Read Online The Divine Appointment by Jerome Teel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jerome Teel
Ads: Link
then laid the menu on the table. “Senator Proctor is getting his agenda through the Senate.”
Porter recognized Cooper’s intended message: that the Senate majority leader’s agenda, not the president’s, was getting pushed through the Senate.
“How’s your boss doing?” Porter asked. “I heard his health isn’t so good.”
“Wishful thinking, Porter. He’s fit as a horse and plans on getting reelected this year.”
Porter laid a cloth napkin in his lap and aligned the silverware beside his plate. Cooper took a sip of water and motioned for the waiter. The waiter was dressed in a white shirt, necktie, dark slacks, and a long white apron. He took Porter’s and Cooper’s orders promptly and disappeared.
Porter resumed the conversation. “As his chief of staff, aren’t you worried that the good people of the state of Tennessee are tired of electing a liberal like Proctor? Bryan Edwards is running a great campaign, and that state’s been leaning considerably toward the right in recent elections.”
“Proctor will never lose in Tennessee. The senator, Mrs. Proctor, and I were in Nashville last night meeting with some of his key contributors. They’re as excited as they’ve ever been to have him reelected. Do you seriously think that the son of the most popular governor in the history of the state is in jeopardy of not being reelected? Honestly, Porter, I thought you were smarter than that.”
Porter chuckled softly and straightened his necktie. “You can’t blame a guy for hoping, can you?”
Porter and Cooper were well into their conversation when the waiter delivered salmon seared in fennel for Porter and breast of duck for Cooper, refilled their crystal water glasses, and disappeared again. The employees of the Vidalia were trained well in the art of secrecy. The only time an employee of the Vidalia had spoken to a reporter about what he’d overheard he’d been immediately terminated. Porter knew that this waiter wasn’t about to eavesdrop on a conversation between the president’s chief of staff and the chief of staff of the Senate majority leader.
“Porter, I’m surprised you invited me to lunch,” Cooper said. “We’ve never liked each other very much.”
Porter took a bite of his meal and wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin. Cooper was right, Porter knew. He didn’t like the guy. Cooper had the reputation of being a playboy. The position of Senate majority leader’s chief of staff provided Cooper with immense access to practically anything…and anybody he wanted. His good looks—blond hair over the collar, dark blue eyes, and year-round tan skin—only served to inflate his already large ego.
“I wouldn’t be here if the president hadn’t insisted that I open a dialogue with Senator Proctor’s office about the upcoming appointment to the Supreme Court.”
“I hear you’ve struck out with practically everyone in the Senate.” Cooper twirled his empty fork slowly and smirked. “And can’t get enough votes lined up.”
Porter bit his lip to keep from saying something that might hurt the cause. Cooper got under his skin, but he refused to let Cooper know it. Entering into a deal with the devil was the only choice the president had to get Judge Shelton’s nomination through the Senate, and Porter hated it.
“The president’s determined to have his nominee to the Supreme Court confirmed by the Senate,” Porter replied forcefully, as if Cooper would roll over and immediately capitulate.
But Porter knew there was simply no chance of that happening. Cooper—or, more accurately, Senator Proctor—held all the aces in this game of poker.
“Tell me who’s going to get the nomination and I’ll tell you whether he has a chance at confirmation or not.” Cooper sipped his ice water and peered at Porter over the rim of the glass.
“You know who it is.” Porter’s eyes met Cooper’s.
“Who?”
Porter laid his fork and knife on either side of his plate and
Porter recognized Cooper’s intended message: that the Senate majority leader’s agenda, not the president’s, was getting pushed through the Senate.
“How’s your boss doing?” Porter asked. “I heard his health isn’t so good.”
“Wishful thinking, Porter. He’s fit as a horse and plans on getting reelected this year.”
Porter laid a cloth napkin in his lap and aligned the silverware beside his plate. Cooper took a sip of water and motioned for the waiter. The waiter was dressed in a white shirt, necktie, dark slacks, and a long white apron. He took Porter’s and Cooper’s orders promptly and disappeared.
Porter resumed the conversation. “As his chief of staff, aren’t you worried that the good people of the state of Tennessee are tired of electing a liberal like Proctor? Bryan Edwards is running a great campaign, and that state’s been leaning considerably toward the right in recent elections.”
“Proctor will never lose in Tennessee. The senator, Mrs. Proctor, and I were in Nashville last night meeting with some of his key contributors. They’re as excited as they’ve ever been to have him reelected. Do you seriously think that the son of the most popular governor in the history of the state is in jeopardy of not being reelected? Honestly, Porter, I thought you were smarter than that.”
Porter chuckled softly and straightened his necktie. “You can’t blame a guy for hoping, can you?”
Porter and Cooper were well into their conversation when the waiter delivered salmon seared in fennel for Porter and breast of duck for Cooper, refilled their crystal water glasses, and disappeared again. The employees of the Vidalia were trained well in the art of secrecy. The only time an employee of the Vidalia had spoken to a reporter about what he’d overheard he’d been immediately terminated. Porter knew that this waiter wasn’t about to eavesdrop on a conversation between the president’s chief of staff and the chief of staff of the Senate majority leader.
“Porter, I’m surprised you invited me to lunch,” Cooper said. “We’ve never liked each other very much.”
Porter took a bite of his meal and wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin. Cooper was right, Porter knew. He didn’t like the guy. Cooper had the reputation of being a playboy. The position of Senate majority leader’s chief of staff provided Cooper with immense access to practically anything…and anybody he wanted. His good looks—blond hair over the collar, dark blue eyes, and year-round tan skin—only served to inflate his already large ego.
“I wouldn’t be here if the president hadn’t insisted that I open a dialogue with Senator Proctor’s office about the upcoming appointment to the Supreme Court.”
“I hear you’ve struck out with practically everyone in the Senate.” Cooper twirled his empty fork slowly and smirked. “And can’t get enough votes lined up.”
Porter bit his lip to keep from saying something that might hurt the cause. Cooper got under his skin, but he refused to let Cooper know it. Entering into a deal with the devil was the only choice the president had to get Judge Shelton’s nomination through the Senate, and Porter hated it.
“The president’s determined to have his nominee to the Supreme Court confirmed by the Senate,” Porter replied forcefully, as if Cooper would roll over and immediately capitulate.
But Porter knew there was simply no chance of that happening. Cooper—or, more accurately, Senator Proctor—held all the aces in this game of poker.
“Tell me who’s going to get the nomination and I’ll tell you whether he has a chance at confirmation or not.” Cooper sipped his ice water and peered at Porter over the rim of the glass.
“You know who it is.” Porter’s eyes met Cooper’s.
“Who?”
Porter laid his fork and knife on either side of his plate and
Similar Books
