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I owe you an apology. Forestalling the unheard response with a wave of the hand, Kearney
continued unimpeded. Yes, the country too. But you were the one I lost my temper with. I was
wrong and I didn t want to hear it. I deserved everything you said to me. I d like you to stay on as
Vice President; you d be virtually impossible to replace.
Maddocks looked slowly around the room, contemplating his reply. What happens about
Colonel Ryan?
He stays. Chad s place in my life is non-negotiable.
Maddocks glanced up quickly, meeting Kirsten Kearney s calm gaze. You re in agreement with
this?
Chad is our family s friend, Howard, not just Doug s. Every one of us loves him dearly, and we
don t want to part with him. But we re willing to de-emphasize his friendship with the President, if
that s what it takes to keep you with us.
Maddocks did not respond directly to the First Lady s words, but returned his attention to
Kearney. No more unscheduled or inappropriate use of White House facilities, he stipulated,
brusquely. If there s some reason not to use the Residence, we have houses and apartments all over
the city; any one of them can be made available to you whenever you like. And don t even consider
Ryan s apartment; I ve had my guys inside there and it leaks like a sieve. Hell, I d rather you took
him to Camp David if you absolutely have to; at least those guys up there are used to hiding stuff
away. But, trust me, if you take one more stupid risk over this guy, you ll find his picture alongside
yours on every front page in the entire English-speaking world.
A sharp intake of breath in the room. This was undoubtedly blackmail, but at least it was openly
stated and understood by all parties; there was nothing there that would compromise what remained
of the President s integrity. Kearney stared down the incipient protest, then nodded towards
Maddocks.
Okay, he said, I deserve that. I m not going to try to wriggle out of it. A humiliating
capitulation, but only for the sake of a greater victory to come.
Good. Then with your permission, Mr President, I ll rip up my letter of resignation and we ll
say no more about it. Maddocks put a hand inside his jacket, drew out a white envelope and held it
poised. At a confirmatory nod from Kearney he ripped the envelope in two, then in two again, and
let the pieces fall onto the polished surface of the coffee table. Whether his letter of resignation had
in fact been inside the envelope or not, it was a strongly symbolic gesture.
Thank you, Howard.
Thank you, Mr President. Getting to his feet, Maddocks accepted a rather shamefaced
handshake. I m sorry it had to come to this.
So am I.
Maddocks stepped away and found himself facing the Air Force officer at the epicenter of the
argument.
Ryan. He offered his hand, and Ryan did not hesitate to take it. Nothing personal, the Vice
President said. I don t know you. I shouldn t have called you a cocksucker.
Ryan shrugged. Technically, sir, it s perfectly accurate, he allowed, with complete composure,
although I certainly wouldn t describe myself as cheap.
The look on Maddocks s face at this remark appalled, astounded, more than a little
embarrassed was one the others in the room would cherish for the rest of their lives.
We should have been more discreet, Ryan added, consolingly.
You should. If there s nothing else, Mr President? Kearney shook his head. Then excuse me,
I have work to do. Kirsten. Booth. Brief nods of acknowledgement all round, and Howard
Maddocks strode away from the Oval Office leaving an impressive silence behind him.
Technically it s perfectly accurate ? Kearney repeated, when he felt sufficient time had
elapsed. You ve never thought about going into politics, have you, Chad?
No, I haven t. Do you think I should?
No! Three voices in unison, and then a dissolution into uneasy laughter.
We got away with it, didn t we? Kirsten asked.
This time, her husband confirmed. I m glad it happened, though, and I m glad it wasn t
worse. We ll just have to be a hell of a lot more careful in the future. Chad, you might want to get a
list of those properties Howard mentioned and take a look at some of them. Think about getting rid
of your apartment and moving in here. Put your stuff into storage and I ll pay.
Okay. The usual no-quibble decisive response.
Kirsten, I &
We ll talk about it later, the First Lady said, firmly. Don t you people have any work to do
today? Or is the country running itself?
I think it s running itself, Booth smiled. It couldn t be doing a worse job than we are, that s
for sure. Mr President, you have a defense strategy meeting in thirty minutes and I don t believe
you ve read the briefing document.
Excuse me, Ryan said, turning for the door, I missed breakfast.
So did I! Kirsten exclaimed, taking his arm and escorting him towards the exit. Come along,
Chad, let s see if we can t get someone to make us some waffles!
Shortly afterwards they were sitting at a sunlit table by a window in the White House Residence,
finishing breakfast, their nerves considerably calmer than they had been an hour before.
Mitch sent Olivia to find me, Kirsten supplied, thoughtfully. He figured Howard probably
didn t realize I knew; I suspect at least part of his plan involved threatening to out you guys to me.
He back-pedaled on that pretty quickly, if it was what he had in mind.
He assured me he wasn t going to involve you, Ryan protested mildly.
He lied. Mitch is under strict instructions to have me fetched if there s ever anything of the sort.
Did you really imagine I wouldn t want to be there to support my husband and his friend when they
needed me?
All the same, I m sorry we embarrassed you.
You didn t. I know where all of Doug s bodies are buried, Chad, believe me. You don t go into
a Presidential campaign without having some pretty uninhibited conversations first, and Doug s
been on the fence about his sexuality ever since I ve known him. Although, she added, with a
smile, I think he could be on the verge of making a decision at last, and I must admit I d be
relieved. It s always been a struggle, trying to reconcile the tough image people have of him with
the knowledge that underneath it all he s probably more gay than straight. We ve both known for a
while that one day there would be a guy , although we couldn t imagine who he d be or what he d
be like. You must know Doug s pretty smitten with you, Chad? In fact, if we re not all extremely
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