“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’ve thought about that.”
“It makes no sense. White launched his career with that story. My career was already established. I didn’t need it. I’ve never needed to cheat to break an exclusive. I just hope you’ll finally believe me.” Even if they never dated again, he didn’t want her to think badly of him. She mattered; her opinion mattered.
“I don’t know.” Katherine’s eyes searched his face. “Give me some time. This pastrami smells delicious. Let’s just enjoy lunch for now, okay?”
“Sure.”
Jack and Katherine talked little once their meal arrived. She ate with gusto, Jack noted. She was unlike so many other women. Most of which claimed that they were starved, and then only picked at a small salad. He’d decided long ago that this consistently inconsistent behavior was the eighth wonder of the world.
Finally, when the dishes were cleared, they sat in companionable silence, enjoying their coffee.
“Do you mind if I smoke?” Jack asked.
“Go ahead.”
“Actually. I’m told that I don’t really smoke. I tend to light them up, take a few drags and put them out. My friends tell me that I’m too impatient to even enjoy a cigarette.”
“Just not happy unless you’re going mach one with your hair on fire?”
He grinned. “How’d you guess?”
“Tigers don’t change their stripes.” Katherine glanced at her watch. “I’d better get back to work.”
“For whom do you?”
“Carolyn Lane.”
“Carolyn Lane.” Holy shit. He swallowed his surprise. “As in Mrs. Warner Lane?”
“Yes. I’m her aide in Jefferson City. We’ve been together for years now. She’s also a good friend. Usually, I’m only involved in the behind-the-scenes aspect of campaigning. But after I’d finished up for her at the office, she asked me to come to New York to help. I think she was taking pity on my limited social life in Missouri. I’ve never been to New York before, let alone to one of these conventions. My father’s spent time at them, but I never have.”
Jack’s mind spun. Katherine was Carolyn’s friend? This was
“And, you’re here to cover the convention.” Katherine stated.
“Yes…” Jack hesitated. Should he tell her about his investigation of the Lanes? No, he couldn’t. She might think he was trying to get information from her. Not only would he forfeit any trust he’d regained, but he didn’t know how she’d react. She might go directly to Carolyn. “Just the usual political nonsense.”
Katherine eyed him. “How unlike you. No major stories on the horizon?”
Jack shrugged, his heart sinking.
The waitress approached with the bill. Jack paid it, then they strolled back to Madison Square Garden. The minute they moved through the doors, they were caught up in the frantic pace.
“Have dinner with me?” Jack asked.
Katharine smiled. “You’re pushing.”
“Can’t fault a guy for trying.”
“All right.”
“All right for dinner, or all right you won’t fault me.”
“All right for dinner.”
Jack beamed. “I take it you’re staying at the Inter-Continental. After the last session tonight I’ll ring your room.”
“Sounds good,” she called out over her shoulder.
Jack escorted Katherine to a late meal at an Italian restaurant on West Forty-Sixth Street. It was after midnight when they finally sat down, and they both were exhausted. They ordered, then sat sipping wine, talking only periodically.
“Did you hear about Mort Fields’s accident?” Jack asked.
“Just horrible.” Katherine shook her head. “The Lanes are very upset about it. They were friends.”
“I’d heard he was once in business with Carolyn.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I also heard that he was supposed to speak at the convention, but I didn’t see him on the schedule.”
“He was a last minute addition. His idea, actually.”
“What was he speaking on?”
“Political contributions. Carolyn wasn’t happy about it.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not sure. He was supposed to speak right before her, maybe she thought he’d empty the house. I guess I shouldn’t say that now – respect for the dead and all that.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being honest.”
Katherine sighed. “What a day. I am not used to all this political strategy – what you’re supposed to do, what you’re not supposed to do. It’s mind-boggling. In fact. I think it’s a genetic thing; you’re either born with political instincts or you’re not. It’s kind of like being born athletic or not. I was definitely not born with a political gene. Even after all of these years of working with Carolyn, it’s still foreign to me. I’m much better with a computer.”
“Having that gene missing isn’t a handicap; it’s an advantage.” Jack smiled. She had the most incredible green eyes. He felt like he could drown in them. He also wanted to hold her hand, but resisted the urge. Just then, their salads were served, and the moment passed.
They finished dinner at two A.M, and strolled back to the hotel. It looked like a casino, still packed with conventioneers, talking and partying as if it were early evening.
“Let’s do this again tomorrow night.”
