The Dirty Secret (49 page)

Dave stepped away, and a crowd of hyped-up Republicans led by Gil Dean swarmed around him. One of them held out his hands, palms up. “So
now
what are we supposed to do?”

Gil stepped into the breach, holding a big green book. “According to the Code, ‘If any of the Electors fails to attend at the time appointed, the Electors present shall appoint an Elector in place of each one so failing to attend, and every Elector so appointed shall be entitled to vote in the same manner as if he had been originally chosen by the people.’”

One of the men looked at Gil, who nodded curtly. “In that case,” the Elector said, casting a quick glance at the clock on the receptionist’s desk, “since it’s noon and Tabatha McCallen is not here, I nominate Gil Dean be appointed to replace her.”

“I second that motion, Senator Boggess,” another blurted.

“All those in favor?” Boggess asked.

“Aye,” the four Electors declared.

“The motion carries. Congrats, Gil. You get to cast the fifth ballot. The Secretary of State will explain the actual process, so let’s make ourselves comfortable ‘til she gets here.”

The five Electors, including Gil, strolled across the reception area and sat on various couches and loveseats. Dave followed suit, flopping down on a couch.

“Enjoying the circus, Dave?” Gil asked, grinning.

Exhaling deeply, Dave closed his eyes. “Just wake me when it’s over.”

CHAPTER 112

CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA
WEST VIRGINIA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 12:05 P.M.

Vincent sat down behind his desk. “Have a seat, Rikki. So what do we need to discuss?”

Rikki folded her hands together. “Mr. Governor, I’m here to offer you a plea bargain.”

Vincent laughed nervously. “A plea bargain? For what?”

“Adultery. With Tabatha McCallen. We have video of the act in a St. Marys motel room.”

With his elbows resting on the desk, Vincent leaned forward. “I’m ashamed and appalled at my behavior. But I don’t see why you need to treat it like a
crime.
”

“It’s rarely prosecuted, but adultery is a crime that’s not been repealed by the Legislature. We suspected Tabatha had been bribed to switch her Electoral College ballot, but we didn’t have enough evidence to prove it. And in good conscience, I couldn’t let Senator Wilson profit from it, so I had to charge Tabatha with adultery to keep her from voting.”

Vincent sat wide-eyed, shaking his head. “I had no idea.”

“I suspected that might be the case, which is why I’m willing to offer you this deal.”

Vincent exhaled softly. “What do you want me to do?”

Rikki paused, processing her thoughts. “If Tabatha won’t accept a deal in the murder case, I’ll need your testimony to solidify the adultery charge. In exchange for that, and your agreement to enter marriage counseling, I’ll grant you immunity on the adultery.”

Vincent looked shocked. “That’s it?”

“That’s it. The video is under seal in the Sheriff’s Department. Our criminal complaint did not identify Tabatha’s adulterous lover. I know your wife and she is a good woman. I’m disgusted you disrespected her by sleeping around with a tramp like Tabatha. But I believe politicians still have privacy rights, and your wife doesn’t deserve to have this crap aired in the press. If you’ll take this deal, I’ll do everything I can to keep that from happening.

“
However
, if I find out you had anything to do with Jack’s death, I will make sure you spend the rest of your life rotting in prison for it.”

Vincent’s lip quivered and his eyes welled. “You’re right. Donna doesn’t deserve to be put through that and I thank you for trying to spare her the humiliation.” Taking a deep breath, he stood up. “I’ll do it.”

EPILOGUE

ST. MARYS, PLEASANTS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 7:00 P.M.

Holding the phone to her ear, Rikki stared out her living room window. Large, wet snow flakes cascaded through the darkness behind her porch light.

“I heard the special prosecutor cut Tabatha a deal,” her mother said. “Is that true?”

Rikki sighed. “She pled guilty to bribery and being an accessory to Jack’s murder, plus she’s testifying against Petrenko. She’ll be eligible for parole in 20 years, but she had to disclaim any inheritance from Jack’s estate.
And
she had to relinquish her parental rights.”

Madhani gasped. “Wow. And she agreed to do that?”

Rikki put on silver hoop earrings as she strolled through the living room in black jeans and a soft red sweater. “She’s vain, Mom. She figures she can sweet-talk the parole board into letting her out before she turns sixty. With her good genetics and bedroom skills, she probably thinks she’ll still be able to find another sugar daddy.”

Kneeling by the couch, Rikki placed three gift-wrapped packages in a large cardboard box. “Mazniashvili is paying a dream team of lawyers to defend Petrenko,” she continued. “With no witnesses and no murder weapon, the State needs Tabatha’s testimony to get a conviction. Personally, I think Berkeley County will have better luck nailing him for Marcus Boley’s murder.”

Madhani harrumphed. “And are they going to prosecute Mazniashvili for
anything?
”

“Well … the special prosecutor may indict him as an accessory, too, but he’s holed up in the UAE right now,” Rikki replied.

“The United Arab Emirates?”

“Yes. Mazniashvili says he’s needed there to manage his business affairs. But I’d say the real reason is we have no extradition treaty with the UAE.”

“Well, I hope David gets President-elect Royal to fix that problem,” Madhani declared.

Rikki’s stomach dropped. Dave and Royal had met that morning one-on-one. She felt sure Royal had offered him the chief of staff position.

The question is, ‘Will he take it?’

“So have you told him how you feel?” her mother asked softly.

Rikki shook her head sadly. “No, Mom. God knows I miss him, but I can’t put that kind of pressure on him. I
won’t
. Not when this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has landed in his lap. I’m happy we’ve buried the hatchet, and I’ll treasure our friendship. But I just have to accept that love and marriage weren’t in the cards fate dealt us.”

A long pause ensued. “It is your life, daughter,” Madhani replied. “You are the one who must live with the consequences of your decisions. But your father and I have always urged you to follow your heart. When in doubt, Sarika,
follow your heart!
If not, I fear you will throw away your own once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Rikki’s phone beeped. Dave’s face smiled up from the screen. “Dave’s calling on the other line,” she said quickly. “I’ll call you back.”

“Good luck, honey.”

Taking a breath, Rikki flipped over to the incoming call and put on a smile. “So what’s the deal, buddy boy?”

“Well,” he began, “it’s confirmed. Jonathan wants me to be his chief of staff.”

Her heart sunk.
Losing you once was painful enough. Why did God let me fall in love with you all over again? Just to make me go through the pain of losing you a second time?

“Congratulations, Dave!” she said, hoping she sounded genuinely excited. But her chest tightened, and she felt like she was going to cry. “What an honor! So when do you start?”

“That’s still up in the air. I asked him to give me 24 hours to mull it over.”

Rikki’s brow creased. “Why?” She thought she heard the muffled sound of a car door shut as Sheriff Vaughn’s two coon dogs bayed in the distance.
Silent Doug’s kids must have driven in from Charlotte for Christmas.

Dave paused. “There’s another vacancy I’ve decided to apply for.”

His response sounded like an echo.
Gremlins in the cell phone grid?
That distracted thought was interrupted by the musical chimes of her doorbell.

“Hold on a second. Someone’s at my door.” Carrying the box of gifts across the room, she absent-mindedly set it on the ground to open the door and found herself speechless.

On the other side of her door, she saw Dave.

Standing on her porch in a black wool great coat, he held an envelope in his gloved right hand. Snowflakes gently drifted down behind him, contrasted harshly by the tension on his face. Wordlessly, he hung up his phone and she did the same.

“I’ve had this card stashed in a drawer for over 10 years, Rikki,” he said quietly. Clutching the envelope tightly, he hesitatingly extended it. “The words are as true tonight as the day I wrote them.”

Rikki lifted the faded gold seal and opened the envelope. The card’s front bore the words, “Thinking of You …” Glancing up, she saw Dave staring back at her, tightlipped.

Opening the card, she continued reading. Originally blank, it was filled with lines of his own distinctive, almost unreadable handwriting:

You cross my mind every day. I wonder what you’re doing and I pray you’re happy. Every night, I pray you will forgive me for the pain I’ve caused you but I don’t know if that prayer will be answered.

I can’t describe how much I miss talking to you. You were my best friend and confidante, my fellow adventurer and partner-in-crime. No matter where I go or what I do, my life feels empty without seeing your smile and hearing your laughter.

I’ve loved you from the moment I met you. I still love you with all my heart and I have no doubt I will love you until the day God calls me home. And if miracles happen and you ever feel the sparks of love for me again, know this: I will abandon everything for you. I will run to your side and never leave you again.

Break my heart if you must, but I can’t keep my mouth shut any longer. My heart might get broken, but at least I’ll go down swinging. I’d rather die loveless and alone than spend the rest of my days wondering, ‘What if…’

I probably sound like a pitiful fool or a broken record. I know you’ve heard this all before, but I’ll say it one last time…

I love you, Rikki. My heart
aches
for you. If you give me another chance, I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret it.

Dave

Looking up from the card she held in her left hand, Rikki was speechless. Dave took a step forward and tenderly took her right hand.

“I’m so thankful you’ve forgiven me, Rik. But I want more than forgiveness. I want
more
than your friendship.” His eyes flitted from right-to-left as he searched for words. “I want to kiss you. I want to hold you. I want to argue with you and laugh with you. I’m baring my soul to you on your porch on Christmas Eve like a lovesick teenager in a bad movie because I
desperately
want to grow old with you. And I can’t make a decision about this whole chief of staff thing until I know if there’s a chance in hell we could have that kind of relationship again.”

“Oh, Dave,” she blurted before planting her lips on his. Dropping the card, she ran her fingernails through his graying temples and felt his arms wrap around her back.
Yes, I still love you! How could I not?

For a long time, Rikki felt like she was in a dream. Smelling Dave’s aftershave, she reveled in their kiss as they stood on the porch with the snow falling around them. Then, the realization struck her as cold as the winter air.

He wants me to move to D.C.

Taking a quick step backwards, she brought the passionate kiss to an end. “I can’t do it.”

Dave’s eyes bulged. “
What?!
What do you mean?” Taking a deep breath, he clenched his jaw. “Are you saying you don’t love me?”

Rikki felt her lower lip tremble. “No!” she cried. “Of course I love you! But I can’t leave St. Marys! I just took over as prosecutor and Mom needs me here and …”

Dave leaned backwards at the waist and laughed uncontrollably. “Oh, Christ! I’m not
asking
you to leave St. Marys.”

“You’re not?” she asked, confused.

“God no!” he replied, emitting another loud laugh. Still feeling confused, Rikki watched as he took her hand and knelt on the porch. “I meant what I wrote in that card. If God has graced me with your love again, I will abandon
everything
– even being the White House chief of staff – to be with you
wherever
you choose to be.”

Rikki beamed from ear-to-ear. “Really?”

Dave nodded. “Damn straight. You want to stay in St. Marys? You got it.” He kissed her hand and laughed aloud as he stood up. “My mom will be thrilled to have me home again!”

“But what in the world are you going to do here?” she asked.

He arched an eyebrow. “Well, I still have my law license. And I seem to recall you’re fixin’ to hire an assistant prosecutor.” He grinned. “Plus, you’re gonna need some help running Jack’s company. You care if I send you my resume?”

Rikki folded her arms across her chest and shook her head, playfully furrowing her brow. “You look so proud of yourself, Mr. Anderson. Like you think you’ve thought of
everything
here. But what would you do if I say, ‘No.’”

Dave cupped her cheeks with his hands and kissed her softly on the lips. “Then I’d find another job. I might be able to do some long distance political consulting, but I’d dig ditches or flip burgers if need be. As long as I can come home to you each night, I’ll still be a happy man.”

Rikki laughed, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again. “You sure are sweet with words, Mr. Anderson. In that case, I suppose I’ll say, ‘Yes.’”

“
Woo-hoo!
” he exclaimed, lifting her up by the waist and twirling her around once before returning her to Earth. “So how are we gonna break the news to our folks?”

She stepped inside the house and pointed to the box of gifts. “You can make yourself useful by grabbing that box. I was on my way over to Mom’s, and you can tag along and make her the happiest little Indian woman in the world. Assuming she doesn’t die of a heart attack on the spot,
then
we’ll figure out how to tell your parents.”