Страница 78 из 80
The president laughed. “What’s so hard about a bowl of blueberries and half a grapefruit?”
Carl came around the corner with a plate in hand and said, “It is not my fault you have turned into a health nut.” He set the plate down in-between the president’s perfectly folded newspapers. Then, ignoring the commander in chief, he turned to Ke
“Fine, Carl, and you?”
“Counting the minutes until he is gone.” The Filipino steward jerked his head toward Hayes.
“It won’t be the same, will it?”
“Yes, very sad. I remember once I had an abscessed tooth pulled. I was equally upset to see it go.”
The president laughed. He loved ribbing and being ribbed by Carl.
“What would you like to eat this morning?” Carl asked Ke
That was exactly what Ke
“The best you have ever had.”
Carl disappeared down the hall and into the pantry. Ke
Hayes took it, and held it for a second. Then looking at Ke
“It is one of your most admirable qualities, sir.”
“Well, as Carl said, the minutes are ticking away, and they’ve got me ru
“Thank you, sir.”
“I mean it, Irene. You have given me nothing but wise and measured council during some very difficult times. I’m going to miss having breakfast with you every morning.” Hayes opened his arms and gave Ke
When they parted she said, “I’ll have to visit you in Ohio. Maybe I can bring Carl.”
They both laughed while they took their seats at the table. Carl brought Ke
“So, you’re sure it was Ross and Garret who planted that smear piece with theTimes?”
“Yes,” Ke
“He called late yesterday.”
“Who?” Ke
“Ross. He said he’d like to bury the hatchet with me.”
“That’s good?”
“I don’t trust him.”
“You should follow your instincts.”
Hayes looked out the window with a troubled expression.
“What does he want to talk about?”
“A pardon of some sort.” Hayes turned his attention back to Ke
Ke
“Yes. He claims he may have been wrong about you.”
“That’s interesting.” Ke
“Yes,” Hayes said skeptically. “I think he’s up to something.”
“Probably. Would you like me to join you?”
Hayes thought about it and nodded. “I don’t want any backstabbing on my last day. If he has anything he’d like to say, he can say it with you in the room.”
“Good.”
Ke
Ke
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Hayes said.
“Good morning, Mr. President, Director Ke
“I still have tomorrow.”
“Last full day?” Warch had served as the special agent in charge of Hayes’s detail for the first three years.
“I feel good.”
“Fantastic.” Warch clapped his hands together. “With your permission, I’d like to accompany you and the First Lady back to your home in Ohio tomorrow.”
Hayes looked touched. “You don’t have to do that, Jack.”
“I know I don’t, sir. I want to.”
“That would be great. I’d really like that, and I know the First Lady will appreciate it.”
“It’ll be my pleasure. Now I hate to break up your breakfast, but Lorie asked me to tell you that the attorney general and vice president-elect are ready when you are, though before you meet with them, I need to go over a few things with you.”
Ke
“Are you sure?” the president asked.
“Absolutely. We don’t want you playing catch-up on your last full day.”
“Thank you,” Hayes smiled.
Ke
“Oh…you are always welcome.”
“Would you please do me a favor and set up coffee service for two and maybe some water in the Oval?”
“Absolutely.”
Ke
“Good morning, Lorie.”
“Good morning, Director Ke
“Would you please send the attorney general and Vice President-elect Ross in.”
Ke
Carl appeared with the coffee service and set it in the middle of the glass table.
“I’ll be back with the water in a moment.”
“Thank you.” Ke
Ross entered the office first. There was a flash of surprise on his face, but he quickly covered it up with a phony smile.
“Irene,” he said as he walked across the room, “what a pleasant surprise.” The vice president-elect extended his hand across the coffee table.
Ke
“Not for another day.” Ross wagged his finger playfully at Ke
“Irene,” Attorney General Stokes said.
“Good morning, Martin.”
“I didn’t expect to see you here this morning,” Ross said, his voice void of any obvious malice.
“I was having breakfast with the president. He got hung up with something, so he asked me to keep you two company for a few minutes.” Ke
“Sure,” said Ross as he lowered himself into the spot closest to the president’s chair.