying to figure out how to end it.

But she was walking today. The TGI Fridays where she had arranged to meet Kacey was less than a five-minute walk from her office. The whirlwind morning showed no signs of slowing down and Callie thought it might not be a bad idea to step out and grab some fresh air. Her mind danced as she hung a left onto 21st street. Before she could turn the corner, Jenny Bledsoe, the chief of staff for Marcy Stillman, was rambling straight towards her. Bledsoe’s boss, the newly elected freshman Senator from Oklahoma, defeated long time incumbent Harry Males in a hotly contested run-off race that came down to less than one-hundred thousand votes. More importantly, it deadlocked the Senate at a 50/50 split between Republicans and Democrats.

Callie knew Bledsoe from the time she spent working in Mike Gorman’s press office. They had gone back and forth a few times regarding Gorman’s irresponsible appearances in the media including what he had said about Callie on television a year or so ago. Callie wanted nothing to do with Jennie and she felt confident Bledsoe harbored the same disdain for her, that is, until she accepted her new position with Senator Stillman.

“Callie Wheeler, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the longest time.”

Callie knew Bledsoe was lying, but she played her part. She looked forward to seeing where the conversation was going to end up. “I’m sorry, Jenny, I must have missed your messages,” Callie said with a business-like attitude. “Been busy with the election season heating up…I’m sure you understand.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Jenny Bledsoe stood barely five feet tall, with short black hair, sunk in eyes and a small stud on the side of her pierced nose. Her pale features and emaciated body looked similar to those of a drug addict in need of rehab. Callie always felt a little awkward towering over her the way she did, but was comforted by the feeling she got that the Senator’s aide was actually afraid of her. Naturally, Callie tapped into that fear and enjoyed the power it brought, whether real or imagined.

“Callie, I wanted to see if we could set up a meeting, with me, you, and the Senator to introduce you to her and have you get to know her a little. She’s a firecracker and I think you’d like her a lot.”

Callie knew all about Stillman and wasn’t going to bend over backwards to search her out though she was intrigued by what Bledsoe’s new boss could potentially do for her. She viewed Stillman as a lightweight who came to Congress by bludgeoning her opponent with money. It comes in handy when you’re the sole heir of the fortune from one of the wealthiest oil families in the state of Oklahoma. She thought about the possibilities and although Callie was careful which new members of Congress she dealt with, Bledsoe gave her an opening to explore and she could not let it pass without further inspection.

“Did the Senator actually mention that she wanted to meet with me or is this idea coming from you alone?” Callie asked, knowing Jenny would answer the way she thought Callie would want to hear.

“The Senator asked me who the most influential people in Washington were, and naturally, I mentioned your name. I told her that we had a very good relationship due to all our past experiences working together and stuff.”

It came as quite the surprise to Callie to learn that they had “a very good relationship,” primarily since they couldn’t stand the sight of each other. She continued to play along even though she knew Jenny was full of crap. “I’ll tell you what. Send me an email with three potential appointment times that work for Senator Stillman and I’ll check them against my calendar and see if we can make it work. How’s that sound?”

Jenny couldn’t stomach the thought of being dictated to by Callie Wheeler and her response reflected that. “Callie, the Senator is very busy, as you know, so it might be hard to find one date not to mention three. Maybe you could send me three dates that work for you and...”

Callie had entertained her long enough. “Jenny, either send me the dates or pass on it, but don’t start playing games with me. I don’t have the time see whose tits are bigger, okay?”

“I was just saying...”

“I know you were just saying, but I don’t care,” Callie said. The irritation in her voice signaled the end of the discussion. “If you want to meet with me that’s what you’ll have to do, if not, I’m not losing any sleep over it.”

Bledsoe was visibly uncomfortable with Callie and having to beg someone she despised so intensely. “I’ll see if we can find some time.”

“You do that. I have to run, but it was nice catching up with you,” Callie said, lying without blinking an eye. She saved the good-bye and ignored Bledsoe’s response as she walked down 21st Street before crossing over Pennsylvania Avenue. Callie hesitated as she approached the restaurant, stopping for a brief moment then backtracking a few feet and turning left onto Pennsylvania. A few hundred yards before the Kaiser Permanente building, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small notebook and a pen. She tore out a piece of paper and hurriedly jotted down a note:

Mark,

Been awhile. I think we need to talk when you have a few minutes.

My love to Karen,

Callie

She folded the piece of paper and slipped the notebook back into her purse. She stepped inside the Kaiser offices and approached the reception desk.

“Could you please give this note to Doctor Goldstein?” Callie asked, extending it to the nurse behind the counter.

“Doctor Goldstein won’t be in until later this afternoon,” the nurse said in a very pleasant tone as she took the note from Callie’s hand. “Would you like me to put this in an envelope Miss…?”

“Wheeler, Callie Wheeler, and an envelope is not necessary, ma’am.”

The nurse smiled at Callie. “I will leave it in his mailbox then, if that’s okay with you.”

“That would be great,” Callie said with a smile. “Thank you and have a wonderful rest of your day.” Callie exited the building and hurried around the corner to meet Kacey.

As soon as Callie stepped into the restaurant, she spotted Kacey in a corner to the left of the bar. Kacey waved to her the moment they caught each other’s eyes. Callie glided over to the table and the two women hugged as if they hadn’t seen each other in years before taking their seats.

“You look amazing,” Callie said. “Seems this promotion fits you well.”

“I’m lovin’ it.”

Callie first met Kacey at Kirby Park, just off of Main Street in Kingston, when they were both toddlers. Once their mothers had seen how well they played together, they arranged their schedules to make sure they were at the park at the same time each day. As the two girls grew older, they became inseparable, spending virtually every free moment together. Kacey’s first boyfriend in the highly competitive world of middle school dating came to her via Callie. She had introduced Kacey to Billy Markum at the Cherry Blossom Festival. Billy had a huge crush on Callie, calling her numerous times each day and peeping in her home on weekends. Callie convinced Billy that he stood a much better chance with Kacey, so, as most pre-pubescent boys do, he went for it. Their relationship lasted almost a week, which in sixth grade, is like a lifetime.

They had gone to separate elementary and middle schools, Callie in Kingston, Kacey across the bridge in Wilkes-Barre, until Kacey convinced her parents to move five miles away so the girls could attend the same high school together. It was at Valley West where Callie looked after Kacey and they became the most popular girls in the class of ’99. During their senior year, Callie refused to run for homecoming queen, because doing so meant she would have to run against Kacey, who had dreamed about winning the crown since the fifth grade. Not only did Callie refuse to run, but she garnered enough votes from friends to guarantee Kacey the victory. Kacey never forgot the gesture, one that Callie put almost no stock in. “It’s what friends do,” she said afterwards without giving it a second thought. They spent alternating weekends at each other’s homes and would go on vacations with each other’s families. Kacey’s wavy auburn hair and soft facial features had always drawn people towards her, but as pretty as she was, she wasn’t Callie. In all the time they’d spent together, Kacey never heard Callie utter a word about her own looks, but would make it a point to tell Kacey she was the prettiest girl in the room. Kacey knew better, but liked that Callie always went out of her way to make her feel special.

“Do you like this job better?” Callie asked, referring to Bob Kravitz finally promoting Kacey to the political section of the paper.

“I really do.”

“It’s too bad they didn’t assign you to the social page,” Callie said as she slowly lifted her right hand from under the table and raised it in front of her face, pretending to move her pony-tailed hair out of her eyes.

“The social page? That’s newspaper hell. Why would you…” Kacey stopped mid-sentence when she noticed the ring in front of Callie’s mouth. Her scream reverberated throughout the eatery. Rightfully assuming everyone had to be gawking at her, Kacey quickly covered her mouth and screamed into her hand, “Oh my god, Cal, when did this happen?”

“Two nights ago,” Callie said. She raised her other hand in an attempt to settle Kacey down. “Now, before you get angry at me, we didn’t tell a soul. My parents don’t even know yet…you’re the only person that knows.”

Kacey grabbed Callie’s hand and brought the ring closer for inspection. “How could you do this to me?” she said while she checked the stone for blemishes and coloration.

Callie laughed at her best friend, “It’s all about you, is it?”

“Damn right,” Kacey said, ogling the two-carat diamond.

“We just wanted to share something between ourselves. Please don’t be upset with me,” Callie begged for understanding from the only person she actually wanted it from.

“Okay, I’m going to forgive you this one time, but next time you’d better...”

“Next time?”

“You know what I mean. When you get this kind of big news…wow, this is so awesome.” Kacey released Callie’s hand and pulled a napkin from the dispenser on the table.

“Are you crying, Kace?”

Kacey wiped the tears from her eyes. “Yeah, so what? One of us has to.” Kacey blew her nose gently into the napkin. “I’m just so happy for you.”

“Aww, thank you,” Callie said, releasing the band around her hair and letting the long brown strands fall just past her shoulders.

Kacey took a moment to gather herself. “How did he ask you?”

“Believe me, it wasn’t all that romantic. We were arguing over my dad’s rule, ya’ know…”

“The Sleep In Your Own Room Rule?”

Callie nodded her head. She was comforted by the familiarity of her best friend. “Yup, that’s the one. Anyway, he basically says why get married when we have everything we want now. You know the same old BS he’s always saying. Then he acts like he’s leaving and gets down on one knee, reaches under my pillow, pulls out a box and...that was kind of it.”

“It’s about time,” Kacey said.

“I know, right?”

“When we gonna celebrate?”

“We were thinking next weekend at the beach, but I’ve got it rented out until September. Sort of sucks.”

“We gotta do something…”

“We will, we’re just not sure yet.”

“I hope you’ll call me and let me know,” Kacey said with a mischievous smile.

“Ha-ha, very funny. What about you? Still seeing David?”

“Not anymore. I guess he didn’t like that I asked him whose panties were under my bed.”

“Ouch.”

“Whatever, better now than later.” Kacey glanced at her watch then took a sip of water from the glass in front of her.

“Cal, I have to get to the Hill for Lank’s press conference.”

Kacey’s comment jolted Callie. “Lank’s press conference?”

“Yeah, we heard about it around 11:30.”

Callie, who had been a little uneasy broaching the subject, jumped on the opening and took the conversation where she wanted it to go in the first place. “About Lank. I don’t know him all too well and I have no idea about this campaign money you wrote about.”

“Don’t know what it is Cal, but it feels to me like there’s something bigger here.”

Callie knew there was, but wanted to hear what Kacey thought about it before offering any opinion. “What makes you say that?”

“Not really sure. Instinct, I guess.”

“Anything’s possible, but keep in mind, this is D.C.,” Callie said, leaving her comment vague on purpose.

“This one just feels different,” Kacey said.

Callie pulled a carrot off Kacey’s plate and took a bite. “How did you find all this out?”

“Yesterday I get this e-mail, from whom I have no idea, Senator Lank has been getting cash payments from a developer,” Kacey said as she ate a spoonful of the chocolate dessert then tapped her mouth twice with a napkin. “Seems to me the Lank bill had more to do with Jonas Foster than it did the public good.”

Callie hesitated for a moment acting surprised. “You mean the Lank-Gorman bill? What does that have to do with Jonas?”

“I’m not really sure.” Kacey shook her head as she swallowed some water. “Cal, you really don’t know anything about this?”

“I really don’t.”

“Off the record?” Kacey asked.

“Off the record.”

Kacey took one last drink then stood up. “I have to run.” Callie rose to kiss her on the cheek.

Kacey flung her purse onto her right shoulder then picked up her black leather bag that contained all her working notes, and turned to Callie. “If you knew something you’d tell me, right, Cal?”

“Kacey, we’ve been best friends longer than I can remember. Of course I’d tell you.”

“I know you would. Thanks for meeting me so quickly…I’ll call ya’ later.” Kacey started to leave the restaurant, but stepped back towards Callie. “Tell Mike I said he made a great decision.”

Callie laughed. She remembered her conversation from earlier in the day. “I think I’ll do that.”

“Later, Cal-pie”

“Bye, Mer-maid”

Kacey blew her a kiss on her way out of the restaurant. Callie reached into her purse and nervously fumbled her Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick. She ran ‘Cherries in the Snow’ slowly across her lips, then did it once more. She pulled a napkin from the table dispenser and pressed her mouth twice against it, eventually dropping it on Kacey’s dessert plate. Callie inched her chair closer and rested both her elbows on the table. She ran her hands through her soft brown hair, gathered it up and wrapped her flowered ponytail band around the back of it. Callie had never been in this position before and was unsure of how to handle it moving forward. For the first time since they had met twenty-seven years ago, Callie Wheeler had lied to her best friend.