The Best Laid Plans (4 page)

"I I don't know what to say, Todd."

"You don't have to say anything. I have to return to Washington tomorrow, but when I get back, we'll go to work."

A few weeks later, the campaign for the office of governor began Billboards with Oliver's picture flooded the state. He appeared on television and at rallies and political seminars. Peter Tager had his own private polls that showed Oliver's popularity increasing each week "He's up another five points," he told the senator. "He's only ten points behind the governor, and we've still got plenty of time left. In another few weeks, they should be neck and neck." Senator Davis nodded. "Oliver's going to win. No question about it."

Todd Davis and Jan were having breakfast. "Has our boy proposed to you yet?"

Jan smiled. "He hasn't come right out and asked me, but he's been hinting around."

"Well, don't let him hint too long. I want you to be married before he becomes governor. It will play better if the governor has a wife."

Jan put her arms around her father. "I'm so glad you brought him into my life. I'm mad about him."

The senator beamed. "As long as he makes you happy, I'm happy."

Everything was going perfectly.

The following evening, when Senator Davis came home, Jan was in her room, packing, her face stained with tears. He looked at her, concerned. "What's going on, baby?" "I'm getting out of here. I never want to see Oliver again as long as I live!" "Whoa! Hold on there. What are you talking about?" She turned to him. "I'm talking about Oliver." Her tone was bitter. "He spent last night in a motel with my best friend. She couldn't wait to call and tell me what a wonderful lover he was." The senator stood there in shock. "Couldn't she have been just ?" "No. I called Oliver. He he couldn't deny it I've decided to leave. I'm going to Paris."

"Are you sure you're doing ?"

"I'm positive."

And the next morning Jan was gone.

The senator sent for Oliver. "I'm disappointed in you, son." Oliver took a deep breath. "I'm sorry about what happened, Todd. It was it was just one of those things. I had a few drinks and this woman came on to me and well, it was hard to say no." "I can understand that, the senator said sympathetically. "After all, you're a man, right?

Oliver smiled in relief. "Right. It won't happen again, I can assure " "It's too bad, though. You would have made a fine governor." The blood drained from Oliver's face. "What what are you saying, Todd?

"Well, Oliver, it wouldn't look right if I supported you now, would it I mean, when you think about Jan's feelings " "What does the governorship have to do with Jan?" "I've been telling everybody that there was a good chance that the next governor was going to be my son-in-law. But since you're not going to be my son-in-law, well, I'll just have to make new plans, won't I?" "Be reasonable, Todd. You can't " Senator Davis's smile faded. "Never tell me what I can or can't do, Oliver. I can make you and I can break you!" He smiled again. "But don't misunderstand me. No hard feelings. I wish you only the best."

Oliver sat there, silent for a moment. "I see." He rose to his feet "I I'm sorry about all this."

"I am, too, Oliver. I really am."

When Oliver left, the senator called in Peter Tager. "We're dropping the campaign."

"Dropping it? Why? It's in the bag. The latest polls " "Just do as I tell you. Cancel all of Oliver's appearances.

As far as we're concerned, he's out of the race."

Two weeks later, the polls began to show a drop in Oliver Russell's ratings. The billboards started to disappear, and the radio and television ads had been canceled.

"Governor Addison is beginning to pick up ratings in the polls. If we're going to find a new candidate, we'd better hurry," Peter Tager said.

The senator was thoughtful. "We have plenty of time. Let's play this out."

It was a few days later that Oliver Russell went to the Bailey & Tomkins agency to ask them to handle his campaign. Jim Bailey introduced him to Leslie, and Oliver was immediately taken with her She was not only beautiful, she was intelligent and sympathetic and believed in him. He had sometimes felt a certain aloofness in Jan, but he had overlooked it. With Leslie, it was completely different. She was warm and sensitive, and it had been natural to fall in love with her. From time to time, Oliver thought about what he had lost. ".. this is only the first step. You serve a term or two as governor, and I promise you we'll move you into the White House."

The hell with it. I can be happy without any of that, Oliver persuaded himself. But occasionally, he could not help thinking about the good things he might have accomplished.

With Oliver's wedding imminent, Senator Davis had sent for Tager "Peter, we have a problem. We can't let Oliver Russell throw away his career by marrying a nobody." Peter Tager frowned. "I don't know what you can do about it now, Senator. The wedding is all set." Senator Davis was thoughtful for a moment. "The race hasn't been run yet, has it?" He telephoned his daughter in Paris. "Jan, I have some terrible news for you. Oliver is getting married." There was a long silence "I I heard." "The sad part is that he doesn't love this woman. He told me he's marrying her on the rebound because you left him. He's still in love with you." "Did Oliver say that?" "Absolutely. It's a terrible thing he's doing to himself.

And, in a way, you're forcing him to do it, baby. When you ran out on him, he just fell apart."

"Father, I I had no idea."

"I've never seen a more unhappy man."

"I don't know what to say."

"Do you still love him?"

"I'll always love him. I made a terrible mistake."

"Well, then, maybe it's not too late."

"But he's getting married."

"Honey, why don't we just wait and see what happens? Maybe he'll come to his senses."

When Senator Davis hung up, Peter Tager said, "What are you up to, Senator?"

"Me?" Senator Davis said innocently. "Nothing. Just putting a few pieces back together, where they belong. I think I'll have a little talk with Oliver."

That afternoon, Oliver Russell was in Senator Davis's office. "It's good to see you, Oliver. Thank you for dropping by. You're looking very well." "Thank you, Todd. So are you." "Well, I'm getting on, but I do the best I can." "You asked to see me, Todd?" "Yes, Oliver Sit down." Oliver took a chair. "I want you to help me out with a legal problem I'm having in Paris. One of my companies over there is in trouble.

There's a stockholders' meeting coming up. I'd like you to be there for it." "I'll be glad to. When is the meeting? I'll check my calendar and " "I'm afraid you'd have to leave this afternoon." Oliver stared at him. "This afternoon?" "I hate to give you such short notice, but I just heard about it. My plane's waiting at the airport Can you manage it? It's important to me." Oliver was thoughtful "I'll try to work it out, somehow." "I appreciate that, Oliver. I knew I could count on you." He leaned forward. "I'm real unhappy about what's been happening to you. Have you seen the latest polls?

He sighed. "I'm afraid you're way down." "I know." "I wouldn't mind so much, but..." He stopped. "But ?" "You'd have made a fine governor. In fact, your future couldn't have been brighter. You would have had money... power. Let me tell you something about money and power, Oliver. Money doesn't care who owns it. A bum can win it in a lottery, or a dunce can inherit it, or someone can get it by holding up a bank. But power that's something different. To have power is to own the world. If you were governor of this state, you could affect the lives of everybody living here. You could get bills passed that would help the people, and you'd have the power to veto bills that could harm them. I once promised you that someday you could be President of the United States. Well, I meant it, and you could have been. And think about that power, Oliver, to be the most important man in the world, running the most powerful country in the world. That's something worth dreaming about, isn't it? Just think about it." He repeated slowly, "The most powerful man in the world." Oliver was listening, wondering where the conversation was leading. As though in answer to Oliver's unspoken question, the senator said, "And you let all that get away, for a piece of pussy. I thought you were smarter than that, son.

Oliver waited. Senator Davis said casually, "I talked to Jan this morning. She's in Paris, at the Ritz. When I told her you were getting married well, she just broke down and sobbed." "I I'm sorry, Todd. I really am." The senator sighed. "It's just a shame that you two couldn't get together again." "Todd, I'm getting married next week." "I know. And I wouldn't interfere with that for anything in the world. I suppose I'm just an old sentimentalist, but to me marriage is the most sacred thing on earth. You have my blessing, Oliver." "I appreciate that." "I know you do." The senator looked at his watch. "Well, you'll want to go home and pack. The background and details of the meeting will be faxed to you in Paris." Oliver rose "Right. And don't worry. I'll take care of things over there." "I'm sure you will. By the way, I've booked you in at the Ritz."

On Senator Davis's luxurious Challenger, flying to Paris, Oliver thought about his conversation with the senator. "You'd have made a fine governor. In fact, your future couldn't have been brighter,..

Let me tell you something about money and power, Oliver.... To have power is to own the world. If you were governor of this state, you could affect the lives of everybody living here. You could get bills passed that would help the people, and you could veto bills that might harm them."

But I don't need that power, Oliver reassured himself. No. I'm getting married to a wonderful woman. We'll make each other happy Very happy.

When Oliver arrived at the Trans Air Execujet base at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, there was a limousine waiting for him. "Where to, Mr. Russell?" the chauffeur asked. "By the way, I've booked you in at the Ritz." Jan was at the Ritz. It would be smarter, Oliver thought, if I stayed at a different hotel the Plaza-Athen6e or the Meurice. The chauffeur was looking at him expectantly. "The Ritz," Oliver said The least he could do was to apologize to Jan.

He telephoned her from the lobby. "It's Oliver. I'm in Paris."

"I know," Jan said. "Father called me."

"I'm downstairs. I'd like to say hello if you "

"Come up."

When Oliver walked into Jan's suite, he was still not sure what he was going to say.

Jan was waiting for him at the door. She stood there a moment, smiling, then threw her arms around him and held him close. "Father told me you were coming here. I'm so glad!"

Oliver stood there, at a loss. He was going to have to tell her about Leslie, but he had to find the right words. I'm sorry about what happened with us.... I never meant to hurt you.... I've fallen in love with someone else.... but I'll always... "I I have to tell you something," he said awkwardly. "The fact is ..." And as he looked at Jan, he thought of her father's words. "I once promised you that some day you could be President of the United States. Well, I meant it...

And think about that power, Oliver, to be the most important man in the world, running the most powerful country in the world. That's something worth dreaming about, isn't it?"

"Yes, darling?"

And the words poured out as though they had a life of their own. "I made a terrible mistake, Jan. I was a bloody fool. I love you. I want to marry you."

"Oliver!"

AA

"Will you marry me?"

There was no hesitation. "Yes. Oh, yes, my love!"

He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, and moments later they were in bed, naked, and Jan was saying, "You don't know how much I've missed you, darling."

"I must have been out of my mind.. .."

Jan pressed close to his naked body and moaned. "Oh! This feels so wonderful."

"It's because we belong together." Oliver sat up. "Let's tell your father the news."

She looked at him, surprised. "Now?"

"Yes."

And I'm going to have to tell Leslie.

Fifteen minutes later Jan was speaking to her father. "Oliver and I are going to be married." "That's wonderful news, Jan. I couldn't be more surprised or delighted. By the way, the mayor of Paris is an old friend of mine. He's expecting your call. He'll marry you there. I'll make sure everything's arranged." "But " "Put Oliver on." "Just a minute, Father." Jan held out the phone to Oliver. "He wants to talk to you." Oliver picked up the phone. "Todd?" "Well, my boy, you've made me very happy. You've done the right thing."

"Thank you. I feel the same way."

"I'm arranging for you and Jan to be married in Paris. And when you come home, you'll have a big church wedding here. At the Calvary Chapel."

Oliver frowned. "The Calvary Chapel? I I don't think that's a good idea, Todd. That's where Leslie and I... Why don't we ?"

Senator Davis's voice was cold. "You embarrassed my daughter, Oliver, and I'm sure you want to make up for that. Am I right?"

There was a long pause. "Yes, Todd. Of course."

"Thank you, Oliver. I look forward to seeing you in a few days. We have a lot to talk about... governor...."

The Paris wedding was a brief civil ceremony in the mayor's office When it was over, Jan looked at Oliver and said, "Father wants to give us a church wedding at the Calvary Chapel."

Oliver hesitated, thinking about Leslie and what it would do to her But he had come too far to back down now. "Whatever he wants."

Oliver could not get Leslie out of his mind. She had done nothing to deserve what he had done to her. I'll call her and explain. But each time he picked up the telephone, he thought: How can I explain? What can I tell her? And he had no answer. He had finally gotten up the nerve to call her, but the press had gotten to her first, and he had felt worse afterward.

The day after Oliver and Jan returned to Lexington, Oliver's election campaign went back into high gear. Peter Tager had set all the wheels in motion, and Oliver became ubiquitous again on television and radio and in the newspapers. He spoke to a large crowd at the Kentucky Kingdom Thrill Park and headed a rally at the Toyota Motor Plant in Georgetown. He spoke at the twenty-thousand-square-foot mall in Lancaster. And that was only the beginning.

Peter Tager arranged for a campaign bus to take Oliver around the state. The bus toured from Georgetown down to Stanford and stopped at Frankfort... Versailles ... Winchester ... Louisville. Oliver spoke at the Kentucky Fairground and at the Exposition Center. In Oliver's honor, they served burgoo, the traditional Kentucky stew made of chicken, veal, beef, lamb, pork, and a variety of fresh vegetables cooked in a big kettle over an open fire.

Oliver's ratings kept going up. The only interruption in the campaign had been Oliver's wedding. He had seen Leslie at the back of the church, and he had had an uneasy feeling. He talked about it with Peter Tager. "You don't think Leslie would try to do anything to hurt me, do you?" "Of course not. And even if she wanted to, what could she do? Forget her."

Oliver knew that Tager was right. Things were moving along beautifully. There was no reason to worry. Nothing could stop him now. Nothing.

On election night, Leslie Stewart sat alone in her apartment in front of her television set, watching the returns. Precinct by precinct, Oliver's lead kept mounting. Finally, at five minutes before midnight, Governor Addison appeared on television to make his concession speech Leslie turned off the set. She stood up and took a deep breath. Weep no more, my lady, Oh, weep no more today! We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home, For the old Kentucky home far away. It was time.

Three.

Senator Todd Davis was having a busy morning. He had flown into Louisville from the capital for the day, to attend a sale of Thoroughbreds. "You have to keep up the bloodlines," he told Peter Tager, as they sat watching the splendid-looking horses being led in and out of the large arena. "That's what counts, Peter." A beautiful mare was being led into the center of the ring. "That's Sail Away, Senator Davis said. "I want her." The bidding was spirited, but ten minutes later, when it was over, Sail Away belonged to Senator Davis The cellular phone rang. Peter Tager answered it. "Yes?" He listened a moment, then turned to the senator. "Do you want to talk to Leslie Stewart?"

Senator Davis frowned. He hesitated a moment, then took the phone from Tager. "Miss Stewart?" "I'm sorry to bother you, Senator Davis, but I wonder if I could see you? I need a favor." "Well, I'm flying back to Washington tonight, so " "I could come and meet you. It's really important." Senator Davis hesitated a moment. "Well, if it's that important, I can certainly accommodate you, young lady. I'll be leaving for my farm in a few minutes. Do you want to meet me there?

"That will be fine." "I'll see you in an hour." "Thank you." Davis pressed the END button and turned to Tager. "I was wrong about her. I thought she was smarter than that. She should have asked me for money before Jan and Oliver got married." He was thoughtful for a moment, then his face broke into a slow grin. "I'll be a son of a bitch.

"What is it, Senator?" "I just figured out what this urgency is all about. Miss Stewart has discovered that she's pregnant with Oliver's baby and she's going to need a little financial help. It's the oldest con game in the world."

One hour later, Leslie was driving onto the grounds of Dutch Hill, the senator's farm. A guard was waiting outside the main house. "Miss Stewart?" "Yes." "Senator Davis is expecting you. This way, please.

He showed Leslie inside, along a wide corridor that led to a large paneled library crammed with books. Senator Davis was at his desk, thumbing through a volume. He looked up and rose as Leslie entered "It's good to see you, my dear. Sit down, please." Leslie took a seat. The senator held up his book. "This is fascinating. It lists the name of every Kentucky Derby winner from the first derby to the latest. Do you know who the first Kentucky Derby winner was?" "No.

"Aristides, in 1875. But I'm sure you didn't come here to discuss horses." He put the book down. "You said you wanted a favor." He wondered how she was going to phrase it. I just found out I'm going to have Oliver's baby, and I don't know what to do.... I don't want to cause a scandal, but... I'm willing to raise the baby, but I don't have enough money.... "Do you know Henry Chambers?" Leslie asked. Senator Davis blinked, caught completely off guard. "Do I Henry? Yes, I do Why?" "I would appreciate it very much if you would give me an introduction to him."

Senator Davis looked at her, hastily reorganizing his thoughts. "Is that the favor? You want to meet Henry Chambers?"

"Yes."

"I'm afraid he's not here anymore, Miss Stewart. He's living in Phoenix, Arizona."

"I know. I'm leaving for Phoenix in the morning. I thought it would be nice if I knew someone there."

Senator Davis studied her a moment. His instinct told him that there was something going on that he did not understand.

He phrased his next question cautiously. "Do you know anything about Henry Chambers?"

"No. Only that he comes from Kentucky."

He sat there, making up his mind. She's a beautiful lady, he thought Henry will owe me a favor. "I'll make a call."

Five minutes later, he was speaking to Henry Chambers.

"Henry, it's Todd. You'll be sorry to know that I bought Sail Away this morning. I know you had your eye on her." He listened a moment, then laughed. "I'll bet you did. I hear you just got another divorce Too bad. I liked Jessica."

Leslie listened as the conversation went on for a few more minutes Then Senator Davis said, "Henry, I'm going to do you a good turn. A friend of mine is arriving in Phoenix tomorrow, and she doesn't know a soul there. I would appreciate it if you would keep an eye on her...

What does she look like?" He looked over at Leslie and smiled. "She's not too bad-looking. Just don't get any ideas."

He listened a moment, then turned back to Leslie. "What time does your plane get in?"

"At two-fifty. Delta flight 159."

The senator repeated the information into the phone. "Her name is Leslie Stewart. You'll thank me for this. You take care now, Henry I'll be in touch." He replaced the receiver.

"Thank you," Leslie said.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No. That's all I need."

Why? What the hell does Leslie Stewart want with Henry Chambers?

The public fiasco with Oliver Russell had been a hundred times worse than anything Leslie could have imagined. It was a never-ending nightmare. Everywhere Leslie went there were the whispers: "She's the one. He practically jilted her at the altar___" "I'm saving my wedding invitation as a souvenir...." "I wonder what she's going to do with her wedding gown?..." The public gossip fueled Leslie's pain, and the humiliation was unbearable. She would never trust a man again. Never Her only consolation was that somehow, someday, she was going to make Oliver Russell pay for the unforgivable thing he had done to her. She had no idea how. With Senator Davis behind him, Oliver would have money and power. Then I have to find a way to have more money and more power, Leslie thought. But how? How?

The inauguration took place in the garden of the state capitol in Frankfort, near the exquisite thirty-four-foot floral clock.

Jan stood at Oliver's side, proudly watching her handsome husband being sworn in as governor of Kentucky.

If Oliver behaved himself, the next stop was the White House, her father had assured her. And Jan intended to do everything in her power to see that nothing went wrong. Nothing.

After the ceremony, Oliver and his father-in-law were seated in the palatial library of the Executive Mansion, a beautiful building modeled after the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's villa near the palace of Versailles. Senator Todd Davis looked around the luxurious room and nodded in satisfaction. "You're going to do fine here, son. Just fine." "I owe it all to you," Oliver said warmly. "I won't forget that." Senator Davis waved a hand in dismissal. "Don't give it a thought, Oliver. You're here because you deserve to be. Oh, maybe I helped push things along a wee bit. But this is just the beginning I've been in politics a long time, son, and there are a few things I've learned."

He looked over at Oliver, waiting, and Oliver said dutifully, "I'd love to hear them, Todd." "You see, people have got it wrong. It's not who you know," Senator Davis explained, "it's what you know about who you know. Everybody's got a little skeleton buried somewhere. All you have to do is dig it up, and you'll be surprised how glad they'll be to help you with whatever you need. I happen to know that there's a congressman in Washington who once spent a year in a mental institution. A representative from up North served time in a reform school for stealing. Well, you can see what it would do to their careers if word ever got out. But it's grist for our mills." The senator opened an expensive leather briefcase and took out a sheaf of papers and handed them to Oliver. "These are the people you'll be dealing with here in Kentucky. They're powerful men and women, but they all have Achilles' heels." He grinned. "The mayor has an Achilles' high heel. He's a transvestite." Oliver was scanning the papers, wide-eyed. "You keep those locked up, you hear? That's pure gold." "Don't worry, Todd. I'll be careful." "And, son don't put too much pressure on those people when you need something from them. Don't break them just bend them a little." He studied Oliver a moment. "How are you and Jan getting along?" "Great," Oliver said quickly. It was true, in a sense. As far as Oliver was concerned, it was a marriage of convenience, and he was careful to see that he did nothing to disrupt it. He would never forget what his earlier indiscretion had almost cost him.

"That's fine. Jan's happiness is very important to me." It was a warning.

"For me, as well," Oliver said.

"By the way, how do you like Peter Tager?"

Oliver said enthusiastically, "I like him a lot. He's been a tremendous help to me."

Senator Davis nodded. "I'm glad to hear that. You won't find anyone better. I'm going to lend him to you, Oliver. He can smooth a lot of paths for you."

Oliver grinned. "Great. I really appreciate that."

Senator Davis rose. "Well, I have to get back to Washington. You let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks, Todd. I will."

On the Sunday after his meeting with Senator Davis, Oliver tried to find Peter Tager. "He's in church, Governor." "Right. I forgot I'll see him tomorrow." Peter Tager went to church every Sunday with his family, and attended a two-hour prayer meeting three times a week In a way, Oliver envied him. He's probably the only truly happy man I've ever known, he thought. On Monday morning, Tager came into Oliver's office. "You wanted to see me, Oliver?" "I need a favor It's personal."