2030_ The Real Story of What Happens to America - Albert Brooks [166]
Kathy was taken to a communication room, where she realized that she had no one to contact. No one except Clyde Folsom. That fact alone made her so sad. Clyde’s face appeared on the screen. He was at home. “Hi, it’s Kathy.”
“I see,” Clyde said. “Where are you? Are you in the office?” Kathy just started bawling. In one second she turned into a little girl.
“I’m in Chicago. I’ve been arrested. They’re accusing me of helping Max and I had nothing to do with it.” Clyde was torn for a second. He thought about the reputation of his business, but he saw how scared she looked and he knew he had to help.
“Is there bail set?”
“No. No bail.”
“No bail? What the hell is that about?”
“I don’t know. No bail.”
“Did you contact a lawyer?”
“I don’t know any lawyers. I contacted you. I’m sorry.”
“You need a lawyer, Kathy. Let me talk to someone and we’ll find you the best one.”
“I can’t afford that.”
“Don’t worry about that now. Let’s see if we can get you out on bail. I’ll do what I can, I promise.”
“I’m so sorry to involve you. I didn’t know anyone else. I didn’t do anything, Mr. Folsom.” Kathy had not called him Mr. Folsom for months. He was always Clyde. But now she had been reduced to a child, and a child never calls an adult by their first name.
“I’ll help you, Kathy. I’ll do everything I can.”
“Thank you. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry to bother you.”
Clyde Folsom’s life had been going pretty well, or so he thought. Healthy into his mideighties, not a great relationship with his kids, but this new young woman who worked for him was bright and the best salesperson he’d had in decades; he actually had been planning to let her take over the business so he could finally retire, knowing that she could continue to generate income for him for many years. Now she was in prison. Damn it.
* * *
When Susanna got back to the White House she went directly to the Oval Office. When she walked in the President got up and put his arms around her. She didn’t resist. The funny thing was that even though he was president, and even though she was immensely fond of him, this was now officially a rebound relationship and she hated those. It was one thing when the First Lady was there and they were sneaking around, talking at all hours, but now she was the only woman in his life and she didn’t know exactly how to deal with that. After all, the world had not even found out yet that Betsy Bernstein was gone. So Susanna broke the hug and led the President to his chair. She sat opposite him and they talked. They talked for five hours straight. And they talked about everything.
“I’ve been coming off so badly since the rescue of the hostages,” he said. “My actions probably saved thousands of people from being killed. And yet all they say is that I’m soft on these youth brigades or whatever the hell they’re calling them.”
“So punch them back. Tell them they’re idiots. Stand up to them.”
“That’s something Betsy did so great,” the President said. “She knew how to attack.” When Susanna heard that, it was all she could do to keep her anger in check. She spoke sharply.
“You don’t have Betsy now. That’s not an option. You must use your cabinet and John and as many people in Congress as you can. You’ve let them get the lead on this and playing catch-up is too tough.”
Bernstein knew she was right. He also knew that when the sun came up the next day, the whole world would know that the President and his wife had separated, and the timing could not have been worse. “No one will listen to me about the hijacking or anything else,” the President said. “All they are going to talk about is the divorce. There is no precedent for this. I can’t even go to the history books to see how other presidents handled it. I am in a weak position, Susanna. I don’t know what to do.” Susanna took control. She believed him when he said he didn’t know what to do, so someone needed to take over. It might