Trevayne (13 page)

“Not necessarily. Or maybe I’m contrary, too. September and October are the best months for me. Especially in New England.”

“Hell, everybody says that. All your poets.… The colors, I imagine.”

“Probably.” Trevayne looked at the politician, and his expression carried the message.

“But I didn’t ask you to take a drive in order to discuss your New England autumn, did I?”

“I wouldn’t think so.”

“No, no, of course, I didn’t.… Well, you have your confirmation. Are you pleased?”

“Naturally.”

“That’s gratifying,” said the Senator with disinterest, looking out the window. “You’d think the traffic would ease up by now, but it won’t. Goddamn tourists; they should turn off the Mall lights. All the lights.” Gillette turned to Trevayne. “In all my years in Washington, I’ve never seen such an insufferable display of tactical arrogance,
Mr. Undersecretary.… Perhaps you were subtler, with more honeybuckets, than Bloated Joe—I refer to the deceased and not too distinguished McCarthy, of course—but your objectives were every bit as censurable.”

“I don’t agree with you.”

“Oh?… If it
wasn’t
tactical, it was instinctive. That’s even more dangerous. If I believed that, I’d reconvene the hearing and do my damnedest to have you denied.”

“Then you should have made your feelings known this afternoon.”

“What? And hand you your issue wrapped in ribbons? Come, Mr. Undersecretary, you’re not talking to old Judge Talley. Oh, no! I went right along with you. I gave every one of us a very vocal opportunity to join your
holy crusade!
Nothing else would
do!
No,
sir!
There was no alternative, and you know it.”

“Why would there be an alternative tomorrow? I mean, if you reconvened and withdrew confirmation.”

“Because I’d have eighteen hours to pull apart every week of your life, young man. Pull it apart, rearrange a number of ingredients, and put it all back together again. When I got finished, you’d be on the Attorney General’s list.”

It was Trevayne’s turn to look out the window. The President had said it; this was the town for it. It could happen so easily because accusations always appeared on page one, denials on page thirty, apologies on page forty-eight, sandwiched between cheap advertisements.

That was the town; that was the way things were.

But he didn’t need the town. He didn’t have to accept the way things were, and it was about time he let people know it.

“Then why don’t you do just that, Mr. Chairman.” It was not a question.

“Because I phoned Frank Baldwin.… And why don’t you call a halt to that arrogance? It doesn’t become you, sir.”

Trevayne was thrown by Baldwin’s name. “What did Baldwin say?”

“That you wouldn’t have done what you did unless you’d been provoked. Mightily provoked. He said he’s known you damn near ten years; he couldn’t be mistaken.”

“I see.” Trevayne reached into his pocket for cigarettes and lit one. “And you accepted that?”

“If Frank Baldwin told me every astronaut was a fairy, I’d consider it holy writ.… What I want to know from you is, what happened?”

“Nothing. Nothing … happened.”

“You didn’t force every senator on that panel to
counter
your insinuations of guilt with protestations of innocence for no reason! Because that’s what you did! You ridiculed the process of confirmation.… And I didn’t appreciate it, sir.”

“Do you people always add a ‘sir’ when you’re pontificating?”

“There are a number of ways to deliver the word ‘sir,’ Mr. Undersecretary.”

“I’m sure you’re a master, Mr. Chairman.”

“Was Frank Baldwin right? Were you provoked … mightily? And by whom?”

Trevayne tapped his cigarette carefully on the rim of the ashtray and looked at the older man. “Assuming there was provocation, what would you do about it?”

“Ascertain first whether it was provocation and not an incident or incidents magnified out of proportion, easily resolved. Should provocation prove to be the case, I’d call those responsible into my office and run them out of Washington.… This subcommittee is not to be tampered with.”

“You sound as if you mean that.”

“I do, sir. The time is due and overdue for this work to begin. If there’s been any interference, any attempt to seek influence, I want it stopped in the strongest measures possible.”

“I think I accomplished that this afternoon.”

“Are you telling me there were senators in that hearing who tried to reach you improperly?”

“I have no idea.”

“Then what
are
you saying?”

“There
was
provocation, I’ll admit that; where it emanated from, I don’t know. I just know that if it continues, I’m in the position of spreading it around. Or stopping it completely.”

“If there was impropriety, it is incumbent upon you to report it.”

“To whom?”

“To the proper authorities; there are any number!”

“Maybe I did.”

“Then you were obliged to inform the panel!”

“Mr.
Chairman
, that hearing was loaded this afternoon. The majority of those men represent states whose economies are largely dependent on government installations and contracts.”

“You’ve judged us all guilty!”

“I’ve judged no one. I’m only taking measures that seem appropriate under the circumstances. Measures to make sure these men cannot hinder me.”

“You’re wrong; you’ve misinterpreted.” Old Gillette saw that the car had rounded another corner and was approaching Trevayne’s hotel. He leaned forward in the seat. “Pull up, Laurence. We’ll only be a few moments.… Trevayne, I find your judgment lacking. You make surface observations and proceed to draw erroneous conclusions. You deliver inflammatory insinuations and refuse to justify them. Most damaging, you withhold pertinent and, I gather, extraordinary information, setting yourself up as an arbitrary censor of what the Senate may be told. In my opinion, Frank Baldwin and his commission made a great mistake in recommending you; the President, too, is in error following their lead.… Tomorrow morning I shall insist upon a reconvening of the panel and use all the powers of my office to have your confirmation withdrawn. Your arrogance is not in keeping with the public interest; you’ll have your chance to answer then. Good night, sir.”

Trevayne opened the door and stepped out on the curb. Before closing it he bent down and spoke to the old man. “I assume you intend using the next eighteen hours to … what was it? Oh, yes. To pull apart my life week by week.”

“I wouldn’t waste my time, Mr. Undersecretary. You’re not worth it. You’re a damned fool.” Gillette reached over to his left and touched a button. The car window rose as Trevayne pushed the door shut.

*   *   *

“Congratulations, darling!” Phyllis jumped up from the chair and dropped her magazine on the lamp table. “I heard it on the seven o’clock news.”

Trevayne closed the door and walked into his wife’s arms, kissing her lightly on the lips. “Well, don’t go out and rent a house yet. It’s not settled.”

“What are you talking about? They interrupted some local story to read the bulletin. I was so proud; they said it was a bulletin.
You
, a
bulletin!
”

“I’ve got another flash for them. They may have a second bulletin tomorrow night. The confirmation may be withdrawn.”

“What?”

“I’ve just spent a startling few minutes riding around the block with the distinguished chairman of the hearing. I’m leaving messages for Walter all over New York. I’ve got to talk to him.”

“What in heaven’s name are you saying?”

Trevayne had crossed to the telephone and picked it up. He gestured to his wife to hold her questions until he’d finished his calls. She was used to this; she went to the hotel window and looked out over the lighted city. Her husband spoke first to Madison’s wife, and when the conversation ended, he pressed the button, holding the telephone in his hand. He hadn’t been satisfied with Mrs. Madison’s words—Mrs. Madison was not the most reliable woman after seven o’clock in the evening. He released the button and put through a call to La Guardia Airport, to the airline desk of the Washington shuttle.

“If he doesn’t call back in an hour or so, I’ll try his home again. His plane gets in at ten-something,” he said, hanging up.

“What happened?” Phyllis saw that her husband was not only angry, but confused. Andy wasn’t often confused.

“He surprised me. For the wrong reasons. He said my arrogance wasn’t in keeping with the public interest; I withheld facts. Also, I was a damned fool.”

“Who said it?”

“Gillette.” Trevayne took off his jacket and threw it on a chair. “From his viewpoint, he’s probably right. On the other hand, I know damned well
I’m
right. He may be
the most honorable man in Congress; probably is, but that doesn’t mean he can guarantee the rest of them. He may
want
to, but that doesn’t mean it’s so.”

Phyllis understood her husband’s non sequiturs; he’d told her what he intended doing that afternoon. At least, the objectives. “This was the man in the car?”

“Yes. The Senate’s venerable Gillette. He says he’s going to reconvene the panel and withdraw the confirmation.”

“Can he do that? I mean, after they gave it to you?”

“I guess so. He’ll call it new disclosures, or something.… Sure he can.”

“Then you got them to agree, to work with you.”

“Sort of. On the record, anyway. Webster was getting me the transcript tomorrow. But that’s not it.”

“This Gillette saw through what you were doing?”

“They all did!” Trevayne laughed. “Most of them looked like they’d swallowed mouthfuls of papier-mâché.… Oh, they’ll be relieved as hell! Just the fact that I withheld information will be sufficient.”

“What are you going to do?”

“First, see if my desk at Danforth can be salvaged. It’s probably too late, but it’s worth trying; I
do
like the job. Walter’ll know better.… Then the important question: how far can I go tomorrow afternoon without being subject to a subpoena from the Justice Department?” He looked at his wife.

“Andy, I think you should tell them exactly what happened.”

“I won’t do that.”

“You’re far more sensitive about it than I am. How many times do I have to tell you. I am
not
embarrassed. I
will not
be a freak. Nothing
happened!
”

“It was ugly.”

“Yes, it was. And ugly things happen every day. You think you’re protecting me, and I don’t need that kind of protection.” She walked to the table where she’d put the magazine and spoke deliberately. “Has it occurred to you that the best protection I might have would be to tell what happened in headlines?”

“It has, and I reject it. That approach simply implants ideas.… Like kidnapping.”

Phyllis knew there was no point in pursuing the subject. He didn’t want to talk about it. “All right,” she said, turning to him. “Tomorrow just tell them all to go to hell in a basket and you’ll be happy to buy them the biggest basket made. Tax-deductible, of course.”

He saw the hurt in her face and knew in some illogical way she held herself responsible. He went to her and took her into his arms. “We don’t really like Washington, anyway. Last time, we couldn’t wait for the weekends, remember? We found every excuse we could to get back to Barnegat.”

“You’re a sweet man, Andrew. Remind me to buy you a new sailboat.” It was an old joke between them. Years ago when the company was struggling for existence, he once proclaimed that he’d feel successful only when he could go out and buy a small cat and not think about the price. It had come to mean all things.

He released her. “I’m going to order some dinner.” He went to the coffee table, where there was a room-service menu.

“Why do you have to talk to Walter? What can he do?”

“I want him to describe the legal definitions between opinion and factual evaluation. The first gives me plenty of leeway to be angry; the second invites the Justice Department.”

“Is it so important that you be angry?”

Trevayne was reading the menu, but his thoughts were on his wife’s questions. He looked over at her. “Yes, I think it is. Not just for the satisfaction; I don’t really need that. But because they all consider themselves so damned sacred. Whoever eventually chairs that subcommittee is going to need all the support he can get. If I shake them up a bit, maybe the next nominee will have it easier.”

“That’s generous, Andy.”

He smiled, carrying the menu over to the telephone. “Not entirely. I’m going to enjoy watching those pompous bastards squirm; especially several … I extracted figures and percentages from the defense index. The most damaging thing I’ll do tomorrow is simply read them off. All
eight states.
”

Phyllis laughed. “That’s terrible. Oh, Andy, that’s devastating.”

“It’s not bad. If I don’t say anything else, it’d be enough.… Oh, hell, I’m tired and hungry, and I don’t want to think anymore. I can’t do anything until I reach Walter.”

“Relax. Have something to eat; take a nap. You look exhausted.”

“Talking about exhausted warriors home from battle …”

“Which we weren’t.”

“… you look awfully attractive.”

“Order your dinner.… You might include a nice bottle of red wine, if you’ve a mind to.”

“I’ve a mind to; you owe me a sailboat.”

Phyllis smiled warmly as Trevayne picked up the telephone and asked for room service. She went into the bedroom to change into a negligee. She knew her husband would have dinner and they’d both finish a bottle of Burgundy and then they’d make love.

She wanted that very much.

They lay in the hotel bed, Trevayne’s arm around his wife, her head against his chest. Both still felt the warm effects of the lovemaking and the wine, and there was a splendid comfort between them. As there always was during such moments.

Trevayne removed his arm gently and reached for his cigarettes.

“I’m not asleep,” said Phyllis.

“You should be; that’s the way it is in the movies. Smoke?”

“No, thanks.… It’s eleven-fifteen.” Phyllis raised herself against the headboard, pulling the sheet over her naked body, looking at the travel clock. “Are you going to try Walter again?”