Death's Last Run Read Free Page A

have his endorsement . . .”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œHe took the call personally. Says he hasn’t made up his mind.”
    Martha clenched her hand tighter around her phone. If Hillier took the call personally, it was a good sign and a bad one. It meant he was still open to backing Martha. And it meant that he wanted something.
    â€œKearnes is offering a cabinet post.” Ted’s voice was flat.
    â€œHillier told you that?”
    â€œNo — that’s through the grapevine.” Ted’s code for
you don’t want any more details.
    â€œA reliable grapevine?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œMotherfucker,” Martha said. “Let him go, then. Let Hillier endorse whomever he chooses.”
    â€œI wish that was an option,” Ted said. “But we can’t win Michigan without him.”
    â€œSo we lose Michigan.” Martha didn’t see the big deal. There were more states.
    â€œWe can’t lose Michigan, or Kearnes will have enough delegates to win the nomination.”
    â€œOfficially?”
    â€œEffectively — unless you plan on taking him in his home state. But trust me — Michigan is easier. All we need is Hillier and we should have it.”
    Martha tried to care — she
should
care — but she didn’t. “I’m not giving a cabinet position to anyone with a religious background.”
    â€œYou have to give him something. He’s already out on a limb, supporting the only Republican campaigning on the separation of church and state.”
    â€œMeaning?”
    â€œ
Reverend
Hillier has a congregation to keep happy. He needs to take them something positive — something to make them understand why you as president is best for their self-interest, even if you are a heathen.”
    Martha snorted. “We’ve been through all this, Ted. Three weeks ago, my education plan and the war on drugs were enough for him. And to be frank, I don’t care that much anymore. Losing Michigan — giving up this race — is looking tempting.”
    â€œForget about it,” Ted said with a nervous laugh. “Your team won’t let you fall. Anyway, I called because I need your approval on a statement before we release it to the press. It’s loosely aimed at Hillier, but there are others who could use their confidence in you rejuvenated. We want to talk about your grief — how Sacha’s death knocked you down — and we’ll focus on your bereavement as inspiring your rebirth as a stronger, more compassionate world leader.”
    â€œRebirth? Is that in case I have one lone supporter left from the religious right?”
    â€œLook, you have the moderates, independents, and coastal conservatives locked tight. But it doesn’t hurt to use the odd bit of churchy language as a bone to throw to the evangelicals. Like it or not, we will need them eventually.”
    Martha smiled as she recalled Sacha, age fifteen, saying,
You know that seventy percent of Republicans don’t believe in evolution? You’re too smart to align yourself with these idiots. Or is it the low taxes you like? Does the Republican ethic work for you because you’re rich and you want to keep it that way?
    Ted was still talking. “The idea is for Hillier and the rest of the party to see you as not only a viable candidate, but a better candidate for having gone through this turmoil and come out on top.” Poor Ted. He was a smart enough kid when he wasn’t trying to prove how smart he was.
    â€œI don’t like it. A news release reeks of excuses when it’s obvious to anyone with a brain why I’m not at full strength.”
    â€œWe have to act, though. If we lose Michigan or Arizona, the battle will be too far uphill. Washington is yours, Alaska isn’t significant, but taking Kearnes in Georgia is going to be next to impossible. Unless we can find a prostitute in his closet, or even a blow-up cocker spaniel