Chapter 47

Over time the two investigations merged into one that resulted in a brilliant move proposed by Hawk. “Thomas, why not set a trap? Set up a dummy government agency and allow the second in command to be suborned by the opposition. Lead them on a merry chase and use every contact, phone number, license plate and spoken word to ferret out the real leaders, then bait them with a huge amount of money that they could easily steal, which would embarrass and weaken you. When they fall for it, drop the hammer on everybody and make sure the ones with the worst pedigree end up doing eternity, instead of life.

“The worst that could happen is that you only catch some of the fish you want. The best is that you take their lives, their money and take them out of the game, forever.”

He had a point.

After massaging the idea for weeks and weeks, I mentioned it to Joshua Walsh and watched his eyes glitter at the thought. It was right then that I knew he’d take it and make it happen. Rather than obsess about his plans, I concentrated on things at home and spending every possible free minute with Jennifer.

Doctor Abrams made another trek to America just to oversee Jennifer’s booster injections. The serum seemed to be safely doing its job, but nobody knew what would happen in months, or years. She could live a perfectly healthy life and then relapse due to metabolic changes caused by menopause. No one knew and no one wanted to guess, or take chances.

Jennifer stayed home for few weeks while Abrams did his thing. The rest was good for her. The foundation she headed began to come together and with the financial support of two billionaires, they started by funding physicians dedicated solely to disadvantaged children and veterans. Because they were funded by the foundation, their time and energy wasn’t eaten up with regular patient hours, or rounds. They worked solely on her projects and just as predicted, working and retired physicians, nurses and technicians began volunteering to help.

Our public relations crew got Jennifer all kinds of positive press as the programs rolled out and her office was inundated with requests for interviews, comments and the occasional round table discussion. Jennifer always looked so kind, warm and competent. Her appearances tended to go over well with viewers. But all of that was set aside while Doctor Abrams checked her out and gave her the magic cocktail he’d developed. We all waited for any sign of rejection, allergic reaction, or changes to her health after the injections. The public never noticed, but Jennifer chafed under the limitations of her illness.

To solve that problem we decided to head up to the mountains and spend some time away from the noise and pressure. Jennifer made an unusual request of me as we prepared for the time away. “Can you have Stacy come with us? She works twenty hours a day and never takes a minute off. At least if she comes up to the cave house there will be fewer people demanding her time and attention. Maybe she could sleep in one morning, or take an afternoon stroll.”

Jennifer rarely made requests and I never denied her anything within my power to deliver. Stacy was a bit of a puzzle. She was no taller than Winnie but had a more rounded figure. Her breasts were a mystery because of the clothes she wore, but anyone could see that they weren’t tiny. Stacy wore every outfit she owned like it was made just for her and her perfume was just the right combination of soft and sweet.

If I admitted it to myself, I liked looking at her, but that was as far as it went, because Jennifer was everything I wanted in a woman. When it looked like I was going to lose her to her illness, Stacy would sense my mood and encourage me to think positive thoughts and remain upbeat when caring for Jennifer’s personal needs. We had nurses, doctors and medical assistants coming out of our ears, but I was Jennifer’s caregiver after bedtime. There was no way I was abandoning her care to strangers, even if they were the best vetted strangers in history.

In my mind, Stacy was in the subordinate box. I could still recall one of my agents at DHS catching me looking at the nearly perfect rack on a secretary and saying, “You never take a dump where you eat, Mr. Secretary. But ... If I was inclined to violate that rule, those generous cushions would be just the ticket to get me to set aside my virtue. At no time did I consider Stacy Covington as a potential ... anything. She was the woman who kept things together for me, and that was that.

But...

Jennifer asked and whatever Jennifer wants, Jennifer gets. That was my motto. She gave up far too much for my career for me to even consider not finding a way to deliver on her wish.

So I asked. “Stacy I want to know if you can head up the folks traveling to North Carolina next week. Jennifer specifically asked for your company and things always run smoother when you are around.”

Her eyes glittered with a very sharp retort that never made it to her lips. “Mr. President. WHEN have you EVER been working when I’ve not been at my desk also?”

OK. She was getting a bit frosty. Maybe a vacation was a good idea. “In any case. I want you up at the cave house, running interference for me. Please?” It never hurt to be a little human and little less imperial around Stacy.

She really did seem to run the entire administration, after all. Stacy huffed and puffed, and got very busy planning and executing our trip to the mountains. Even as she worked extra hard arranging my life while we were up in the mountains, she seemed happier, somehow. It must have pleased her to be singled out by Jennifer in that way.