Note: All persons used in this novel are fictitious. Although the areas used in this novel are real, the streets, buildings, roadways, recreational areas, and other points of interest used to make this interesting reading for you, are neither at the exact heights, or in the location described. If you are looking for a great deal of Explicit Sexual Activity, There Is A Section In This CHAPTER For You. I will return to my normal writing commitment, when my research materials arrive at the U of M library. This is going to be a STORY, for your reading pleasure," with no more than "FIFTY CHAPTERS." With the exclusion of this section, this story could easily have a fit into the category of "NON-EROTIC" as easily as it will fit into a Novel or Novellas. Please remember, this is "A NOVEL."
Chapter 10
42. If Two People Know a Secret...It's Not a Secret
Almost all the invited guests were lounging around the pool area, at the Atwater's Connecticut estate, when the former president came roaring out of his office. "I'm going to kill you Fred. I know you did it. I don't know how you did it, or when you did it, but it had to be you who did it. No one else could have done this to me but you."
"Oh Tremendous One, what insult have I brought down upon your head this time?"
"It's in the papers. I just received a call from the Associated Press asking me for a comment on this story."
"What story is that sir?"
"Don't play with me Fred; the story about my meeting in Charleston on Saturday, and the news conference on Monday."
"What did they say about your meeting and news conference, because I haven't thought about either of them since your last meeting?"
"The reporter read me the entire story from the Washington Post. Then she said there were identical stories in the Charleston Post & Courier, Columbia Star, and the Atlanta Constitution. I asked for her phone number and told her I would check with my staff to see if there was any validity to this story. However, at this time, I knew nothing about it. How did you get the word out Fred; how did you do it. Why did you do this to me?"
"You've made the big time again, sir. The Associated Press called you. Did you miss the attention? Do you miss the press hounding you every day?"
"Don't you dare change the subject on me you reprobate? How did you get the word out without me knowing about it?"
"Sharon and I leave for Barbados in the morning. I don't have any meetings for the remainder of the week. I won't be back until Sunday afternoon, because court opens Monday morning. I haven't done anything but relax since I've been here, at your home. I have not touched my phone, or your phones, to contact anyone in the press. I received one phone call, and that was from Sandy verifying we were going to Barbados, because all our girls are going with us. You should come with us some time. You could use an allover tan."
"Is that how you did it Fred? You co-opted your daughters into doing your dirty work. I want to know how you got the word out to the press about our meeting with Dr. Luck, and our proposed Space Venture. Don't lie to me Fred; I want to know how you did it."
"First, I have not thought about your meeting; it was none of my concern. Second, Cindy and Sandy are as ethical as you are. They don't jaywalk, because it is against the law. I am extremely proud of how my girls have grown up into fine young women. I would never ask them to do something as underhanded as you are suggesting. Debbie and Danny are doctors; and are subject to the same set of ethics we are. They are my children, and they have professional rules they must follow every day."
"Look at me and say that again, Fred; wait a moment, don't bother, you can lie with a straight face."
"I taught you how to do it, didn't I?"
"So you admit you're lying to me."
"I am not lying to you. I have not left the grounds of your estate. I have not used 'my' cell phone, and I have not used any of your phones to make contact with the outside world. You have my permission, as always, to check them to see if either of these statements are lies. When did they say they received this information?"
"They received an anonymous tip at 8:30 PM last night."
"Wonderful, where were we 8:30 PM last evening?"
"Oh crap, we were at the theater watching "Bullets over Broadway."
"I will accept your apology any time you are ready, Mr. Big Sur Mouth."
"I'm sorry Fred; I was sure it was you. It was the same kind of stunt you pulled when I was Attorney General."
"Yes that was fun sir, wasn't it?"
"Fun hell, the president nearly took my head off."
"There was a little bit of bad, but it came with a great deal of good for you didn't it. You received five days of free press coverage, plus your name was on television during all five Sunday news programs."
"You were amazing Fred. Nearly 2 years before the election you told me I was going to win by 8 percentage points. I won by 8.4 percent. Do you have a private line to God?"
"No sir; if I did he would send me directly to that other place for the rest of time. I knew the man I worked for however. He is the one that should have a direct line to the Lady upstairs, because he has a record that assures his admission to that club."
"Don't you dare try to flatter me Fred; I still don't trust you. I know you had something to do with this. You probably had my niece do it for you."
"Sharon, your uncle is abusing me again, and accusing you of doing a bad thing."
His wife approached him and said, "Have you been away from your boss for so long you have forgotten what it is like to be humiliated by him?"
"I guess so. Almost everyone else treats me with respect. Even our daughters are nice to me every once in a while. He is treating me like I'm a member of his household staff."
Sharon kissed him on his head, and then kissed her uncle. "What did my husband do to damage your reputation this time Uncle Clark?"
"Even your wife knows you did it Fred."
"What did he do Uncle Clark? I didn't say he did it, I just want to know what you think he did."
"I don't want to tell you what he did. It is a very closely held secret. He knows about it because I made the mistake of having him tag along with me. I should have had my head examined when I did it. Let me say I had a meeting with some very important and wealthy people. We agreed to meet again this Saturday to discuss the details of what we are planning to do, and make a very important announcement next Monday. The only people who knew the exact dates for those meetings were in that room. Fred was one of those people.
I received a phone call tonight asking me for a comment on Saturday's meeting, and Monday's announcement. We didn't have anything to benefit by announcing it early, especially after what happened in Colorado last week."
"Are you talking about the thing with the scientist and the missile attack?"
"Yes."
"What do you have to do with him?"
"I don't want to discuss that with you or anyone else. I don't want you to talk about that incident with anyone else, is that clear?"
"Yes, I understand. What did you do Fred? This sounds like something you would get your nose into."
"My nose is firmly attached to my face. Your uncle accused me of having you do it for me. You should be angry with him, not me."
"That wasn't nice of you Uncle Clark. I would never betray your trust by doing something like that behind your back."
"I know you wouldn't dear. I was angry with the man you married."
"Believe me Uncle Clark I know that feeling extremely well."
"Hey you two, I am a very nice person. You can ask any lawyer who comes before us and wins."
"What about the attorneys on the other side of the argument Fred?"
"They are sore losers."