Page 245 of Innocent

Chapter Forty-Eight

Late August

With Elliot’s VP chosen, the convention behind us, the national polls lookingdamnedgood in Elliot’s favor, and the campaign going strong coming into September, there’s something else we need to do. An important staff position we have to fill.

Themost important one.

While Elliot hasn’t officially won yet, we need to have this position filled ASAP so the person can hit the ground running the day after the election results are in and start working on the transition.

Kevin’s already said no to chief of staff. That he would agree to be named acting chief of staff during the transition and for the first hundred days, if forced to, but he would be turning in his resignation effective the morning of day one hundred and one.

Meaning we need to find a damn chief of staff. Leo and Elliot have designated this task as mine, because besides Elliot, I will be the one working with the chief of staff and need to get along with them, anyway. It’ll be faster if I do the legwork. If I sign off on them, Elliot and Leo know the candidate is worthy.

Elliot’s former chief of staff had a heart attack and resigned due to his health. His deputy chief of staff stepped in to take up the slack, but he’s already said he doesn’t want the job after the election, because he’s already got a private-sector job lined up for three times the pay once this term is over.

I can’t blame him.

Our campaign manager, Ken Windham, has not only flat-out said he doesn’t want that job, he’s not someone Elliot, Leo, or I want in the job, either. He doesn’t have the temperament for it, to work with Elliot long-term like that. Elliot likes him but doesn’t trust him in the ways that matter.

In the trenches and conducting election warfare? Absolutely.

But Ken would be a disaster in the rigorously constrained setting of the White House. He barely tolerates me, and I damn sure don’t trust him with our secrets. He is good at running campaigns, though, and that’s what he wants to keep doing.

Benjamin Cussler, Kev’s deputy chief of staff, is a good man. Unfortunately, he expressed reluctance the first time we approached him about accepting the position. He and his wife have two young sons at home, and Ben doesn’t want to miss more of their childhood because of working at the White House. He won’t mind staying on as deputy chief of staff, for a while, at least, but he’d prefer not to be chief of staff, acting or otherwise.

He did, however, agree to accept the position, if he has to, and work through at least the end of the first year. Preferably with the goal of us finding someone else and sliding them into the position by that time so there can be a seamless and orderly transition.

So what do I do when I have no cluewhatto do?

I follow Kev’s suggestion and place a call to Florida that Monday night, to bend Benchley Evans’ ear about it.

The elderly political wizard might be staunchly GOP, but he also puts country ahead of party and has worked with Shae quite a bit. I remember reading a profile about him not long after Shae took office. He was a friend and coworker of her mother’s, and is actually Shae’s godfather. Fortunately, he’s able to chat with me for a while.

“I’d appreciate any ideas or names you might want to toss our way,” I finish after detailing my dilemma.

Retired Florida State Senator Benchley Evans is also the father of Florida’s previous governor, Susa Evans, a woman who is every bit as tough in the political arena as her father. The story is that Benchley himself had planned to run for governor before a massive heart attack nearly killed him and his wife forced him to retire from active politics.

He chuckles. “I know Carter said no to working for Shae when she first asked him. I’m reasonably sure that’s probably still his answer eight years later. He’s having too much fun being a dad and husband with Owen and Susa both out of office now. But let me talk to him and call you back. He’s got his own ear to the ground. If he doesn’t have any options, I’ll talk to some people for you. He might come up with a couple of names who’d be better suited, though. You’ll hear back from him or me by tomorrow, if not sooner.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, Senator Evans. I really appreciate it.” He’s told me that I can call him Benchley, but considering our age difference, I prefer the formality and to show my respect.

“I am a little surprised you’re the one making this call,” he notes. “I’d think Elliot would want to handle the talk himself.”

I don’t need to tell all our secrets. “I’m simply following Vice President Woodley’s orders. I serve at the pleasure of the vice president, sir.”

There’s another chuckle. “Sure you do, son. Suuurrre you do.” Like that, he’s gone.

Leaves me wondering how much he knows about me. Or, should I say, aboutus.

Later, it’s nearly eight o’clock in the evening, and Elliot’s still in a NatSec briefing at the White House. The security detail will bring him home as soon as he’s finished there. Leo’s currently staffing him and Shae both so I can handle several tasks in private for Elliot, including this one. I’m at work in the home office at the residence when my personal cell rings from a number I don’t recognize.

Caller ID says it’s a Florida number.

After a moment’s hesitation, I answer. “Jordan Walsh.”

It’s a man. “Mr. Walsh, I believe we’ve met before. Carter Wilson. Benchley asked me to give you a call.”

Relief fills me as I sit back in my chair and remove my glasses, tossing them onto the desk. “Yes, I believe we did. At the funeral for Mr. Bruunt’s brother and sister-in-law. Thanks for calling me, sir.” I guess this means Benchley has punted the ball to him.