Election Day (By Design Book 10)

by J. A. Armstrong

  Candace beamed with pride. “She sure did.”

  “How are you both doing with everything?” Jane wondered.

  “You mean the constant attention and protection?”

  “For starters.”

  “It’s not easy.”

  “No, it isn’t,” Jane agreed.

  “I have to believe it’s all worth it.”

  “It is. How are the kids?”

  “Good—all of them. All this press surrounding Klein hasn’t been easy for Laura, and that upsets Jonah.”

  “I can imagine. He’s not the first vile man to end up with a great kid,” Jane observed.

  “No.”

  “I’m glad you had Dana call. I’ve been thinking that we were overdue for a sit-down.”

  “Long overdue.”

  “So? Ellison.”

  “You approve?” Candace asked.

  “Savvy choice.”

  “I thought so.”

  “What is it you want to know?”

  “I’d like your perspective.”

  “On?”

  “Whether I should let him know all the reasons I chose him.”

  Candace was widely regarded as an intelligent and charismatic politician. What many people failed to realize was that Candace could be as cunning as the most adept intelligence agent. The governor preferred the high road. Jane admired that in her friend. Candace understood that if she hoped to successfully navigate the presidency far more than colorful rhetoric and shrewd negotiation skills would be required. National security had become a byline for foreign policy. Most people would never grasp the reality that national security encompassed every decision a president made in his or her capacity as the leader of the free world. Every speech, every signature, every interaction, every State dinner, every diplomatic overture ranked in equal importance to any activity a president engaged in as Commander in Chief. Every decision and each word that passed a president’s lips had a direct effect on his or her success or failure. And, there would always be someone looking to undermine a president’s agenda. There were reasons Candace Reid had chosen Nate Ellison as her running mate. Jane was sure that many aligned with the public narrative. She was also positive that Candace possessed a deeper motivation in putting Senator Ellison on the ticket.

  “You haven’t told him that you know,” Jane surmised.

  “No.”

  “And you want to know if you should?”

  Candace sipped her wine. “I’ve already decided that I will. What I want to know from you is whether you think that should occur before or after the election.”

  Jane lifted her wine glass and sipped thoughtfully. Excellent question. She set it down and offered Candace a wicked grin.

  Candace snickered. “You have an evil streak.”

  “No, but I do enjoy a good game of chess,” Jane replied. “You’re inviting his family for the barbeque on the fourth, I assume?”

  “Of course.”

  “Tell him on your playing field.”

  Candace raised her brow.

  Jane’s smile broadened. “He won’t see it coming. Alex and Cassidy will be there?”

  “They will be. Claire and her partner too. Jameson’s kept in touch regularly with her.”

  Jane nodded. “Well, that will send him a message on its own.”

  “Do you think he knows about Alex?”

  “Alex and Jonathan are known entities in the intelligence community—broadly. There’s no way he doesn’t know about their affiliation. He certainly knows about Alex’s past at the NSA. That’s a matter of public record now. How much he knows, that I can’t say.”

  “Will it compromise him? My telling him that I know his background is deeper than it appears?” Candace inquired.

  “You mean as an intelligence operative?”

  Candace nodded.

  “Absolutely.”

  Candace nodded again.

  “In the appropriate way. Right now? Right now, he thinks you’ve chosen the handsome golden boy, someone to bolster votes and help you win this election. That gives him power with the people who positioned him in the first place.”

  Candace sipped her wine thoughtfully. “I want him to understand that he works for my administration. Whatever agenda he was given before this is null and void unless I deem it otherwise.”

  Jane’s eyes sparkled. “He won’t see it coming.”

  “What do you know about his agenda?” Candace asked.

  “Hard to say,” Jane answered truthfully. “His father worked in military intelligence and consulted with the NSA. Nate? Well, he’s a legal eagle with twelve years at DOJ before seeking public office. You know the story on paper. He worked high profile money laundering cases. If I had to guess, he was encouraged into public office to trace or to hide money trails.”

  “But whose?” Candace said.

  “That’s always the question,” Jane said. “I’m not sure that matters anymore. Follow your gut. Let him know who is pulling his strings now. He’s not the first intelligence operative highly placed. He’ll be the first deliberately placed by a civilian. Even if he has distanced himself from his past as much as possible, the people he reported to will see his nomination to the ticket as an opportunity to further their agenda. Once in intelligence, always in intelligence. You never get to fully divorce it.” She chuckled with delight. “I would love to be a fly on the wall when you tell him. Something tells me that’s not the only reason you wanted to meet.”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  “Should we order another bottle?” Jane raised her glass.

  Candace laughed. “Tempting, but I’m not sure the image of Agent Macpherson carrying my drunken form out of here would do much for my prospects in the general.”

  “Fair point. So? What’s on your mind?”

  Candace sobered measurably. “Klein’s connection to Moldova…”

  “Disgusting.”

  “I agree. We didn’t leak that document,” Candace said

  “I didn’t think so.”

  “That means someone on Wolfe’s team did.”

  “Likely,” Jane agreed.

  “Interesting timing.”

  Jane smiled. “You’ve been digging.”

  “Didn’t have to dig deep to find the reason. Page three in The New York Times the same day did that for me.”

  “Ah, yes—Wolfe Industries’ investment divestments.”

  Candace nodded. “Two medical companies, three investment brokerages—what I haven’t been able to discern is why.”

  “But you have a guess.”

  “I do. You’d be hard-pressed to find a country he doesn’t do business in.”

  “True,” Jane agreed.

  “He’s divesting interests and investments in the Mediterranean. I’m not certain that would have made page one without the Klein scandal.”

  “Probably not.”

  Candace continued. “But the Klein scandal focuses on Moldova. That puts eyes squarely on Russia and Serbia. It feeds directly into their narrative about John and by extension, me.”

  Jane sighed. Exactly on point. “Are you sure there isn’t something you haven’t told me?” Jane joked.

  Candace chuckled. “I’m not 007 or 0015 for that matter. You and I both know that this country is one of the worst offenders in the money laundering game. There’s a reason he’s peeling those off. The Mediterranean? It’s a pipeline. We both know that too.”

  “Always has been.”

  “And, it’s largely ignored—publicly speaking.”

  “Also, true. You want me to see what I can find out about those investments he’s suddenly keen on divesting,” Jane guessed.

  “I wouldn’t say no if you offered.”

  “I’ll see what I can find out.”

  “Jane? The Moldova story?”

  “Which part?”

  “The women.”

  Jane sighed. “It’s true, although I’m certain the women were used for much more than earning a few dollars in
the bedroom.”

  “I was afraid you’d say that.”

  “You think the two stories are related,” Jane surmised.

  “I think it’s all related.”

  Jane nodded. “Listen, I told you; there’s a reason certain corners want Wolfe in The White House. You let me do the legwork for what you need come November. I promise, I will keep you in the loop. You need to concentrate on keeping him off Pennsylvania Avenue. This conversation tells you all the reasons why.”

  “Well, they certainly are determined to get him there by any means possible.”

  “They are. They’re also set on crippling your ability to lead should you prevail. The Ellison move was wise. Play that hand. Make him your asset before anyone else tries to deploy him.”

  “You think his handlers are in Wolfe’s corner?”

  “I think Ellison thinks he’s one of the good guys. Make sure he knows what that entails. You know more than he does already, Candace. I’d bet my life on that. He’s not paid to ask questions. What he does in front of a camera or a crowd is not indicative of the agenda he has in his office or committee. It might be feeding information to someone. It might be influencing outcomes. He’s your source now. I’ll work on finding out who’s been pulling his strings.”

  “I must be crazy to think I can do this.”

  “You’re already doing it, Candace. John would love to be here to see you now.”

  “Do you honestly think any of it will ever change?”

  Jane sighed. “Change is a relative term. Things change by the minute. Truthfully? Not in our lifetime. We can influence it—all of it. You can make a difference, Candace. You know as well as I do that there will always be greedy people. There will always be someone deluded by power. Until you figure out a way to change people, the world will struggle with all these issues. But, that doesn’t mean we don’t have to make the effort.”

  Candace raised her glass. “Touché. What about Drury and Stevis?”

  Congressman Drury and Congressman Stevis were thought to be Candace’s main detractors in the House. They both sat on the House Committee on Intelligence, and Candace was positive they were driving the call for her testimony. It was not a secret that they wanted a Republican in The White House. Candace wanted to know why they had both seemed hell-bent on Bradley Wolfe. Knowing their reasons would both help her tweak campaign strategy and prepare for the Oval Office.

  Jane topped off her glass with some wine. “Drury has investments everywhere. I mean, everywhere—including in several of Wolfe’s holdings. Stevis? He’s the GOP’s flunky, always has been. He doesn’t have a mind of his own. That much I can tell you for certain. Alex could tell you more about Stevis. Talk to her.”

  “Alex?”

  “Mmm. When she was at NSA, she was involved with some investigations into campaign funds—specifically, the diversion of campaign donations to other entities. Stevis was on the radar. That much I do know. They never pinned him or his campaign, but if she was digging into it; there was a reason to dig.”

  “Do you think Wolfe was involved?” Candace asked.

  Jane raised her glass.

  Candace shook her head. “What have I gotten myself into?”

  “A beautiful mess,” Jane said. She winked at Candace. “None of it surprises you.”

  “No. Maybe some part of me hoped…”

  “Keep hoping,” Jane said. “Just don’t close your eyes.”

  Candace nodded. “I won’t.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  June 14th — The United States Capital

  “You seem calm,” Dana observed.

  “I have nothing to hide. Besides, I know something the congressmen don’t.”

  “You usually do. Lots of press in there waiting for you.”

  “For once, let’s hope I bore them to tears.”

  Dana laughed. “And they say nothing changes.”

  ***

  “Did you talk to Mom this morning?” Michelle asked Jameson.

  “I talk to your mom every morning.” Jameson held a bottle for Brody. She was intent on studying him as he ate.

  “How was she?”

  “She’s fine, Shell.”

  “JD?”

  “Hum?”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Can I stop you?” Jameson quipped.

  “I’m serious.”

  “I’m sorry. What is it?”

  Michelle fidgeted with the laundry she was folding.

  “Shell?”

  “Do you think Jonah and Laura are okay?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Michelle looked at Jameson with concern. “When you were in Nevada with Mom? Mel said Jonah was slamming things around at work. Laura showed up here that afternoon in tears with the kids. She wouldn’t tell me what happened.”

  Jameson considered how to reply. Her relationship with each of Candace’s grown children differed. In many ways, Marianne had become Jameson’s best friend. Shell was like a little sister to Jameson. As strange as it might have seemed to some people, Jonah viewed Jameson as his parent, and when Jameson took the time to examine it, she loved Jonah in much the same way that she did Cooper. She was protective of the entire family. She loved them all equally, but her relationship with Jonah was something that she could not easily explain. He’d been struggling recently with balance. How could he support his wife fully when he hated her father? How could he support his mother when he wanted to publicly call out Lawson Klein?

  “I think Jonah is trying to figure out how to support Laura.”

  “You mean because of her father.”

  “I do.”

  “He has to remember that it is her father, JD. I get it. I hate the guy.”

  “You might understand how he feels, Shell but you aren’t the one living it. It’s not just your mother he wants to protect. It’s also his wife and his kids. That’s a lot to handle.”

  “I guess, I’m just surprised.”

  “Surprised?”

  “Yeah, at his temper. Jonah’s always been the one to be cool-headed.”

  Jameson chuckled. “Living with you and Marianne, I doubt he had much choice.”

  “Ha-ha. Come on; he tells you everything.”

  “Not everything,” Jameson said.

  “You’re not worried?”

  “I worry about all of you,” Jameson replied honestly.

  “I just hope Klein doesn’t succeed in breaking them up.”

  Jameson smiled. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that, Shell.”

  “I don’t know, JD. Laura was a mess that day. She wouldn’t say why. She just said she needed some company.”

  “Shell, Laura’s got a lot on her plate. You of all people should get that. She’s got two kids, a father who insults her family publicly, a husband who is carrying more weight at work than he ever has, and a mother-in-law who is running for president. Cut her some slack. Maybe she just needed to be with an adult other than Jonah.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Don’t project issues that aren’t there.”

  “I’m not.”

  Jameson shook her head. She loved Michelle, but sometimes Michelle’s emotions ran away with her mouth. “Let it be, Shell.”

  “Oh, God, you sounded just like Mom!”

  “Good. Maybe then you will listen to me.”

  “I always listen to you.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  A sly grin crinkled the corners of Michelle’s mouth as she sought to change the subject.

  “What are you up to?” Jameson asked.

  “You know how you said you don’t want any babies?”

  “I am sure I don’t want to know where you are going with this.”

  “Hey, everyone has two kids now except you.”

  Jameson blinked and shook her head. “What?”

  “What? It’s true! Marianne, me, Jonah—we all have two. You are slacking, JD.”

  Jameson would have smacked her forehead if Brody hadn’t
been in her lap. “You need to get out more.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “How do you have time to play marriage counselor and fertility specialist with two babies to deal with?”

  “Very funny, JD.”

  “I wasn’t being funny. Are you that bored at home that you need to obsess over Jonah’s marriage and my ovaries?”

  “Who says it has to be your ovaries?”

  “Oh, my God!” Jameson laughed. “Where is this coming from?”

  “I told you. Don’t you think Cooper should have a sibling?”

  Jameson kept laughing. “Last I checked, he has three.”

  “His own age, JD.”

  “Your mother and I are not having a baby, Shell.”

  “Heard that before.”

  Jameson rolled her eyes. If nothing else, Michelle was consistent. “Out of curiosity, why do you always bring this up with me and not your mother?”

  “Why? Think it’d work?”

  “I think you need a hobby—one that doesn’t involve me.”

  Michelle shrugged. She loved to tease Jameson. Her teasing was laced with a degree of truth. She was positive that Jameson thought about the subject more than she let on. She suspected that her mother had as well. She had to admit that she doubted they would ever act on their musings, but Michelle wanted them to know that they would be supported no matter what. She watched as Jameson lifted Brody to her shoulder.

  “Stranger things have happened, JD.”

  “Not really,” Jameson said.

  “You ended up married to a candidate for president with three grown kids and became a grandma before forty,” Michelle said.

  Jameson paled immediately.

  “See? Stranger things,” Michelle said.

  Jameson laughed. Not really, Shell—not really.

  ***

  Candace sipped from the glass of water in front of her. She had sat on the other side of this room a few times when she was a congresswoman, and she had done her share of questioning as a senator. Testifying on the other side of the table was a new experience.

  “Governor Reid, as the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee you were privy to numerous pieces of classified material; yes?”

  “Correct.”

  “And, did you at any time share any of that sensitive material outside of the committee?”