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IT WAS A BOLT out of the blue. Pat Hanley could barely contain her joy when Brad told her about it early Tuesday evening.

“I just didn’t want you getting your hopes up and then possibly being disappointed,” he said. “I knew I had to get away from Rhode Island before I ruined everything for us. The stuff that happened down at the plant depressed me to the point of where I didn’t want to come home and spoil your nights. That’s why I got started gambling, just to have someplace to go where I wouldn’t be bothering anyone.

“Then I could see it getting out of control, so I began checking the industry want ads and applied for a few different jobs. The last two times I was away overnight wasn’t to see customers. I wanted to be at my best for interviews at Conrad Wire. The Japanese own it now, and they think my ideas for turning it around and making money are terrific. They called today and offered me ten thousand more than I’m making now, plus a super bonus if we hit certain targets. So what do you say we sell the house, pay off our debts and go back to Pittsburgh?”

Three hours later, Brad was sound asleep on the couch while Pat watched the election coverage. Everyone she voted for that day was on their way to winning.

The station switched to Bruce Singer delivering his victory statement from the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott. As the camera moved away from Singer and picked up the others on the podium, Pat saw Carol standing behind her husband, along with her daughters, smiling out at the excited throng. Pat smiled also, and blew her friend a kiss.

She thought back to Thursday afternoon when Carol called her at home and introduced herself as the other woman in Doug Fiore’s plan to have a private detective take pictures of Hanley in bed with Singer. They shared with each other the shame and humiliation they felt at being asked by Fiore to put themselves in that position. Pat explained how her husband’s job at Ocean State Wire & Cable was in Fiore’s hands. In turn, Carol said that although Doug assumed she would do anything to hurt Bruce out of spite for his running for governor, it wasn’t true.

As they spoke, the contempt they shared for Fiore and his willingness to use them in that way reached a boiling point. It was then that Carol devised a plan that would trap him, instead of Bruce, if Pat was willing to join her in pulling it off. They took a hard look at all the risks, including the release of the pictures for publication if Fiore called their bluff and refused to withdraw from the race. Before Hanley committed herself, Carol confessed that she and Fiore were lovers.

“I think you ought to know that,” she said, “because I’m aware of your own relationship with him.”

Pat didn’t ask Carol how she knew of it, but she respected her for being honest, and agreed to join in the plan at the Biltmore on Friday night. Now she could return to Pennsylvania, knowing that she and her new friend probably affected the history of Rhode Island. “And all for the better,” she said out loud.

When Singer was through speaking, Pat turned off the TV. “Come on Brad. Wake up. It’s time to go to bed.”