The First Councel

“And maybe dealing drugs,” he adds. “I know who you are.”

I close my eyes and pretend to be unintimidated. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m wondering if you’ve had a chance to check the money, so we could put this all behind-”

“Do you know how much money they photocopied before the drug sweep? Almost a hundred grand. Even at four bills per page, it’s going to take me days to make sure the serial numbers on your bills don’t match the serial numbers on ours.”

“I didn’t mean to bother you, I just-”

“Listen, when we’re done, we’ll give you a call. Until then, leave it alone. In the meantime, say hi to the President for me.”

How does he know where I work?

There’s a click on the other line and he’s gone.

***

“And that’s all he said?” Pam asks, sitting in front of my computer.

I look down at my desk, where I’m fidgeting with the swinging handle of the middle desk drawer. I flip it up, but it keeps falling down.

“Maybe you should tell the FBI about the money,” she adds, reading my reaction. “Just to be safe.”

“I can’t,” I insist.

“Of course you can.”

“Pam, think about it for a second-it’s not just telling the FBI-if it was just them, that’s one thing. But you know how they feel about Hartson. From Hoover to Freeh, it’s pure hate with every Chief Exec-always a power struggle. And with Nora involved… they’ll feed it to the press in the bat of an eye. It’s the same thing they did with the President’s medical records.”

“But at least you’d be-”

“I’d be dead is what I’d be. If I start gabbing with the FBI, Simon’ll point everyone my way. In a game of he said/he said, I lose. And when they look at the evidence, all they’re going to see are those consecutively marked bills. The first thirty grand in Caroline’s safe; the last ten grand in my possession. Even I’m starting to believe the money’s mine.”

“So you’re just going to sit around being Simon’s quiet boy?”

Grabbing a sheet of paper from my out-box, I wave it in front of her face. “Do you know what this is?”

“A tree victimized by the ravenous, death-dealing, cannibal machine we call modern society?”

“Actually, Thoreau, it’s a formal request to the Office of Government Ethics. I asked them for copies of Simon’s financial disclosure forms, which are filed every year.”

“Okay, so you’ve mastered public records. All that gives you is a list of his stock holdings and a few bank accounts.”

“Sure, but when I get his records, we’ll have a whole new place to search. You don’t just get forty thousand dollars from nowhere. He either liquidated some major investments, or has a debit in one of his accounts. I find that debit and I’ve got the easiest way to prove the money’s his.”

“Let me give you an even easier way: Have Nora verify that he was-”

“I told you, I’m not doing that. We already went through this: The moment she’s involved, we’re all on page one. Career over; election finished.”

“That’s not-”

“You want to be Linda Tripp?” I challenge.

She doesn’t answer.

“That’s what I thought. Besides, what Nora saw only takes care of the first night. When it comes to Caroline’s death-even if it was a heart attack-I’m still on my own.”

Pam shakes her head and my phone starts ringing.

Refusing to get into it, I go for the phone. “This is Michael.”

“Hey, Michael, it’s Ellen Sherman calling. Am I catching you at a bad time? You talking to the President or anything?”

“No, Mrs. Sherman, I’m not talking to the President.” Mrs. Sherman is the sixth-grade social studies teacher from my hometown in Arcana, Michigan. She’s also in charge of the annual school trip to Washington, and when she found out about my job, a new stop was added to the itinerary: a private tour of the West Wing.

“I’m sure you know why I’m calling,” she says with high-pitched elementary school zeal. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t forget about us.”

“I’d never forget about you, Mrs. Sherman.”

“So we’re all checked in for the end of the month? You put all the names through security?”

“Did it yesterday,” I lie, searching my desk for the list of names.

“Howzabout Janie Lewis? Is she okay? Her family’s Mormon, y’know. From Utah.”

“The White House is open to all religions, Mrs. Sherman. Including Utah’s. Now is there anything else, because I really should run.”

“As long as you put the names throu-”

“I cleared everyone in,” I say, watching Pam continue to smolder. “Now you have a good day, Mrs. Sherman. I’ll see you on the-”

“Don’t try and chase me off the phone, young man. You may be big and famous, but you’re still Mikey G. to me.”

“Yes, ma’am. Sorry about that.” The Midwest dies hard.

“And how’s your father doing? Any word from him?”

I stare at the request for Simon’s financial disclosure forms. “Just the usual. Not much to report.”

“Well, please send him my best when you see him,” she says. “Oh, and Michael, one last thing… ”

“Yeah?”

“We really are proud of you here.”

It’s easy, but the compliment still makes me smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Sherman.” Hanging up the phone, I turn to my computer screen.

“Who was that?” Pam asks.