Read Online The Intern: Chasing Murderers, Hookers, and Senators Across DC Wasn't In The Job Description by Dale Wiley - Free Book Online Page B

of
Ethiopia.”
    My first response was to ask her to kick the guy out.
However, I didn’t want to ultimately be accused of starting an international
incident as well as a domestic one. “Do you have anothah suite?” I asked,
trying to imagine what he would do.
    “No suites, sir, unfortunately. I asked already. I’m
dreadfully sorry. But some excellent rooms.”
    She sounded like she was holding the phone away from her
ear.
    “A room, huh?” I made it sound like I was pondering this
rather white trash suggestion. “I guess.”
    “Excellent, Senator. We’re very happy to hear you’ll be
staying with us again,” the woman chirped.
    Staying with us again , I thought. I wondered how
often he did this. “I’m happy to be coming back,” I said in a robust mimic.
“I’ll send one of my trusted aides …” what name to give? “Don Rich, ovah to
make suah everything’s set.”
    “That’ll be wonderful, Senator. Do you happen to have your
account number handy?”
    Ah, she was a sly one. I pulled out the black book, gave her
the number, and she seemed satisfied. I hung up and searched for a cab in
earnest.
    I tried a dozen ways of keeping a low profile inside the cab
but had no idea how successful I was. When we rode by the Capitol, I was quite
worried that some news junkie would spot me and ruin everything I was planning,
but that didn’t happened. We made it back to what now seemed like my long-time
home, the Watergate, and I marched up to the front desk, still trying to avoid
eye contact with the world.
    I smiled at the front desk attendant—the people on the day
shift were quite a bit better-looking than the ones working nights. She was
pretty in a blond, dried-out, tanning-bed kind of way, and I could tell she had
been in a sorority in college. Hell, I bet she would’ve joined two if they’d
have let her.
    “I’m Don Rich. I think you’re supposed to have a reservation
for …”
    “Senator Stanky. Of course,” she smiled. “Are you new? I
haven’t seen you before.”
    God , I thought. This guy really gets around.
    She really didn’t care about whether I was new or not
though. “How many nights?”
    Oh Lord. What should I say? “I’m … not sure.”
    “We’ll put down one and go from there,” she winked.
    “Let me ask you a couple of things,” I said, and she looked
at me earnestly.
    I wanted to tell her not to look so closely, but I didn’t
dare. I thought of my aching shoulder, and said, “The Senator said to find a
good masseuse. Can you do that for me?”
    She nodded and wrote herself a note.
    “And I’m supposed to take care of some other matters for the
Senator,” I said, trying to look embarrassed. I lowered my voice. “I forgot to
get the cash he asked for, and he’s gonna kill me. Is there any way I can have
you give me some cash and just charge that to the room?” I was really going for
the gusto here.
    “This is unusual …”
    “This isn’t just anyone,” I reminded her. Probably everyone
said that at the Watergate.
    She bit her lip and thought hard. I thought she was going to
turn me down. “I think … I’m … How much?”
    I racked my brain. I didn’t want to ask for too little, but
I also didn’t want to get turned down. “A thousand.”
    “Fine,” she nodded, and reached to open one of the cash
drawers.
    Fine! She just said fine! I just told her to charge a
thousand dollars to this guy’s room, and she was going to hand me the cash.
Maybe I should’ve asked for more. I told myself I should really do this kind of
thing more often.
    “Will hundreds be okay?”
    I pressed my luck. “How about two hundred in twenties?” I
grinned, and she counted the money. My hand tingled as I grabbed them. I put
them in the right breast pocket of my jacket.
    “When do you need the masseuse?” she asked.
    “Half an hour,” I said, realizing I could request anything
and get it, no questions asked. “The Senator will be …”
    “Coming in the side door? Yes, I know