OUTSIDE OF THE Oval Office, it looks like it’s going to rain. The President of the United States slowly sits down, and when his chief of staff makes to do the same, Harrison Tucker holds up a hand.
“You can keep standing,” he says, so very tired and worn. “You won’t be here long.”
“Mr. President, I—”
Tucker motions him to keep quiet. He says, “I blame myself, I guess, Parker. I got the first taste of power back in Ohio, loved it, and you just kept on feeding it and feeding it to me. Like an addict and his relationship with a pusher.”
“Harry—”
Tucker shakes his head. “It’s over. Get out and have your resignation on my desk within the hour. I’ll be polite, I’ll let you depart with my thanks and praise, but that’s it, Parker. You’re through.”
His chief of staff walks around the front of his desk and leans over, both hands on the top of the Resolute desk. “You goddamn fool—put on your big-boy pants and listen to me. All right? Listen to me! That bitch Secret Service agent…she’s bluffing. She won’t go public. She won’t go to the press. We just need to get through the next three weeks and have you win the election. That’s all. Just win the damn election.”
Tucker feels like all he has accomplished, all he has built, all he’s done since coming here to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is finished, done, spoiled because of this man standing in front of him.
“You wanted my wife dead. Get out.”
“I wanted you reelected. And if it meant losing that cold bitch—”
Tucker abruptly stands up, so he’s practically nose-to-nose with his chief of staff. “All right, now you’re out of here—I want your resignation, and I’m going to keep my mouth shut and let you twist in the wind. Get out!”
Hoyt says, “You’re only here because I put you here, and this is how you pay me back?”
“You turn and start walking, or I’ll have the Secret Service come in and drag you away. You want that on the front page of tomorrow’s Washington Post?”
Hoyt turns and walks across the carpet, out of the curved door, not shutting it behind him.
Tucker slowly sits down.
He feels so terribly alone, isolated, even in this people’s house with hundreds nearby.
Only one thing he can do.
He reaches for his phone.