XXVIII

New York, Washington, 2059

AS SHE HAD FORETOLD DURING our dinner in Greenwich Village, Kate was nominated by the president to be deputy secretary for energy policy. The press release included some biographical information, highlighting her experience in government as well as private industry. Her nomination was quickly approved by the Senate, and she moved back to Washington in January 2059.

Once Kate was settled in her job, I expected to receive a prompt call to report to Washington. I was mistaken. For four months I waited in New York.

In the spring, Kate toured the regional offices, including a one-day visit to New York. She made a speech to the staff in which she promised that they would be involved in new and exciting work, without giving any specifics. She met individually with several people of different ranks. Kate and I took six staff members to lunch. She was gracious but not informative.

At three in the afternoon Kate met privately with me before leaving. She told me that she enjoyed her visit. I asked if she wanted to impart any words of wisdom based on what she heard and saw. No, she told me, it appeared that the office was running well. After delivering some additional platitudes, she seemed ready to leave.

"If you have another few minutes, Kate, would you mind giving me an update about my potential transfer to Washington?"

"James, have a little more patience. We're trying to work out some moves, one of which would involve you." She didn't excuse what I considered to be a delay and evasion on her part. She clearly didn't want to say more. We shook hands, and she departed.

Carla was one of my staff who had had a one-on-one meeting with Kate. I asked her to join me and give me her impressions of the meeting.

"Kate said she was enjoying her visit and that she wanted to get updated on activities, since she had been out of the department for two years."

"Did she ask any difficult questions?"

"No, not at all. In fact, for someone who was seeking information, she talked a surprising amount and didn't ask too many questions. I guess she did listen to the answers I gave her."

Probably I shouldn't have given Carla my opinion. "Yes, that's Kate's major weakness—she should be a better listener."

"Maybe I shouldn't tell you this," Carla continued without my prompting. "But Kate spoke about you. She said the office was fortunate to have you in charge."

"I hope you agreed with her."

I'm not sure if Carla realized that I was kidding. "I didn't have a chance. She continued with several more compliments. If I didn't know better, I would think she had some fondness for you."

How did Carla "know better," I wondered, picking on her turn of phrase.

Kate kept me waiting for the call to come to Washington. Then, as usual, she wanted me to respond immediately to her summons. One steamy day in late June, the first day that announced we were truly entering summer, Kate called a few minutes before noon. "Say, James, I hope you're not planning any vacation in early July."

"I'm planning to take July fourth off."

Kate sidestepped my attempt at humor. "I'm talking about a real vacation—a week or two."

"I have no vacation plans." Why would I? Where would I get the money? Where would I go?

"Good, because I'll need you to come down here for a day or two. We're going to announce that you're taking Leo's job when he moves to Treasury." Kate had communicated a lot in one sentence. I also noted that I was offered no choice in the matter. Additionally, Leo's job would not have been my first choice. I was digesting all this. "Are you still there, James?"

"Yes, sorry. I heard you. I'm trying to take it all in."

"Let me be clear. On paper you're taking Leo's job, which is mainly administrative in nature, as you know. But I want you to spend a lot of time on policy issues."

"That's good."

"After we make the announcement, I'd like you to wrap things up in New York and get down here by August first at the latest."

"Okay. And who's getting the New York job?"

"Hasn't been fully worked out yet. And, of course, keep all this hush-hush until we're prepared to make the announcement."

"I assume Leo knows of the change at this point."

"Assume nothing. Entendu?"

I had no idea what caused Kate to lapse into French. But I responded, "Bien sur."

Monday, July 7, was the day of the big announcement in the Federal Energy Department. Leo Frase was going to an equivalent position in the Treasury Department. I was taking Leo's job. No information was given about my assuming some policy responsibilities. An assistant, Joan Leach, was being brought in from Denver to be my second in command. Perhaps some people wondered why I needed an assistant, when Leo did without. Tea Montfort was moving from Chicago to New York to take my former spot. Her second in command in Chicago was to be promoted into Tea's position.

The staff in New York congratulated me. They knew that the move meant a promotion for me. In a sense, they would not be removed from my supervision because Tea, as well as the other regional directors, now reported to me.

After the announcement was made and I went back into my office, Carla followed me. "I'm happy for you. Remember your friends in New York after you leave the Big Apple and return to the big circus."

"Don't worry, you'll get to see me from time to time."

"I hope so. Say, what do you know about Tea Montfort?"

"Not a great deal. I've been in a few meetings with her. She seems bright and knowledgeable."

"How is she to work for?"

I saw where Carla was heading. "I really don't know."

"You may not realize this, but I haven't had a woman boss for years. And that was not a pleasant experience. I hope this time will be better."

"Well, I'm going to have a female boss, too."

"The same one you had a few years ago. I'm sure you know her real well. And obviously she had a say in picking you for the new job. It takes no genius to see that she likes you."

"We got along." I tried to minimize our closeness.

"But this Tea hasn't ever met me."

"You'll be a big help to her, just as you've been to me."

What surprised me—in our day and age—was that Carla was concerned about having a female boss. Our discussion was the type that might have occurred in the prior century.

I saw no point in lingering in New York. Tea Montfort spent a day with me in mid-July. She was introduced to the staff, and we discussed ongoing projects and some issues unique to the New York region.

By July twenty-fourth I was in Washington looking for a short-term lease on an apartment. On Monday, July twenty-eighth, I reported to Kate and was immediately surprised.

"James, meet T.T. Basso."

I stared at a good-looking man of medium height with wavy black hair and piercing blue eyes. The name that Kate had offered sounded like "tittie," which could not have been correct.

As I shook the man's hand, I needed to rectify my ignorance. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch the name."

"Basso, T.T. Basso."

"James Lendeman."

"Kate was just telling me about you. I gather we'll be working a lot together."

"Great," but somehow I suspected that it would not be the case.

At this point Kate broke in. "I hired T.T. to help us with some policy initiatives. He's spent a number of years in business. I met him while in my last job. He worked for a competitor."

Later, I found out that the title T.T. assumed was "Director of Policy Issues." It was a title I would have liked. My fear of getting bogged down in routine administration was magnified. I barely knew Joan Leach, the assistant director Kate had chosen for me. I hoped she would be able to handle most of the day-to-day issues and command enough respect to serve as the primary point of contact for the regional directors. In that way, my time would be freed up to work in the policy arena, assuming that Kate would fulfill her promise.

My first task was to get accustomed to my new duties. Having dealt with Leo Frase for several years, I had the perspective of a regional director as to what should be done in Washington. Two keys responsibilities were coordinating and supervising the activities of the regions. Aiding regions which might be deficient in staff or talent was another. After two weeks on the job, with Kate having given me no special projects on which to work, I made an appointment to visit the Boston office. I had never had occasion to visit Boston and knew the regional director only from us both being present at the same meetings. The visit was a get acquainted opportunity.

When visiting Boston, I tried not to make Kate's mistake. I asked plenty of questions and listened to the answers. Tim London, the regional director, had just about made a career in his position. He had been promoted to his current job eight years earlier, after having spent ten years as the prior director's assistant. He made my visit pleasant. His assistant, Emily Verlingham, was quite young. With her youth came enthusiasm. Before I left, London told me to keep my eye on his assistant. He thought that she should get an assignment in Washington within a few years, so she wouldn't get lost in the organization. I wondered whether he was also alluding to his own experience.

Since I considered my visit to Boston a success, I decided to schedule another regional visit. This time to Pittsburgh. I planned to acquire some experience doing these visitations in nearby offices before venturing across country.

As I began to leave Joan Leach on her own to handle routine office activity, I became impressed with her intelligence and proactive approach to problem solving. She also helped me gather some information about the newest addition to the F.E.D.—Mr. T.T. Basso.

He had been trained as a lawyer, and I suppose in some sense he worked in the broad area of corporate law. At several points he worked for a few large manufacturing and technology firms. At times he had had his own consulting business. His specialty involved helping his own company or clients dissolve or break contracts that might prove to be financially disadvantageous, in other words, "money losers."

People variously described him as very clever, wily, and even "smarmy." He was just a tad over forty, twice-divorced, and not known to have any current romantic attachments. He had lived in the northeast, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston at various times. His law degree had been obtained at Tulane. One additional fact emerged: his given name was Thurston.

More difficult to determine was why Kate thought she needed Basso's talents. It briefly crossed my mind that she found him sexually attractive. But I dismissed that notion, because Kate almost always put business before pleasure.

In October, Kate asked me to do something, which she characterized as a favor. "Please take T.T. to a few regional offices, so he can get a feel for what goes on there."

"Sure," I replied, but I was not all that happy about the request.

The following day, I told Kate that I would take T.T. to New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.

Kate's reaction came quickly, "Oh, he's been to those places all too often. How about throwing in Dallas and San Francisco instead of New York and Chicago?"

I was about to ask whether these trips were designed to tour offices or cities. I held my tongue. "I'll include Dallas, but I don't want to take him to San Francisco."

Kate gave me a sharp glance. "Does this have something to do with Jane? You're going to have to deal with your phobia."

"I will when business requires."

"I see. You think these trips with T.T. are just junkets?"

I chose to think the question was rhetorical, and therefore, I didn't respond.

With T.T.'s concurrence, I scheduled Atlanta and Dallas for one trip, going first to Atlanta for what amounted to a short day's visit. We flew into Atlanta on a Tuesday morning in November. Hartsfield Airport was a monument to overcapacity. Two terminal buildings continued in use. The others were boarded up.

We took a taxi, electric-powered of course, to the regional office, which was at the northern edge of the city center. The interstate winding north to, and then through, the city was also a testament to an era that no longer existed. At places the road was five lanes wide in each direction. Now two lanes sufficed. The balance had either been closed, so no maintenance was required, or was employed for a light rail system.

We arrived at the office around noon and immediately went into a conference room, where Max Montgomery, the regional director, had arranged for us to have sandwiches and soft drinks with a few members of the staff. T.T. looked somewhat disappointed with the set-up. Probably he had hoped to go to a restaurant for lunch. With reluctance, he opted for a roast beef sandwich on white bread and an iced tea.

After lunch, several members of the staff delivered presentations on current office activities. I had arranged such events for visitors to San Francisco and New York. We called them "dog and pony shows." T.T. demonstrated only slight interest. He asked a few questions when a fairly attractive redhead delivered her segment. After the presentations, we walked around the office, during which Max described what was done in each section.

At some point—probably around four—T.T. looked at his watch and said that he needed to make some calls. Max offered his office, so T.T. could have some privacy.

Max and I walked away, well out of earshot. "What do you make of him?" Max asked.

"T.T.? I don't know. I'm not sure what he's supposed to contribute. But Kate is shrewd. She must have something up her sleeve."

"He doesn't seem very interested in our work. Why did he want to take this tour, anyway?"

"I'm not sure he wanted to do the tour at all. I think it was Kate's idea."

In due course, T.T. rejoined us. We had a short, meaningless discussion with Max. T.T. looked at his watch several times. Finally, he asked, "Do you think there's anything else for me to learn here?"

Max didn't want to answer the question. I responded, "It depends how much depth you want to go into."

"I'm a big picture guy," T.T. asserted.

"Then I think we've concluded our visit," I said succinctly.

T.T. and I went back to the hotel. He said he had more calls to make. Then at six thirty we went to dinner. Although we clearly didn't relish each other's company, dining together was preferable to dining alone. We both ordered steaks, perhaps our first point of agreement during the trip. The steaks were only passable. T.T. doused his with ketchup.

The conversation started slowly. "You've known Kate for quite a while," T.T. stated, but clearly he expected a response.

"I guess it's approaching ten years."

"I met her about a year ago. She's quite a woman."

I preferred to express no opinion on the subject. T.T. continued, "Has she ever been married?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"She's not a lesbo."

"I'm pretty sure she's not."

"Good. I wouldn't want to think of her wasted on a woman."

Again I didn't interject my thoughts. T.T. didn't seem to care. "She's bright and tough. She wouldn't take shit from anyone."

"She can take care of herself," I responded mildly.

"Yeah, self-sufficient." T.T. made an abrupt shift in the subject. "You like this energy stuff, don't you?"

"This is my training and background."

"I suppose you know I'm a lawyer." T.T. was trying harder than I was to keep the conversation going.

"So I heard. But to tell the truth, I don't quite see where your skills fit into the organization."

"Yeah. I suppose I'm kind of the mystery man. I'll give you a little clue, because it seems that we're bound to work together. But keep this info to yourself. I understand, and you would know better than I, that certain parties have locked up more than their share of world oil resources. We have to see if we can break more loose."

I might have said, Been there, tried that, but I kept that thought to myself. I wanted to hear more from T.T.

"We've got to change the momentum. It's our patriotic duty.

I have some talents to contribute to the process. My consulting business focused on, what should I say, such things." Suddenly, T.T. stopped. "I think I've said as much as I should. Kate will have to fill you in."

We continued eating somewhat in silence, except when T.T. took some calls. He had left his phone on. Each time a call came in, he'd go to a quiet corner and talk for a few minutes before returning. I thought it a bit rude, but frankly I didn't mind his absence.

The next day, in Dallas, we went through much the same routine that we had followed in Atlanta. During a break in the middle of the afternoon, T.T. asked me, "Are they going to cover anything different?"

"They're reviewing the type of work they do. With small variations, all the regional offices perform similar functions."

T.T. looked perturbed. "Then why the hell are we visiting three offices?"

"That's what Kate wanted." I saw the scowl on T.T.'s face.

"Is there anything different about Chicago?"

"Michigan Avenue and deep-dish pizza."

"You know I lived in Chicago for a year."

"Then you know all about deep-dish pizza. You won't learn anything new. I'll talk to Kate. We'll cancel next week's trip and save the taxpayers some money."

Upon my return to Washington, I managed to spend a few minutes with Kate. I told her that T.T. and I thought that additional visits to regional offices would not add much to T.T.'s knowledge. Kate exhibited a brief flash of displeasure, because the visits had been her idea. But then she dropped the subject quickly, saying, "Whatever you think is best. Did you get the invitation to my holiday party?"

"I didn't see it, but I haven't gotten through my inbox yet."

"I'm sure it's there." With that, Kate looked down at some papers on her desk, indicating that my time was up.

"I hope you don't mind my asking, but when . . ."

Kate cut me off. "I know you're looking for the big project I had talked about. Nothing's going to happen until after the holidays. Then, hopefully, we'll get started."

Two days before Kate's party, it was announced that Gregory Lantier was resigning as head of the F.E.D. He was scheduled to leave at the beginning of January. Kate would be acting secretary until her nomination for the position of secretary was confirmed by the Senate. Since Kate had recently been approved for the deputy secretary job and had not done anything egregious in the interim, all expected quick confirmation.

About one hundred people attended Kate's party, which was held in the rotunda of the F.E.D. building. The holiday aspect seemed to take a backseat to the celebration of Kate's nomination. An impromptu receiving line formed. Kate filled the role of fairy princess admirably. I barely had a chance to utter my few words of congratulations before having to move on, pushed to the side by other well-wishers. I spent time chatting with department colleagues and a few members of Congress. The party was supposed to end at nine, but it lasted well past ten.

The F.E.D. party proved to be my office party, Christmas party and New Year's Eve party all rolled into one. In the middle of December, with no prospect of meeting family or friends for the holidays, I was feeling particularly lonely. The F.E.D. staff qualified as acquaintances, not friends. There was only one person in Washington whom I cared to talk to, and I hadn't seen her for over three years.

It took me two days to gather my courage to call Pat Auriga. I didn't reach her directly but had to leave a message. Surprisingly, she called back within an hour. "James, this is Pat."

"Thanks for calling back. I've returned to Washington and wanted to say hello."

"I'm glad you called. How long has it been since we've talked? Two years?"

"I think more like three. You and Steve were passing through San Francisco on your way to China."

"I guess you know it didn't work out between Steve and me."

"I suspected it didn't. But I haven't kept in touch with Steve."

"That makes two of us. How are Jane and your son?"

The question made me realize how much had changed over three years. "It's a long story. We're no longer together. Mark got sick, and she took him away. I haven't seen either in about two years."

"Oh, my. I'm so sorry. Are you working in Washington now or just passing through?"

"I'm living here and still working for the F.E.D."

"Didn't I hear that your old boss is going to be secretary?"

"She's my old and current boss. And yes, she's nominated for the job. You're still teaching at American University?"

"Yes, among other things."

"Do you think it would be possible to get together and catch up on news?"

"Sure. I'd like that. We could get together for coffee sometime."

"Do you want to name a date?"

"I'm taking a little year-end vacation with my boyfriend. Can we get in touch after I return?"

"Sure. You have my number." I hoped my voice had not betrayed my disappointment. But why shouldn't Pat have a boyfriend? She could have been married by now. She was attractive, intelligent, and personable. A woman like that doesn't stay single forever.

Between Christmas and New Year's I continued feeling low. My conversation with Pat had not improved my spirits, and, in fact, may have produced the opposite effect. I decided to contact Allison. I remembered having sent her notice of my new address in Washington. But neither of us had called the other.

When I called, Allison recognized my voice instantaneously. "James, how good of you to call. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year."

"Yes, same to you."

"I imagine by now you're all settled in Washington. When did you get there? September?"

"Actually, July."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm doing okay. Are you enjoying the job?"

"Yes, it's fine. It's the personal relationships that tend to be the challenge."

"I hope you're not referring to you and me?" I asked.

"No, I was thinking of my husband. But things are looking up now. I've met a man who I'm really attracted to, and I think the feeling is mutual. He's nothing like my former husband. He's Australian."

"What does he do?"

"He's trying to get established as a swimming coach. He's very good at it."

I thought, I hope he is; otherwise, you'll end supporting him just as you did your husband. Instead, I said, "That's fascinating. I hope it works out. I didn't realize San Francisco's a swimming center."

"It's not. He mainly works in Los Angeles, but we get together as much as possible." Allison realized that her description of the relationship made it seem tenuous. "I guess the situation doesn't sound ideal. But we seem to be able to make it work."

"That's good. I wish you all the best."

We spoke for another few minutes about work. She hoped I could visit the San Francisco office, and we could get together for dinner or a drink. I thought it was possible, and didn't point out that, in a sense, I was again her boss.

We ended the conversation by wishing each other a prosperous and happy new year. Did I feel better after talking to Allison? Probably not.