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Eric shook his head. He couldn t help thinking Sidel had
tried to have Sabrina killed and yet he still got to celebrate
with the president. It wasn t right.
So, who d you end up with? Jernigan asked Eric.
Excuse me?
Who did you decide to work with?
DEA.
Jernigan nodded his approval. So you re here in Talla-
hassee?
Pensacola Beach.
Drug runners?
Ex-dealer, Eric said. We ve never been able to
connect him to anything that would stick. The money was
never found. And that s what Eric s report would say.
Howard had gone straight. He deserved to be left alone.
Well, I have a reception I need to prepare for.
There was a knock on the door. Jernigan glanced at Eric
and Eric only shrugged.
It was Sabrina. A cooler, calmer Sabrina.
I m sorry I left like that, she said, but she was looking
at Eric, not Jernigan. There has to be something more
we can do.
Jernigan looked to Eric as if waiting for an answer.
Maybe there is, Eric said, getting an idea. But first
there s something I ve got to tell you, Bree.
114
Energy Summit
The Reid Estate
William Sidel straightened his bow tie in the mirrored glass
between him and the limo driver. The tuxedo was a little
tighter since the last time he d worn it, but he still looked
good. And he felt good, better than ever. Actually, he felt
as though he d dodged a bullet. He figured it was only a
matter of time before John s lifestyle caught up with him,
but Christ! Why the hell did it have to be this week?
Now the Appropriations Committee would put off
voting on the military contract until next week. Or, at least,
that s what he heard. He suspected something else was up
and he feared the opposing factions may have already
gotten their way. Without John he wouldn t be privy to the
deals that were made in the bars and cafs and even hotel
rooms instead of on the floor of Congress.
He decided tonight he wouldn t worry about it. He
owned tonight, had bought it fair and square. And no one
could mess that up.
115
Abda couldn t believe how smoothly the preparations had
gone. His polite manner and meticulous eye for detail had
earned him a head-table assignment just as he had hoped
and anticipated.
He had seen Khaled shortly after he arrived. His friend
looked exhausted, but there was something else in his eyes.
Impatience? Anticipation? Abda knew Khaled looked
forward to being in this banquet room. He was anxious to
witness the exact moment when the President of the United
States brought his hands to his throat, gasping for air and
ripping at his own flesh in the hopes of relieving the suf-
focating feeling.
Unlike Khaled, Abda felt no eagerness. But there was,
also, no hesitation, no regret in Abda that it had come
down to this. He was prepared to do what was necessary
though he looked for every sign that compromise may
have been reached. He had heard that a decision had been
made, though publicly it appeared to be a quagmire. He
understood and accepted that whatever the decision was,
WHITEWASH 431
it may require death to preserve his country s interests and
reinforce their nation s status and influence in the global
economy. They could not be taken for granted year after
year by president after president only to be swept aside for
some temporary political maneuver.
Some might call their tactics extreme and dare to
compare them to other radical factions. Others might say
it s only about greed and oil. All of them would be wrong
to be so shortsighted.
Abda stood over the tray with appetizer plates waiting
for him to serve as soon as the guests were seated and
ready. The powder he was to add would blend in with the
Parmesan cheese and never be noticed. He watched with
disinterest as the rich man who owned the estate introduced
the head table.
The president had not arrived yet. He would make a grand
entrance, no doubt. And when he did, Abda would be ready.
116
Natalie Richards nodded and gave a slight wave to Senator
Shirley Malone as she entered the room. The woman did
look like a class act, tall and stately in black silk with silver
sequins. Didn t hurt to have that handsome young man on
her arm though she wasn t sure she agreed with the Indiana
senator s timing.
Actually, Natalie was relieved to see that the fallout, the
crashing and burning of Senator Allen, wouldn t include
any of his staff. That he would even try blaming Jason Brill
was something she had not anticipated, but she couldn t
say she was surprised. It was called survival in Washing-
ton. Or collateral damage, as her boss had called Zach
Kensor. She wasn t anxious to see another casualty. Didn t
matter if she did think Brill was a major pain in the ass.
She continued to watch the door after a glance at her
watch. Where in the world was Colin Jernigan? The presi-
dent was due to arrive any minute, and here Natalie sat sur-
rounded by three empty chairs.
117
Jason Brill proudly held the chair out for Senator Shirley
Malone at her place next to the podium, the place that would
have been Senator John Quincy Allen s. She would be replac-
ing him tonight in more ways than simply on the program.
She had told Jason no one would dare to question his
being here, especially if he arrived as her escort. And she
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