Read Online Capitol Conspiracy by William Bernhardt - Free Book Online

that how you met Mike?” Kate asked. “When he married your sister?”
    “Oh, no. I knew him first. We were college roommates at OU. Even played in a band together. I played piano and keyboards and sang badly. He played guitar and sang slightly less badly. Wrote some of our songs himself.”
    “Really! Good stuff?”
    Ben shrugged. “Very poetic.”
    They shared a small smile.
    “We were distant for a while, after the divorce. Very messy. But we managed to reclaim our friendship after I moved to Tulsa and started practicing law. We’ve been close ever since. My best friend, really.” He paused. “Best male friend, for sure. He’s saved me a hundred times over.”
    “From bad guys?”
    Ben stared at the floor. “From myself, mostly.”
    Kate was carrying a paper bag. She set it on a table and withdrew a thermos. “I think you need a pick-me-up.” She began unscrewing the lid.
    “Thanks, but I don’t really drink coffee. Upsets my stomach.”
    By the time she had the lid off, Ben recognized his mistake.
    “Chocolate milk?”
    Kate grinned broadly. “My favorite.”
    He gave her a long look. “I don’t believe you’ve ever drunk chocolate milk. Even when you were five, I’ll bet you were too tough to drink chocolate milk.”
    “Well…”
    “You’ve been talking to Christina, haven’t you?”
    Kate started to protest.
    “Don’t bother denying it. I know.”
    She passed him a cup. “You can hardly blame a woman for looking after her husband. Especially a newlywed.”
    Ben held up his hands. “I don’t care for any. I—”
    Kate looked at him harshly. “Drink it!”
    Ben took the cup obediently and drank.
    “I brought you some coneys, too.”
    Ben didn’t argue this time; he just took the food as she offered it. “Bet they aren’t as good as Carl’s in Tulsa.”
    “They’ll be much better. My own secret recipe.”
    Ben blinked. “They’re hot dogs. You stuck a wiener inside a bun.”
    “Hey, I’m a working girl. What do you expect? For me, that’s a secret recipe.”
    “I’m not sure I can eat anything.”
    “You have to. You look pathetic.”
    “Thank you so much. But I—”
    “Look, you want to stay in that chair and wallow in sorrow, that’s your business. Waste away to nothing, I don’t care. But you’ve got a brand-new wife, buster. And she does care, you get what I’m saying? So eat already!”
    Ben took a bite. Not half bad, actually.
    “I talked to the docs out in the hallway,” she continued. “No change, right?”
    Ben nodded and took another nibble.
    “Prognosis?”
    Ben wiped his mouth, then spoke. “Poor.”
    “That’s what I thought.” She looked down at her stricken partner again, then pointed to the green vinyl chair next to the one Ben was sitting in. “That chair empty?”
    “Uh, yeah.”
    She plopped into it. “You know, Ben—this is not your fault. No one could have foreseen—”
    “Stop.”
    “I’m just saying—”
    “Stop.”
    “But you can’t go on—”
    “Would you please just stop!”
    This time, it was Kate who fell silent.
    For a moment. “You’re wounded.”
    “Please don’t get all psychological on me.”
    “I’m being literal.” She touched the side of his cheek.
    “Oh. Right. Bullet grazed me. Docs say it will heal. Won’t leave a scar.”
    “I’ve seen bullet creases before. I think the doctors are wrong.”
    “Whatever. Who cares? By all rights, it should’ve taken my head off. I was lucky. Unlike—”
    He didn’t finish.
    She decided to change the subject. Slightly.
    “Saw the first lady’s funeral on television. A horrible thing.”
    Ben agreed. “Saw the start. Couldn’t stand it any longer.”
    “Good to see the president back on his feet, though. He looked strong. Grief-stricken, sure. But he still had it together. Some of the rumors going around—” She paused. “Well, it was good to see him back in action, even under these circumstances. I’m glad he’s going to speak to the nation. I think