Read Online Dark Ambition by Allan Topol - Free Book Online Page B

that he had found the weak link in the case against Gillis. "Look harder. I want to be able to tell the judge that we left no stone unturned."
    "I've got a straight line to Director Murtaugh on this case. I'll ask him to double our search team."
    Ben was pleased to hear that. If the FBI put on a full court press, he was confident that they'd find Nesbitt.
    "Did you find any other prints in that part of the Winthrops' house?"
    "Nothing. Other than Winthrop's."
    "Who found the body?"
    "Mrs. Winthrop."
    "When?"
    "At about four-thirty yesterday afternoon."
    "What'd she do first? Call the police? Or notify the guards in front of the house?"
    Bill Traynor rubbed the weariness from his eyes before responding. "Her first call was actually to a friend who brought her home from the theater. Then Mrs.Winthrop called the police. The friend got to the house about fifteen minutes before the police."
    "What's the name of the friend?"
    "She's a lawyer. Jennifer Moore is her name."
    Startled, Ben drew back sharply. He hadn't seen Jennifer since she had walked out on him more than five years ago. There was a long silence as Traynor's words hung in the air like an awful ghost. Ben finally said, "Well, isn't that nice?" He still winced in pain when he thought about her, but he had no intention of running away from the case. It was time, he decided, to excise this dybbuk once and for all. "Get me a secretary," he barked to Traynor. "I'm ready to dictate the application for a search warrant."
    * * *
    Marshall Cunningham was determined to see the President as soon as he returned with the First Lady from paying a condolence call on Ann Winthrop. He remained in telephone contact with one of the Secret Service agents in the presidential motorcade. As soon as the cars crossed K Street, Cunningham walked upstairs to the President's living quarters.
    Moments later they arrived.
    He had known Brewster for ten years, and he had never seen the President or the First Lady so emotionally shaken. Beverly's face was red from crying. She immediately headed off to their bedroom, without even saying hello.
    The President's jaw was set in a somber expression. The lines in his craggy face were more pronounced. His usually carefully combed gray hair was mussed in the way it was when he became upset and he ran his hands through it. His eyes had a glazed look. "I never drink before the sun goes down," he said. "You know that. But I sure as hell am going to make an exception today."
    "It's horrible," Cunningham responded, wanting to sound sympathetic. "Absolutely horrible. I can't tell you how badly I feel for you and Beverly."
    "I appreciate your saying that. Your opinion means a lot to me. Next to Robert, you're my oldest and closest friend in the administration. I know that the two of you didn't always see eye to eye."
    A veil of sadness covered Cunningham's face. "Those were policy differences. On a personal level, we always got along, and I knew how much his friendship meant to you."
    Walking over to the tea wagon, the President asked, "You want one?"
    The last thing Cunningham wanted now was a drink, but he didn't want to refuse the President. "Whatever you're having, Philip."
    Brewster poured two fingers of Jack Daniel's into a couple of glasses and added some ice. After handing one to Cunningham, who put it down on an end table, Brewster sat on a sofa and sipped the drink slowly. "Robert and I went back so far. Christ, he was my catcher when I pitched at Exeter. He fixed me and Beverly up on our first date."
    Cunningham sat impassively and let Brewster rattle on. He shared none of his leader's sentiments. As far as he was concerned, it was a miracle that Winthrop didn't die in the sack with some bimbo, setting off a major scandal that would have doomed Brewster's chances for reelection. It was a classic case of how badly things can turn out if a president appointed unqualified cronies to top-level jobs in the government. Family money and connections had been