The Rapture: In The Twinkling Of An Eye (14 page)

“How well I know.”

“You do?”

“Sure.”

“Next Sunday?”

“Yep. Promise.”

Raymie spent the rest of the meal, not to mention the Bulls game, regaling Rayford with point after point from Pastor Billings’s sermon. Amazingly, Rayford actually found it interesting and wondered if perhaps he should have gone. But he wasn’t about to admit that. Who knew what a torrent of information that would unleash?

Why couldn’t he just have a normal life, a normal family, a normal wife, a normal son? Nobody he knew had a kid this interested in church. Maybe they went, but what happened in church stayed in church. It wasn’t something you discussed ad nauseam at meals and while watching ball games on TV.

Leon Fortunato had never been a ladies’ man. And while he respected, even somewhat admired, the elderly (to him) Viv Ivins, he was not excited about enduring an international flight with her. He had been impressed by her efficiency and especially her loyalty to Nicolae. But as so often happens with teammates on a powerful person’s staff, jealousies arose.

They had never had words, but Leon found himself passive-aggressively ignoring her suggestions and comments, unless they clearly reflected Nicolae’s wishes. In truth, he had little to fear, because he had learned a few things about Carpathia. First, he was a chauvinist of the old school. Second, though Nicolae called Ms. Ivins “Aunt Viv”—Leon was aware of their interesting background and connection—Nicolae did not treat her with familial respect.

Viv was close to him, obviously—part of his inner circle. And Nicolae relied on her a great deal. But Leon had never heard him say anything affectionate or even affirming to her. Neither did Leon feel slighted because Viv had known Carpathia longer. Viv’s role had certainly shifted from spiritual adviser and parental figure to day-to-day logistical assistant and manager of the private household. She had become more of a background person, a servant.

Leon wondered if she resented that and anyone who got between her and her boss. He detected a certain coolness in her, perhaps even suspicion of his motives. But Leon did not feel the need to defend himself. His proximity to Carpathia—despite this temporary and necessary separation—brought with it great capital, which he intended to invest wisely.

He was pleasantly surprised, then, during the trip to New York, to find Viv Ivins remarkably warm and effusive and even solicitous. She proved polite, self-effacing, helpful, and curious about him and his background. Leon sensed no ulterior motive in this, though he was careful to not be too forthcoming. Nicolae was the only person who really needed to know Leon’s history, and he was fully aware of it.

“My expectation,” Viv said after they had enjoyed their first in-flight meal, “is that you will handle the more public arrangements and I the private. I am open to suggestion and correction, of course, but in other words, I will make certain Nicolae’s accommodations are acceptable, including all the amenities and so forth.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I assumed you would handle diplomatic arrangements, the press, and the like.”

Leon nodded. “All I know, ma’am, is that budget is to be no object, that we are all to stay and set up headquarters at the Plaza, and that President Carpathia expects to be accorded the privileges commensurate with his office.”

To Leon’s delight, he and Viv worked separately and efficiently, and within a day of their arrival, nearly everything had been set in motion for a successful visit by the new president and guest U.N. speaker. The Carpathia retinue took over an entire wing of an upstairs floor, augmenting Romanian securitate with New York policemen and both U.N. and U.S. security personnel.

Leon and Viv enjoyed beautiful rooms on either end of the corridor, and a set of rooms turned into an office separated Viv’s quarters from Nicolae’s. Every technological marvel known to man was installed in the office suite within twenty-four hours, and Leon busied himself arranging meetings for Nicolae with a list of dignitaries that covered three computer printout sheets.

Leon’s most strategic private meeting was with U.N. Secretary-General Mwangati Ngumo. The large, very dark Botswanan, known for a beatific smile, exhibited no warmth. While he vigorously shook Fortunato’s hand, he did not utter any variation of the normal nice-to-meet-you sentiments. He seemed busy and preoccupied, and within minutes of Leon’s being seated—across from Ngumo, who stayed behind his desk, despite two separate, more informal meeting tables—they were interrupted by a reminder that the secretary-general had fewer than twenty minutes.

“That should be enough,” Leon said.

“I certainly hope so,” Ngumo said.

“This is just a get-acquainted session.”

“I trust we can accomplish more than that and eliminate the need for redundancy.”

“I’ll certainly try. First, of course, I bring you greetings from the honorable Dr. Nicolae Jetty Carpathia, president of the Republic of Romania.”

“Thank you. What an unusual middle name. One of its meanings is “black,” as you may know. But I have seen photographs of President Carpathia, and he is anything but dark. Do you know the origin of that name?”

“I do not.”

Ngumo waved him on.

“President Carpathia thanks you for your kind invitation, and—”

“Can we, in the interest of time, dispense with these rote sentiments? I accept his greetings; I send mine back; he’s been invited; he’s thankful; he’s welcome—all right?”

“Well, uh, sure. Is there a problem, Mr. Secretary-General? Something I should be aware of?”

“You are his chief of staff and you are not aware of how this invitation came to him?”

“I suppose I’m not, if there was anything untoward about it.”

“Untoward? Only that it was coerced from outside standard diplomatic channels. It was suggested not by a friend or associate of this body but rather by an international financier with whom, I am without doubt, you are acquainted.”

“Jonathan Stonagal, sure. And that is a problem?”

“It doesn’t have to be. But neither should I be expected to celebrate it. The invitation has been treated by the international press at its face value: the U.N. seeking to familiarize itself with a new leader. Fine. Misleading. Untrue. But fine. We will adjust.”

Leon crossed his legs, shifting his weight and making the chair squeak. “I can assure you that President Carpathia had nothing to do with angling for an invitation, sir.”

“You’ll forgive me if I find that difficult to believe. We have file cabinets full of such requests. But even if that is true, that is all the worse. It makes some sense, a head of state wishing to address us. The interests of a billionaire, on the other hand…”

“Then why did you acquiesce?”

Ngumo shook his head. “You’re asking a question to which you know the answer.”

“Because you, like anyone else, have to be concerned about a bottom line.”

Ngumo cocked his head at Leon, as if to say, So we do understand each other.

“Well, let me tell you my goal for this event, Mr. Secretary. In spite of how it came about, I hope you will be glad you extended the invitation and that President Carpathia will prove a worthy occupant of the lectern.”

“We shall see.”

Leon told the man of Nicolae’s fascination with the U.N. and his savantlike memory of its history. “Trust me, sir, he will be able to tell you the day of your inauguration, how many five-year terms you have served, and how many you are expected to serve.”

Buck Williams was off the plane and headed for his rental car at O’Hare when Steve Plank called.

“We’re clear that you’re making nice with Lucinda, right?”

“That’s why I’m here, chief. And to see if I can scoop her and her people on another story.”

“Not funny.”

“Seriously, Steve, I can’t believe she complained about this… especially to you. We’re buddies, she and I. We always got along great, I thought.”

When Buck reached the Chicago bureau, he bribed the receptionist to let him sneak in to Lucinda Washington’s office unannounced. She had stepped out, so he leaped into her chair and turned his back toward the door. That put him face-to-face with her gaudy religious knick-knacks. He was studying a fake gold-leafed one when he heard her enter.

She hesitated, obviously wondering if she herself had turned her chair around, and when she swung it back to sit down, she jumped and squealed to find it full of Cameron.

“You gonna shoot me?” he said. “Can I still work here?”

“Only if you get on your knees and beg my forgiveness,” she said.

He slid onto the floor, but she reached and yanked him up. “Quit that now,” she said. Buck settled into a side chair, and Lucinda planted herself where she belonged.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“You are not. You don’t even know what I’m mad about.”

““Course I do. Bears Hall of Famer finally gets the money together to buy a football franchise, and I sniff it out, track him down, and run with the story.”

“I admire you, Cameron. I always have, as irritating as you can be. But the very least you should have done was let me know.”

“And let you assign somebody who should have been on top of this anyway?”

“Sports isn’t even your gig, Cameron. After writing that Newsmaker of the Year thing and covering the defeat of Russia by Israel—or I should say by God Himself—how can you even get interested in penny-ante stuff like this? You Ivy League types aren’t supposed to like anything but lacrosse and rugby, are you?”

“This was bigger than a sports story, Lucy, and—”

“Hey!”

“Sorry, Lucinda. And wasn’t that just a bit of stereotyping? Lacrosse and rugby?”

They shared a laugh.

“I’m not even saying you should have told me you were in town,” she said. “All I’m saying is, at least let me know before the piece runs in the Weekly. My people and I were embarrassed enough to get beat like that, especially by the legendary Cameron Williams, but for it to be a… well… total surprise—”

“That’s why you squealed on me?”

Lucinda laughed. “That’s why I told Plank it would take a face-to-face to get you back in my good graces.”

“And what made you think I’d care about that?”

“Because you love me. You can’t help yourself. But, Cameron, if I catch you in my town again on my beat without my knowledge, I’m gonna whip your tail.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what, Lucinda. Let me give you a lead I don’t have time to follow up on. I happen to know that the
NFL
franchise purchase is not going to go through after all. The money was shaky and the league’s gonna reject the offer. Your local legend is going to be embarrassed.”

Lucinda was scribbling furiously. “You’re not serious,” she said, reaching for her phone.

“No, I’m not, but it was sure fun to see you swing into action.”

“You creep,” she said. “Anybody else I’d be throwing out of here on his can.”

“But you love me. You can’t help yourself.”

“That wasn’t even Christian.”

“Don’t start with that again,” he said.

“Come on, Cameron. You know you got your mind right when you saw what God did for Israel.”

“Granted, but don’t start calling me a Christian. Deist is as much as I’ll cop to.”

“Hey, how long you in town for?”

“Until tomorrow.”

“Tonight with my hubby and me for barbecue then, right? He’s looking forward to meeting you.”

“You sure he wants me interfering with your date?”

“We’ve been married more’n thirty years, Cameron. That’s right. We started early. Having a young white boy eat with us won’t get in our way. You’re just afraid to be in the minority; is that it?”

“Hardly.”

For the first time since he’d been married, Rayford Steele lied to his wife about where he was going, just so he could see another woman. “Running some errands,” he said. “Sports store, then the hardware store. Need anything?”

“Don’t think so, hon. But why don’t you wait until Raymie gets home and let him go with you? You’re going to be gone the rest of this week, and—”

“Nah, just let me get this done, and I’ll spend some time with him tonight.”

Rayford would have to remember to buy something at both the stores he had mentioned on the way home to cover that he drove straight past them and into Des Plaines.

He picked up Hattie outside her apartment. “What’s up?” he said. “You needed to see me?”

“Yup,” she said, grinning mischievously. “That’s all. I just needed to see you.”

He didn’t know what to say or do. Had they already been engaged in a full-fledged affair, which seemed not so far off now, he guessed he might have simply asked if he could head back into her apartment with her. But in broad daylight? This was risky enough. He was flattered, but he didn’t want to be stupid.

“What do you want to do?” he said, feeling like a thirteen-year-old.

“What do you want to do?” she said.

“Don’t ask me. This was your idea. I’m running errands. Sports store. Hardware store.”

“Ooh, you’re good,” she said.

“I’m new at this.”

“Not for long. Hey, I’m hungry. You?” I “Not really, but I’d love to get you something to eat.”

l! “Let’s order Chinese and pick it up. I’ll eat it in the car-”

That was a relief to Rayford. He wasn’t ready to be

seen having a meal date with Hattie in the middle of the afternoon. He always figured he could cover if someone he knew saw them dining at night, when they were both in uniform and it should be obvious it was just business. But now both were dressed casually, and it would simply make no sense to anyone.

He called in an order and they drove off to pick it up.

“You sure you don’t want some?” Hattie said, trying to feed him rice with chopsticks as they sat in the parking lot next to the place.

He shook his head but had to laugh when she spilled rice in his lap. She broke open a fortune cookie and read, “‘A new friend will make you happy.””

“That yours or mine?” he said, and she leaned over and rested her head against his shoulder.

Charles Washington proved to be a rangy, bony man with thinning hair and a wise look. He greeted Lucinda first, slipping his long arm around her ample waist and pulling her close.