by Taylor Lee
Diamond smiled sympathetically.
“Clearly your job is a challenging one, Peter. Senator Walker is obviously a superstar, make that a supernova. That said, I imagine it is far from easy to keep a leash on him.”
Peter quickly nodded in agreement.
“You are so right, Col. Davis. I want him to star in every way possible. To wow the crowds and inspire his followers.”
Diamond didn’t respond, hoping that her silence would encourage the pensive, clearly troubled young man to continue.
He studied her closely and must have seen acceptance in her expression because he hurriedly added, “That is an excellent analogy, Colonel. When Senator Walker is on message, particularly when he is on stage, he is a supernova. He’s Elvis and Obama in one. No one can outperform him. He truly does outshine the entire galaxy.” He hesitated then added with a long-suffering sigh, “But the Senator is also extremely sensitive. He’s prone to flying off the handle at any apparent insult. Even if no insult was intended, the Senator is wired in such a way that he perceives one. And there is always the possibility that he will get annoyed, even overtly angry.”
Sighing again, Peter mused, “I’ve never known anyone who has a bigger chip on his shoulder than Senator Walker. God help anyone he thinks has put him down. He lands on them with all barrels blazing. It must be because of all the challenges he’s faced getting to where he is now. But it doesn’t make it easy for those of us who care for him and are trying to keep him from derailing himself.”
As if surprised at his candor, Peter stepped back. Shaking his head, he apologized.
“Please, Col. Davis. Forgive me. I got caught up in the moment and spoke out of school. I apologize. It sounds like I’m complaining which I don’t want to do. It’s just that often the Senator is his own worst enemy. It isn’t easy to—”
Diamond broke in. Reaching for Peter’s hand she gave it a little squeeze.
“Please, Pater, Don’t apologize. I can only imagine how challenging it is to try to steer as charming and as cantankerous a man as Senator Walker is.”
Peter laughed softly. “You’ve got that right, Colonel. Senator Walker is charming, brilliant, and one of the kindest, most generous men you’ll ever meet. And, as you said he is a super star. He captures a room just by walking into it. On the other hand, he is cantankerous, and touchy. He’s almost paranoid about what he perceives as slights.”
A shiver of unease snaked across Diamond’s neck. Some of the ways Peter described his boss, were uncomfortably familiar. She’d heard people say similar things about her behind her back. They described her as prickly, irascible and yes, that she had a chip on her shoulder. Diamond remembered how her agents would often jump in and try to explain or soften one of her sharp comments. At the time their conciliatory efforts annoyed the hell out of her. She was proud of her ability to cut to the chase. To tell people what she needed them to do without sugarcoating it.
But now, listening to the perplexed aide who constantly had to cover for his boss, Diamond acknowledged that she also made it difficult for her supporters to defend her. Her dismay rose when she conceded that it wasn’t only her agents who covered for her but that Ian often did as well. Remembering the night that she’d tried to storm away from the table in a pique when she thought her prospective client was lowballing her services, she had a hard moment of self-knowledge. No wonder Ian had been annoyed with her. She had acted irresponsibly, she conceded, even childish.
Dragging herself back from her unwanted moment of introspection, Diamond turned to Peter.
“A couple of things, Peter. You know that I’m working with Col. Ross to determine who is sending your boss the threatening emails that he’s been receiving? While I am a retired Lt. Colonel, I also own a company of female agents. We go by our code names to protect our real identities. So please call me Diamond. Second, you have every right to be concerned about Senator Walker. His flamboyant personality and his need to ‘outshine the galaxy’ make it hard for anyone who is charged with protecting him. In this case, that includes Ian Ross and me as well as you.”
When Peter nodded in agreement, Diamond decided to go for broke. Things were too close to getting out of hand to dissemble.
“I will be honest with you, Peter. Both Col. Ross and I are very concerned about the emails that you passed on to us. Those emails not only reveal the sender’s desire to take down the Senator politically but they are overtly threatening to hurt him. To be precise, to kill him.”
Ignoring the aide’s started gasp, she continued.
“Listen to me. I could try to soften this, Peter, or pretend that Ian and I aren’t as concerned as we are. But that would be foolish and detrimental to the Senator and certainly not helpful to you. We need to work together to determine who is sending the emails. Our task is to protect the good Senator from those who are out to harm him—and, frankly, to protect him from himself.”
She saw that she had reached him when Peter’s eyes filled with tears. For a moment he struggled to speak. When he did his voice was shaky.
“Thank you, Diamond. I…I didn’t know what I was going to do. Senator Walker is convinced that this is politics as usual, that I’m being overly dramatic. But he’s wrong. Even in the beginning when he was running his first campaign, and people weren’t accustomed to a black candidate, it wasn’t this bad. I thought I would go to Noah, but his father warned me with my life if I approached his son. He insists that no one, especially his son, is to see the emails. I can’t tell you how relieved I was when he agreed to call Col. Ross, and when the two of you arrived today.”
Diamond sought to reassure him.
“You’re not being dramatic, Peter. Both Ian and I believe that the messages Senator Walker is receiving are well beyond ‘politics as usual.’ If it makes you feel any better, at some level, Senator Walker must agree or he would not have approached Ian. As for talking with Noah Walker, Ian and I plan to bring him into the discussion no matter how much the Senator protests.”
She reached for Peter’s hand to underscore her concern.
“We are sincerely worried about the Senator’s safety, Peter. Ian and I are convinced that someone not only wants to take him down politically but they want to physically hurt him.”
Peter nodded then said softly, “When you see the emails I received this morning, Diamond, I suspect that you and Col. Ross will have Noah on the line in minutes.”
~~~
“Goddammit, Ian. I knew I never should have called you. It’s bad enough that Peter has lost his nerve and seems to have forgotten that politics is a contact sport. For Christ’s sake, it’s supposed to be. That’s how you weed out the men from the boys. You’ve got to have balls of steel to run in this racket—because that’s what it takes to govern. Thank God, I do.”
Sen. Walker stopped his irate marching across the room long enough and turned from Ian to glare at Peter who was standing to the side with a troubled frown, but choosing not to speak.
“Apparently, my campaign manager doesn’t have balls or he wouldn’t be raising such a ruckus.” He added with a growl fastening a hard scowl on his aide, “Dammit, Peter, you of all people should know how politics is played at the level we are playing it. Fuck it, man, I am a black man running for my fourth fucking term. Are you really so naïve not to understand that I’ve picked up a few detractors over the last eighteen years? You think Washington or Lincoln got 99% of the vote?”
Before Kennedy could answer, Senator Walker whirled on Diamond.
“How about you, young lady? I’ll bet you could teach both of these men a thing or three about what it takes to have balls. You’ve likely had to face as much prejudice in your time as I have in mine.” His voice rose as he challenged Diamond, “Tell them, Missy! Tell them how strong you have to be to survive in a world that wants to keep you down. A world that despises ballsy women and uppity black men.”
Ian stepped forward and said smoothly, “That’s enough, John. No doubt Peter and I can’t h
old a candle to your equipment, at least as it lives in your imagination. And you are also correct, that of the four of us, my beautiful colleague is unquestionably the most formidable.” He added with a grin, “You should see what she puts me through on one of her good days.”
His smile disappeared and his eyes narrowed as he pointed to the conference table in the middle of the room.
“Now, John, if you would be so kind. Drag those clanging balls of yours across the room and take a seat at the table. You can even sit next to my partner. Although, I think you might wish to refer to her by her correct name. If I were you, I’d save the “Missy’s” for women who aren’t able to emasculate you with a swipe from one of the three knives Diamond has sequestered on her admittedly gorgeous body.”
Senator Walker glowered at Ian, then strode across the room and plunked himself down in the chair at the head of the table. Diamond smothered a grin. She wouldn’t have been surprised if his testicles had actually clanked when he sat down. When she settled in the chair next to him, the Senator scowled at her but couldn’t hide his amusement as he raked his gaze over her.
“Tell me, Missy, do you really carry three knives on your ‘person.’ ”
Ignoring his salacious tallying of her assets, Diamond said sweetly, “I’m sure you know, Senator Walker, Ian is prone to exaggeration. As it happens, I’m only carrying one knife in my thigh sheathe. However it is a K-bar, which is a seven inch, full size United States Marine fighting knife.” She added smiling at him, “I’ve found it adequate in the past to slice off any offending body parts on my adversaries.”
John Walker barked out a hearty laugh. Shaking with the effort, it took him a moment to contain his amusement. Wiping at his eyes, he grinned and shook his head in admiration.
“I’ll just bet you have, Diamond. In fact I’ll tell you something you may not know, little lady. Although I suspect that you do. You wouldn’t need a knife or any weapon to emasculate a man. All you’d need to do is turn those black diamond eyes of yours on ’im. Then sashay out of the room without a backward glance swinging that sweet ass from side to side. Every man in the room would be searching his surroundings wondering what happened to his balls.”
Diamond choked back a laugh at his outrageousness then said in mock seriousness, “I’ll consider that a compliment, Senator, I guess….”
“And well you should, young lady!”
Still shaking with laughter, Senator Walker turned to Ian.
“I gotta tell you, Ian. This is some woman you’ve chosen to partner with. I’ll bet she keeps you on your toes. I’ll also bet she isn’t reluctant to prick at that arrogance of yours.” His amusement fled and he added with a scowl, “Someone sure as hell needs to take you down a peg or two. You are one overbearing, arrogant man, Col. Ross.”
Ian’s lip twitched. “So, I’ve been told, John. On more than one occasion.”
Assuming a serious expression, Ian clicked on the monitor in the front of the room bringing the latest emails to the screen.”
He said with an ironic shrug, “It’s appropriate that we are focusing on your family jewels, John. As you can tell from these emails, if the sender has his way, they are merely the first part of your anatomy he intends to remove.”
At the sound of the knock on the door, Ian added, “Oh, and, by the way, I called Noah and asked him to join us. Unless I’m mistaken, Senator Walker, that is your son at the door.”
Chapter 13
“I do not know if I will ever forgive you, Father. I don’t know which is stronger, my anger at these threats, or my dismay that you refused to involve me. That you trust me so little that when faced with these serious threats you did not have the courtesy or frankly the decency to call me is something I’ll struggle with for the rest of my life.”
Senator Walker glared at his son who was standing before him, his fists clenched at his sides, his expression tight with anger and what Ian knew was pain. The Senator hesitated for a moment in the face of his son’s clear anguish then snapped angrily, “Jesus Christ, Noah. This is precisely why I didn’t call you. Dammit, Son, you’re acting as melodramatic as Peter. Hell, you of all people should know how dirty politics can be. Besides, I didn’t want to worry you. Especially when there isn’t anything to worry about.”
Noah Walker turned a stony gaze on his father and was silent for a long moment. He closed his eyes as if collecting himself and then focused on Ian.
“Thank you, Ian, and you too, Diamond, for coming to the aide of this ungrateful man.” He turned to Peter and his voice shook with emotion, “I do not know what to say to you, Peter. I can only apologize for my father’s demoralizing comments and behavior. I thank you, Sir, for having the courage and the intelligence to ignore his orders and reach out to Col. Ross.”
At his father’s incoherent sputter, Noah held up his hand and continued to speak to Peter.
“I want you to know that I understand why you didn’t call me. We both know what a tyrannical son of a bitch my father is. I can only imagine how he threatened you if you broke your silence. Thank God, you were wise enough and brave enough to call Col. Ross.”
Ian wasn’t surprised when Senator Walker erupted. Pounding the table, he glared at his son.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Noah. You would think that this is a matter of life and death, not some sorry-assed cohort of that Bible-vomiting, self-righteous asshole running against me. Christ, Son. Anyone with a rat’s ass knowledge of politics can see that Deacon Brunson knows he’s gonna lose his ass and is trying to scare me off.”
Before Noah could respond, Ian broke in smoothly. He’d known that John Walker would be furious that he’d called Noah, although he also knew that at some level Walker was glad that he had. The Senator had to be relieved that not only were Ian and Diamond at the helm but now his impressive son was as well.
“Your father knew when he called me, Noah, that I would contact you. While he may have been too proud to call you himself, you can be sure that he is glad that you are involved.”
“That’s not fucking true, Ian, and you and Noah both know it!”
Ignoring his father’s outburst, Noah nodded in agreement, but his stiff bearing and rigid jaw confirmed that he was angry. And, Ian was sure that Noah was more than a little hurt that his father hadn’t reached out to him.
Ian picked up the reins and continued. “Now that we’re all here, we need to agree on a plan going forward. We obviously need to bring in the authorities but first, it’s important to decide how likely it is that Deacon Brunson himself is involved.”
Before Senator Walker could respond, Ian sought out Peter Kennedy.
“What are your thoughts, Peter? Is Brunson known for these kinds of attacks or is this unusual, out of character?”
Ignoring Walker’s angry growl that he stifled when Ian frowned at him, Ian said, “Before we hear from you, John, I want to hear from campaign manager. I know you’ve been investigating the emails and the Brunson campaign, Peter. Conclusions?”
Peter emitted an audible breath. Ian knew the guy had to be relieved that he now had someone to take on his irascible, domineering boss. He wasn’t surprised when the longtime campaign manager quickly laid out a series of conclusions confirming that he had been quietly doing his research.
Holding Ian’s gaze, and ignoring his fuming boss, Peter said, “Brunson is primarily known for his self-righteousness and his penchant for weaving the Bible and Christ into every comment he makes. Can’t order soup without mentioning Jesus. He is frankly insufferable and not at all well-liked by his Congressional peers. In fact he embarrasses them. They put up with him because he has a chokehold on the extremists in his party who as we know are gaining power with every election.”
Ian pressed. “To your knowledge have his previous opponents received the kinds of emails that the Senator has?”
“No, I’ve reached out to both of his previous opponents. They said that Brunson was a hard campaigner and constantly referred to the Bible etc. but ne
ither of them felt personally threatened. They did say that it was impossible to get him to discuss issues. No matter how they came at him, he managed to twist the discussion to who was the more righteous man. According to Brunson, that was the sole reason he should he elected.”
Ian frowned and then continued. “Did he go after either of his previous opponents for their ‘sinfulness’ the way that he is with Senator Walker?”
Not hiding his distress, Peter shook his head. “No, neither one said Brunson came after them in the way that he is the Senator. This ‘he is a sinner’ shtick seems to be directed specifically at John.”
Ignoring his low growl, Ian turned to the Senator and eyed him thoughtfully.
“If you don’t mind, John, and even if you do, it’s time we turned to the elephant in the room.”
Holding the clearly furious man’s gaze, Ian asked, “Are you having an affair, John? And if so, how many and with whom?”
When Walker barked out an angry snort, Ian held up his hand and pointed to the emails on the screen.
“We don’t need to read any of these aloud, John. We all can see the focus of the threats. They all relate in some way to your physical relationships, specifically with women who aren’t your wife.”
Walker jumped to his feet and banged on the table. He shouted at Ian.
“Damn you, Ian. How dare you? It’s bad enough that the three of you have to see this shit, but now my son has! Now do you understand why I didn’t want to involve Noah? Do you?”
Walker’s voice rose shrilly. “At least my son knows this is the way they always go after black men.”
Making a visible effort to control his fury, Walker glanced at Noah then turned back to Ian. His voice was low, strafed with mocking anger.
“I’m surprised that you buy into that old shibboleth, Ian. The caricature about the strapping Mandingo, the randy, oversexed black man who can’t keep his gargantuan prick in his pants. Shame on you, Ian.”
Noah interrupted, holding up his hand to stop his father’s tirade.