by Carsen Taite
“What?”
Addison looked up and saw that Eva was staring at her with a puzzled expression on her face. “Nothing. I’m sorry.”
“So, that’s our next chief justice. Hard to believe.”
“Indeed.”
“Isn’t that Julia Scott with him?”
“Yes, it is. Pretty sure it’s her job to ram Landry down the throats of the Senate.”
Eva laughed. “Tell me how you really feel. So, you know her? She seems quite captivating.”
“We’ve met.” Addison decided a tiny lie of omission was in order. “She does have a certain charm.”
Eva cocked her head. “Sounds like there might be a story there.”
“Not an interesting one. Would you like another glass of sake?”
Eva was not going to be deterred. “She’s on her way over here.”
Addison cursed her bad luck. She should’ve excused herself from the table the minute she spotted Julia. Feigned illness, a fire at her apartment, anything to avoid this meeting. Bad enough to run into Julia, but with Landry at her side, it was salt in the wound.
Well, there was no escaping it now. She’d face Julia, share a few meaningless niceties, and resume her date with Eva. Tomorrow, she’d continue to work on her plan, and soon she’d find the peace she sought in a career change that was long overdue. All she had to do was get through the next five minutes and she’d be fine.
“Addison?”
That voice. Husky, but soft. Sweet, but spicy. She looked up to meet Julia’s eyes, and her resolve crumbled.
*
Julia had suggested the restaurant in the hotel for her debrief with the judge. She’d instructed Cindy to put Landry up in a nice place, but not one of the D.C. mainstays like Hay Adams or Watergate. The Donovan House near Thomas Circle was close to the White House, but far enough away to make it unlikely they would run into anyone they might be trying to avoid.
She would’ve preferred a nice steak rather than the sushi this restaurant was famous for, but maybe because they didn’t have to cook the food, she could get out of here faster. Gordon had bailed, citing his kid’s school play and she’d had enough of Tommy’s incessant law talk for the day, so it was just her and Landry. As they followed the waiter to the booth, she ticked off a list of questions she had about the afternoon, but once they were seated, it was clear she wasn’t going to get quick answers. Landry made quite a fuss over the menu as he dallied over which delicacies to order. Julia wondered if he put as much thought into his rulings and decided probably not. When he finally finished ordering for both of them, she started her interrogation.
“Tell me everything she said and don’t hold back.”
“She was very charming, in an Annie Oakley sort of way. I suspect her constituents love her and feel like she represents them well.”
Julia gritted her teeth and resisted pointing out that she hadn’t asked for a personality profile of Connie Armstrong. She could write the book on that. Instead, she tried to ease into the subject. “What topics did she cover with you?”
“Oh, we discussed a lot of interesting subjects. Did you know she’s very interested in several charitable causes in Somalia?”
Enough. “No, I didn’t. I also don’t know what I need to know to get you confirmed. And what I need to know is this: what did you and Senator Armstrong spend the better part of two hours discussing?”
“She certainly didn’t grill me like you are now.”
“Respectfully, Your Honor, the grilling I’m giving is nothing compared to the showboating you’re going to experience when the cameras are on. Connie Armstrong may have had on her kid gloves today, but she won’t when the world is watching. I can’t prepare you for what’s to come unless I know more about what’s happened before.”
“I understand, but I’m telling you, we didn’t really discuss any major issues. She did ask me a few questions about specific issues, but she seemed to accept my standard answer—that I couldn’t, wouldn’t comment on issues that are or could be pending in front of the court. The whole conversation was really quite polite.”
Julia shook her head. Polite, meaning exactly the opposite of the way she’d been acting toward him. She knew most federal judges expected a certain amount of deference, but it wasn’t her job to sugarcoat this process. If he wanted to be the next Chief Justice, he had a lot to learn, and he could either learn it from her the easy way or take a licking on nationally televised hearings. If it didn’t mean potential embarrassment for Garrett, she’d be tempted to let him take a beating.
But it was her job to grease the wheels, and she would do just that. She made a mental note to have Gordon contact some of his friends in the Senate to see what he could find out about Armstrong’s meeting with Landry. Armstrong may have held the meeting behind closed doors, but nothing stayed locked up tight on the hill. Information was currency.
“So, what’s the next step?” Landry asked the question between big bites of raw tuna.
“The Senate will adjourn for the holidays soon, so not much between now and the end of the year. The FBI will continue to vet you and will provide a report to us and the Judiciary Committee by the first of the year. When the Senate reconvenes, they’ll begin formal committee hearings. If all goes well, the hearings will last a few days and then your nomination will go to the floor for a full vote. The president would like you sworn in within days of his inauguration.”
“Very prudent not to let the seat remain vacant. There are some big issues pending before the court.”
Julia looked at him, trying to read his tone. This was the first time he’d referred to matters pending at the court, although the reference was vague. She’d spent quite a bit of time with the solicitor general’s office, learning enough to ask probing questions about important court cases. Several controversial cases were working their way quickly through the system. Attempts to expand gay marriage and the first real shot at repealing the decision in Citizens United. Neither one of these petitioners had a shot once Landry was on the court, and she knew that reality factored large in Connie Armstrong’s strategy. Armstrong hadn’t grilled Landry on those subjects, and that probably meant she was planning to roast him in public. That, or else she had resigned herself to the fact she couldn’t put her side through a nasty battle so soon after a bloody election.
“Do you think those ladies are with the press?” Landry interrupted her thoughts and pointed a chopstick at a table across the room. Julia followed his gaze. She didn’t recognize the woman facing her, but she noted she was gorgeous and staring intently at them. She was with another woman, and although Julia couldn’t see her face, she felt a chill of recognition as she stared at her back. Before she could tear her gaze away, the woman turned and the chills intensified. Addison Riley.
Julia jerked her eyes away and focused on Landry who’d apparently forgotten the women he’d pointed out and had moved on to some other topic that Julia couldn’t possibly focus on. He droned on and on, but all Julia could think about was Addison, seated mere feet away.
On a date. With a beautiful woman. It should be her seated at the table with Addison. She’d gladly eat raw fish for the chance. She lost the ability to focus on anything Landry was saying, and she no longer cared. She stood and placed her napkin on the table. “Excuse me for just a moment.”
The hundred feet between her table and Addison’s weren’t enough time to prepare, but her feet propelled her forward even though her mind was screaming for her to run in the opposite direction. When she finally reached their booth, she planted her feet and stared down the other woman’s curious gaze.
“Addison?”
She looked up, and Julia caught her breath. She looked incredible, at ease, beautiful, carefree. The table was free of books, papers, any other work paraphernalia, and Julia had no doubt Addison was here on a date. Damn.
“Julia. Good to see you.”
Didn’t sound like it, but Julia ignored the tone. “Good to see you too. Althou
gh I wouldn’t have figured you for a sushi fan.”
“Really? I guess your research didn’t turn up everything after all.”
Dark and mysterious cleared her throat, and both Julia and Addison turned toward her as if surprised to find her seated at the table.
“I’m sorry,” Addison said. “Julia Scott, meet Eva Monroe, she’s—”
“I’m a professor at Jefferson law school. Is that Judge Landry at your table?”
Julia smothered a grin at the fangirl expression on Eva’s face. So, she and Addison had already noticed them. Probably even discussed them. But the most interesting piece of information Eva had revealed was that they weren’t here on a date. At least not as far as Eva was concerned. She’d wouldn’t have abruptly interrupted Addison’s introduction otherwise.
“Yes, that’s Judge Landry. Would you like to meet him?” She waved to the judge and pointed at Eva with a questioning look. He waved back and signaled for her to come on over. She warned Eva as she slid out of the booth. “He’s a talker. We’ll see you again someday.”
When Eva was settled at the judge’s table, Julia slid into the booth across from Addison.
“Stealing my date?”
“She didn’t seem to think she was your date.”
Addison crossed her fingers. “That’s been a bit of a problem. I thought we were past it.”
“She’s pretty, but you shouldn’t settle.”
“She’s gorgeous, but I’m not about to take advice from the biggest settler I know.”
Julia looked across the room at the judge, actively engaged in conversation with Eva. He was probably telling her the same story she’d just heard. No point denying Addison’s observation. The judge was boring, a follower, and most likely to never upset precedent. He was the perfect candidate for a confirmation battle and precisely the wrong nominee to affect social change.
“Touché.”
“Wow, no argument? That’s a change.”
“After a day with posturing senators, I’m all out of argument. Your date does seem to like him though.”
“Stop calling her that.”
“Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. I know you’re just doing your job.”
“Sometimes, my job sucks.”
“Why do it?”
“Do you enjoy everything about your job?”
“Yes.” Addison shook her head. “I mean no. How did you get so good about turning everything around?”
“Seeing all sides of an issue is my specialty. You’re a lawyer. Don’t you view the world the same way?”
“Just because I can see all sides, doesn’t mean I think they’re all right or even worthy of consideration.”
“I guess that’s what makes us different. I’m not much into absolutes. I get paid to seize opportunities.”
“Hmmm.”
Julia was out of things to say. The big thing that stood between them seemed destined to block any intimacy they might have shared. She glanced at Eva and the judge. “I suppose I should get back over there.”
“I suppose you should.”
“It was good to see you.”
“It was good to see you too.”
There didn’t seem to be anything else to say. Julia stood, but when she started to walk away, a nagging feeling held her back. Two steps later, she put her finger on it and turned back to the table. “Addison?”
“Yes?”
“If this whole nomination thing hadn’t gotten in the way, do you think…Do you think we could have…”
“Gone on another date?”
“Yes.”
“Does it even matter?”
Julia shook her head, frustrated that she’d even asked the question. Of course it didn’t matter. Why had she placed so much importance on what Addison thought of her? She wasn’t in the habit of caring what the women she dated thought of her. Not in years.
And now she remembered why. The pain of falling short wasn’t worth the risk. Not then, not now.
She spoke her last words to Addison Riley while on the move. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Chapter Seventeen
Two days later, Julia looked up to find Noah standing in her doorway. Cindy must have gone for coffee, because no way would he have gotten past her. She finished her call with Senator Burrows and hung up.
“Noah, what can I do for you?”
“I’m headed to the oval. Come with me.”
The order was annoying, but she stood and followed him, wondering what was up. By all accounts, Landry’s nomination was on track. Burrows had just called to say that he could promise there would be no Republican filibuster and he could deliver enough votes to guard against the unlikely event of Democratic defectors.
She knew Noah well enough to know pumping him for information was useless. If they were headed to the Oval Office, Garrett would be the one to speak. When she arrived, she was surprised to see Connie Armstrong with the president. They were already engaged in heated conversation when she entered the room, but suddenly got quiet when she entered.
“Don’t stop talking on my account. What’s going on?”
Garrett gestured to the couch nearest him. “Have a seat, Julia.” He waited until she was settled before resuming the conversation. “Senator Armstrong has some strong concerns about Judge Landry, and we thought it would be wise for us to hear them all at once.”
Connie set a folder down on the table between them. “This is what happens when you put someone in charge of the nomination who doesn’t have a keen legal mind.” She pointed at the folder. “Go ahead. Read it.”
Julia pulled the folder toward her and opened it. Inside she found a small stack of paper filled with single spaced lines of type. She glanced through a few pages and noted it was a law review case note. She glanced at the date and the name of the journal. It was from Landry’s law school during the time he’d served on the editorial board, but there wasn’t anything on the paper to indicate who the author was. The title was Privacy: Constitutional Overreach.
She skimmed the first page and then looked up at the rest of the group. “Someone want to help me out?”
“It’s Landry’s,” Armstrong said, “He wrote it and you either failed to find it, or worse, you didn’t think it was important.”
“Are you sure it’s his?”
“His pals on the law review say it is.”
“This is almost thirty years old. And how do you know he wasn’t just taking a position for the purpose of argument? Keen legal minds do that on occasion.” Julia couldn’t resist the dig.
“You can try all you want to cover your ass, but the truth is you’ve wasted our time with this cardboard cutout of a judge who doesn’t even believe in the right to privacy. I wonder what else you’ve overlooked.”
Julia shot a look at Garrett, who shrugged. Great. Apparently, he was willing to throw her under the bus over his own choice. Well, that wasn’t going to happen. “I’m certain President Garrett’s handpicked candidate believes in the right to privacy. In fact, he’s on his way over. Why don’t we ask him ourselves?”
“Oh, I already wasted more time on this guy at my office than I planned to. That one won’t shut up. If you thought for one minute you’d get him through the hearings without this coming out, you were sorely mistaken. He’ll crater in the first hour.
“No, he’s your problem now, but I can guarantee you won’t get a majority for confirmation. We may not be able to stand strong on everything, but the caucus will band together when our fundamental rights are threatened. And shame on you, Mr. President. Winning by the skin of your teeth doesn’t give you license to pull the wool over our eyes.” Armstrong stood, excused herself, and left the room.
Julia waited until she was sure she wasn’t coming back, and then said, “What was that all about?”
President Garrett spread his arms. “I thought I could talk her down, but she wasn’t having any of it. How did we miss this article?”
J
ulia stared at him, unable to believe he wasn’t willing to take the blame himself. He’d insisted on advancing Landry, even before he’d been fully vetted. It was just her bad luck that her team hadn’t found the law review article, but if Landry had such fundamental differences with their party, then why had Garrett nominated him in the first place?
The advantage to being a paid consultant instead of an employed lackey was the ability to walk at anytime. And this was the perfect time. Feeling a sense of relief that her job was almost done, Julia said, “Landry’s due here any minute. What do you want me to tell him?”
“Find out if he wrote the article. I want him to say it. If he did, we’re going to cut him loose. I want to see the list Connie gave you, and I want a meeting with each of those candidates no later than tomorrow.”
Julia started to remind him that Sally Gibbons was on that list and there was no way in hell she’d get confirmed. She started to tell him that Burrows was totally on board with Landry and he might be able to get enough Democrats to cross the aisle and join him. She started to say a lot of things, but then decided she was done. She’d talk to Landry, set up the other interviews, and then she’d tell him she quit. She could almost feel the sun on her skin and the sand between her toes. Hell, she’d even give him Addison Riley’s name. She was done. She’d messed this up, but as far as she was concerned, her debt was paid.
“Yes, sir.”
*
“You have several messages, but only one of them that you need to return right away.”
Addison took the slip of paper from Roger’s outstretched hand. “Since when are you handwriting messages?” He usually sent her an e-mail summarizing all the phone calls she’d received.
“Two reasons. One, I thought you might think it was spam, and two, I didn’t want to create an electronic trail.”
