Linda Paterson entered the hotel's restaurant. Her appearance was quite professional. She wore business attire and low-heeled shoes, minimal make-up and a sensible scrunchie to hold back her otherwise long, curly, jet black hair. Lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry was her occupation and she looked it. Yet if you scratched the surface of her outer covering, you would have found a fit, athletic body. One that was trim, supple and soft, perhaps mid to late twenties in appearance despite being chronologically old enough to have a college-aged son. If you've ever fantasized about a teacher or librarian who looked like an iceberg, but you knew that deep down inside she was a nymphomaniacal slut who wanted to be screwed senseless by the football team, you would have found such a woman in Linda. Tonight she would be having dinner with Senator Richard Long. Like Linda, the dinner would be completely professional in appearance, but the promise of a 'sexual indiscretion' would be hidden beneath the surface of their conversation. Linda was more than confident that she would be able to lure the senator into a hotel room where the two of them would perform depraved acts of carnality that would have both their faces plastered over the evening news for weeks…if anybody found out about it. And while there was little doubt that the
senator
would be having the best sex of his life, Linda was certain that
she
would be completely satisfied by tonight's tryst as well. She could think of nothing that got her off better than fucking a man she was about to kill.
The maitre d' showed me to my table and handed me a menu. The fare at this restaurant was adequate. It was the atmosphere that was superlative. Dark lighting, employees that always minded their own business, and no reporters or news people unless something very dramatic happened. The murder of a senator would have this place hopping like a frog-jumping contest. But given my track record on assignments, if I handled matters just right, his death should be classified as no more than a heart attack during an extramarital affair.
"Sorry I'm late," Senator Long said as he greeted me with a friendly touch of my shoulder. "When you're in politics, there's always somebody who wants a piece of you." He sat opposite me, and if external appearance was a true indication of a person's quality of spirit, I would have felt incredibly sad and guilty for what I was about to do.
The senator was in his mid-fifties and one of those rare individuals that greatly improved with age. Even in his twenties and early thirties he didn't appear to have fully matured. There were still some green or even childlike characteristics about him. But in the here and now, he was a confident, influential master of the political game. And his power announced itself to all with his granite jaw, his broad shoulders and biceps that tightened his suit almost to the point of ripping whenever he bent his arms. Yet even through his endearingly rugged five o'clock shadow, his charming smile and soft blue eyes conveyed a sense of purity and trust. His parent's genes had blessed him with all the superficial trappings necessary to make it in politics, and Machiavelli gave him the rest.
"I understand," I replied. "That's why we're both here." After Richard quickly scanned the menu, the waiter came over to our table.
"Good evening. I'm Bob. I'll be your waiter tonight." I always wondered if waiters told you their name because the familiarity of calling someone by his first name helps to diminish the fact that his occupation is merely that of servant or because it, momentarily, elevates him to the same level of his clientele so he doesn't feel too much like an inferior. Perhaps both reasons were just two sides of the same coin.
"May I take your order?"
"What looks good to you?" I asked the senator. He looked over the entire menu.
"I don't know," he said. "It all looks so…unappetizing." We both held back an impolite laugh, knowing full well that people rarely came to this establishment for the cuisine. "Well I suppose you can never go too wrong with a filet de bœuf."
Bob seemed a bit puzzled. "Filet de buff? Is that like a filet o' fish?" The senator glanced at me and we both let out a long, mental sigh.
"I'm sure the chef will know…." He paused for a moment. "I'm sure the
cook
will know what it is. And please make it
rare
," which probably meant he would have been lucky if the steak didn't arrive charbroiled. "Also a green salad and…" He gave me an impish grin as he asked "…would you mind if I went a little crazy?"
"Go ahead."
He turned back to Bob and said "And some French fries." We both smiled.
"I'll have the same."
"And I suppose I would be hoping for too much if we could have a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon." Richard turned back to me. "Just to wash it all down with." I was beginning to appreciate the affable character of my dining companion. It was easy to understand why he was so popular amongst his constituents as well as his fellow politicos. I was beginning to feel bad that I had to kill him.
"I'm sorry," Bob said. "A napping cabinet…what?"
"Just make it you're best one hundred dollar bottle of red wine."
"Very good, sir."
We both watched Bob as he left. Then the senator leaned in and quietly said to me "This is one of those restaurants where you're actually
glad
if the waiters ignore you." Again we both smiled. I didn't know if it was his natural personality traits or his well rehearsed politician's façade which turned what I thought would be an uneventful meal into one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I've ever had. Unlike most men of power, or men for that matter, he allowed me to take charge of the conversation and happily listened to what I had to say. Or perhaps as an experienced politician he was just an expert at feigning interest. That seemed unlikely, however, as he would interrupt me from time to time to explore a point further or to interject an amusing remark about something I'd just said.
While finishing off our cappuccinos and cheesecake, which had to have come from an outside bakery, we decided to get to the reason for the meeting.