Vanishing Point - Marc Cerasini [23]
"Casinos grow like weeds out here."
"You can't deny the view is impressive. The hotel's Hanging Gardens start right below us. I can smell the honeysuckle all the way up here..."
The senator had already removed his jacket. Now he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, loosened his tie, and placed his hands on his hips. "The view is magnificent, no doubt about it. From forty stories up, even Las Vegas is a handsome city..."
"But you disapprove," Sherry observed from the edge of the balcony. "Because you really are a Puritan."
David smiled. "I prefer to think of myself as a Boy Scout."
Sherry laughed, walked back to her husband. "You're tense," she said, reaching up to massage his broad shoulders. "Are you still fretting about your performance downstairs? Well, don't. You were wonderful, David! Your words, your answers... they set just the right tone."
Senator Palmer shook his head.
"You didn't let Larry Bell get under your skin?" Sherry pressed. "I know he's a conniving dog, but you should be used to that..."
"It's nothing, Sherry, really," David replied, wrapping her in his arms.
"I know you too well," Sherry said, returning his embrace. "You're holding something back."
But Palmer refused to respond to her question. Instead, he changed the subject. "This is nice," he whispered, nuzzling his wife's hair. Sherry closed her eyes and leaned closer.
A gentle knock interrupted them.
"Ignore it," Sherry whispered, pulling him closer. But David Palmer frowned and stepped back.
"I... can't," he told her. His tone and his expression were brimming with regret.
Sherry nodded. "Now I know what's been bothering you. You're not only here for the drug conference... You've got some kind of committee business going on." Her expression shifted suddenly, from suspicion to alarm. "You're not doing something that would jeopardize your bid for the White House?"
"I can't discuss this right now," he replied.
"You don't have to. I know I'm right."
The knock came again. They stared at one another for a moment.
"You know that you can't shut me out... not even from policy decisions. When everything's said and done, I'm your only ally, David," Sherry said, then turned to call loudly towards the door. "Let yourself in, Lev! You have a keycard!"
The door opened. "Hey." Lev's gaze nervously darted between Sherry and David.
"Sherry was just leaving," the senator said.
"That's right, I'm leaving," Sherry repeated coolly. She snatched her bag from the glass and steel table. "I have a full schedule, too."
As she passed Lev Cohen, their eyes met. "I'll see you later," Sherry promised softly before closing the door behind her.
"Come in, sit down, Lev." Palmer sank into the leather couch and stretched his long legs. Cohen sat in the steel framed chair across from him.
"Before we begin, Senator, I want to apologize for what happened in the lobby. I... I should have been on top of that."
David raised his hand. "No apologies, Lev, or I'll have to apologize, too, for my initial reaction. My impatience was out of line, so let's just drop the subject."
Lev Cohen nodded, visibly relieved.
"Now, about this other matter," Palmer prodded.
"All the arrangements have been made, Senator. A representative from the Air Force Systems Command will arrive in..." Cohen checked his watch. "...a little less than two hours."
Palmer nodded, his expression a thousand miles away.
"Senator?"
He blinked. "Sorry, Lev. I guess I zoned out for a minute there."
"Yes, well, as I was saying... Your escort will be a Colonel Vincent DeBlasio, accompanied by a security staff. He's bringing a car that will take you to the airport."
Palmer sighed. "Thank you, Lev."
"Since I won't be going with you, I thought I'd assist Sherry with her afternoon schedule. She's meeting the Mayor's wife at four, then there's..."
Lev's voice petered out when he realized David Palmer was, once again, distracted by something. He cleared his throat and the Senator looked up.
"You're a wise man, Lev," Palmer said. "I trust your counsel as much as I trust anyone's."