45

THE NEXT TWO WEEKS passed very quickly for Fiore.

The feisty reporter for the Providence Herald was the first one to ask him if he was running against Cardella for the Republican nomination for governor. After he read her the prepared answer, she fired off several questions. Among other things, she asked what special qualities he thought he’d bring to the race. But he gave her a “no comment at this time” on all of them. To end the conversation, he finally told her there was a call from a client waiting for him. By the time he gave the same boilerplate response to press, radio and TV reporters from all over the State during the ensuing days, he knew it by heart. Several national magazines contacted him also, along with USA Today, The New York Times and The Boston Globe. After that, he told Dana to say he was unavailable and to read the prepared statement in response to any other inquiries about his candidacy.

As soon as the news about him became public, Fiore called a meeting of the firm’s partners in the large conference room. He confirmed what they read in the papers and told them he was having a difficult time reaching a decision. He was honored by the fact that so many important people in Rhode Island saw fit to ask him to run, he said.

“This same kind of opportunity might never be there again. Still,” he continued, “I have to take into consideration the strong feeling I have for WC&B and my responsibility as managing partner. I’d be here about half the time through July and could keep an eye on most things,” he explained. “After that, I’m confident there’s nothing the Executive Committee wouldn’t be able to handle in my absence. Frankie would do all the numbers, as usual, and make sure that copies of everything get delivered to me, wherever I am. I’d have enough time between campaigning to review his printouts and anything else that was important for me to see. Running doesn’t mean that I’d necessarily win, even in the primary, so I might be back here full time by mid-September. I’d work as hard as I could to get the votes, but if it’s not in the cards for me to be the next governor, I’d want everyone to say I ran a clean campaign all the way through. Still, win or lose, we all know that the publicity can only help the firm. Anyway, as soon as I decide whether or not it’s a ‘go,’ I’ll let you know first.”

When Fiore finished, everyone applauded politely and then quickly dispersed. He noticed that Carol did not attend the meeting.

The following day he met with the associates at noon and told them pretty much the same thing. Afterwards, Dana Briggs asked him whether she’d be assigned to work for someone else since there would be so much less to do for him. Fiore said that he wanted her to stay where she was and pay attention to everything going on in the office during that time.

“Keep your eyes and ears open while I’m gone,” he told her. “Earn your salary that way, and there’ll be a bonus there too.” Listening to him, there was no doubt in Dana’s mind that his decision was already made.

“By the way, how would you feel about being the office manager?” he asked. Fiore knew Briggs well enough to be certain of her response before she gave it. He also realized that it was the politically correct thing for him to do. If she ever had reason to turn against him or the firm in the future, he didn’t want her to be able to claim she was bypassed for a promotion.

Dana reacted as if on cue, not hesitating for a moment. “Not me, Doug. I don’t like telling people what to do, and I’d have a terrible time letting someone go if I had to. But why did you ask? Is Helen leaving?”

He decided to play “Mickey the Dunce” for now. There was no sense getting into an argument about it before Scardino cut Barone loose. “Not that I know of,” he answered, figuring that his intention to find Barone another job in the firm kept his denial from being a lie. “But you can never be sure what will happen next. Two weeks ago I had no idea I might be going into politics. The only thing I’d bet on right now is that I’m going to lunch.” He gave her a mock salute. “See you in an hour,” he said, and headed toward the elevators.

Dana watched him walk down the corridor. The only thing I’d bet on right now is that Helen Barone is in big trouble, she told herself. But we haven’t advertised for anyone and there’s no one else in the office who can replace her … unless … Dana closed her eyes for several seconds. “Oh, no,” she muttered, “not her!” She went back to her word processor and resumed work on a report she started earlier. She didn’t want to think about the change in personnel.