Chapter 27

© Copyright 2006 by Kendra Cornell



Tom and Jack pulled up in front of the hotel where Andrew Dade’s supporters had gathered. Jack turned one final time to Tom, whose forehead was coated with a sheen of sweat. He had made one harried phone call in the car, and was now convinced of the success of this plan.

“Are you positive you want to do this?”

“Jack, if you ask me that one more time, I’m going to fire you.” It was said half in jest, but Jack got the picture- Tom was a man bent on following his own agenda, regardless of how misguided Jack thought the decision to be politically.

“Alright, man. Let’s go then.”

Tom strode through the front doors of the hotel, following signs to the Mulberry Room. Jack followed closely behind. Anyone watching would have seen two men- one lit with purpose and the other with a look of caution on his features. Tom halted a few steps before the meeting room, and looked excitedly at Jack. He rubbed his hands together, “Okay, here we go!”

A party was in full swing inside the large room. A full buffet was set up along one wall, and it was apparently popular if one could judge by the number of people gathered around it. Circular tables were spaced around the room, and a plethora of single chairs adorned the open space. Most people inside stood however- mixing in and out of animated groups. A small stage, festooned with bunting, stood along the far wall, and music played just loud enough to be audible under the hum of conversation.

Tom stepped up and stood in the doorway for a moment, willing those inside to turn around and look at him. Jack stood off to the left and out of sight- he had no desire to rain on Tom’s parade. Slowly, as each person caught sight of Tom, a chorus of faces turned to look. Arms were jostled as the attention was turned from talk of their candidate and the election to the startling sight of the political opponent standing in the doorway. The music seemed louder as all conversation ceased. Tom milked the moment, waiting for several breaths before he entered.

Spotting Andrew Dade, Tom walked across the floor, his voice booming.

“Andrew, my friend! How are you tonight?”

Andrew Dade made an arresting figure- he was a tall man in his late thirties whose resume qualified him well for the position he sought. Before working in the mayor’s office for several years, he’d been a strategist and spokesman for the Denver Progressive Coalition. Andrew knew people in local politics, and had a genuine and passionate desire to better the lives of the people. But many voters equated ‘progressive’ with ‘liberal’ and ‘liberal’ with ‘evil.’ Andrew’s largest problem had been an inability to change the political context in which they all operated.

He wanted people to see not partisanship, but real problems and real solutions. Andrew’s vision was to build bridges, not burn them in displays of force. Unfortunately, Tom Delaney was a master of manipulating the existing rhetoric, so getting the winds to change had been pretty near impossible. And at the moment, Andrew was ill-prepared to meet his opponent in what was supposed to be a rally. Thankfully, Andrew was possessed of a natural grace, and he wiped a drip of sauce off of his chin before he placed a plate of buffalo wings carefully on a nearby table and extended a hand to Tom.

“Tom… This is a… surprise. What are you doing here?” asked Andrew shaking Tom’s hand firmly.

“Well, I just wanted to let you know that despite any reports you might have heard to the contrary, I am alive and well! And I also wanted to inform all the good residents of Denver that I’m not giving up on this election.”

“And you chose my rally to get your message out?” Andrew asked skeptically. But his eyes lit quietly in comprehension when a camera crew arrived in the doorway, the reporter searching desperately for the candidates. Under his breath, Andrew asked Tom, “What are you doing, man?”

Tom shot Andrew a look of superiority, and with an overt air of smugness replied almost inaudibly, “Just playing the game. So try to keep up.”

But Andrew had no intention of forcing himself in front of a camera. Instead, he crossed his arms and shifted his weight to one foot, waiting patiently to see how the situation would play out. The reporter, a woman that Tom recognized from Channel 8, had perfectly coifed hair and wore a red suit. Tom turned to the camera, as if in surprise, and exclaimed, “Mandy! What a surprise.”

“Mr. Delaney, we’ve been informed that there would be an impromptu debate tonight. Is that true?”

“Well, I hadn’t heard that- but I am certainly more than willing to have an amicable chat with Mr. Dade, if he’s willing, that is.”

Andrew knew there was no option- Tom had forced his hand. Biting his cheek, Andrew gestured to the stage and said, “I’m afraid there’s only one podium, so this is going to be less than professional.”

“Let’s sit then, Andrew! You’ve got to be a problem solver in this world,” replied Tom pulling two chairs onto the platform. “Mandy, would you do us the honor of asking a few questions?”

Mandy nodded, pulling several note cards out of a bag on her shoulder and settling herself in front of the small stage. After a few moments, she began her inquiry.

“Candidates, several of our viewers have contacted us since the official debate this past Thursday, expressing their discontent with the lack of dialogue on issues of faith and morality. While Denver as a local municipality doesn’t have the authority to change existing federal or state laws, the mayor does have the power to influence both state and federal lawmakers. Please make a statement indicating to the voters those factors that currently guide your decision-making process. Mr. Delaney, we’ll start with you.”

Tom stood eyeing the crowd enthusiastically. He sensed, rather than saw Jack hidden in a shadowy back corner of the large room. The only spotlight came from the cameraman. Otherwise, Tom could see most of the members of this improvised audience.

“It is well-known that I am a Christian and a Republican. I have served conservative values in this state for decades! Voters can expect that this is a habit that will continue well into the future. I have used my position in the public forum to further values that I know are important to our families.” Tom moved across the stage, trying to speak to each person there. “Because family, well, that’s the backbone of this city, this state, and our great country!”

Tom had expected something more than the scattered applause that trickled across the room. Trying not to appear deflated, Tom retook his seat- his posture ramrod straight and a pleasant smile fixed on his face.

“Mr. Dade, your answer please?”

Andrew stood easily, his blue shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He appeared calm and relaxed- the antithesis of Tom’s eager-to-please demeanor.

“Well, I think that’s a question that well deserves an answer. The fact is, republicans do not have a corner on faith. And democrats don’t have a monopoly on ethical service to our country. In this day and age, there is room for more than two viewpoints, and in point of fact, most times truth is found somewhere in the middle.” Andrew continued, his deep bass voice engaging the audience.

“I am a man of deep faith. And I have never served values- but have sought the wisdom and guidance of a God who is personal to me. I have studied the teachings of Jesus Christ, and believe that he was and is a God of peace, of love, and of strength. Christ spoke so often of the poor, and I believe that people of any faith have a moral and ethical obligation to care for the poor and the afflicted and the vulnerable. The book of James says, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?” And that’s the point, I think. Any person in a position of power has an obligation to serve the people by whom he or she was elected.”

Tom sat, frozen starkly on the stage. Andrew’s supporters cheered wildly, but he could see them nodding in agreement as well. Do they really buy all that? He thought cynically.

Mandy stood to address the next question.

“Do you believe that matters of an extremely personal nature should be addressed in the public arena? Or is it your opinion that public servants should remain immune to the public’s approval or disapproval of personal choices outside the political arena? Mr. Dade, you first please.” She sat again smoothing her skirt.

Andrew stood quickly and smiled. “That’s a difficult question to answer. I do believe that any public servant is, and should to some extent be answerable to the public. After all, a man who preaches one thing and lives another can’t really be trusted to conform to higher values in a political situation.” His comments had caused murmuring among those seated- many were thinking of the news they had heard of Tom’s breakup with Ellen. Andrew put up his hands to regain the audience’s attention. “However,” he stressed, “There are absolutely times in anyone’s life when issues of an extremely painful and personal nature occur, and these issues are made only more difficult through media speculation and opinion polls. Common sense should always be exercised, keeping in mind the respect and dignity of all beings involved.” With that, he sat down again and bent sideways asking someone near him to bring a glass of water.

Tom swallowed a lump in his throat. He had intended to come in here, answering questions that would solidify in the minds of the people that he was still the right man for the job. For some reason, things were not going the way he had pictured. Where did she come up with that one? Tom was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the entire situation. Yet he stood, and tried to cut an appealing figure.

“Well, that’s an excellent question. Mr. Dade is absolutely correct when he states that public figures should be subject to scrutiny, but I don’t think he goes far enough. Voters have a right to know that their leaders are not hypocrites. That means that even private lives must be public knowledge. After all, a leader is never thrust into position. He, or she, asks for the opportunity to serve the people, and thus should be prepared for the pitfalls of public service.”

Tom noticed Andrew staring at him oddly. Mandy the Reporter also stood up slowly, shuffling through her notes. Tom broke out in a prickly sweat. What’s going on? They couldn’t know… Not yet. There hasn’t been enough to time to get that story out- I was promised it would be buried before it even aired… His throat began to constrict as his thoughts took a detour.

Mandy visibly swallowed and took a deep breath. “Mr. Delaney, if that’s true, then shouldn’t the public be informed that your trip to the hospital earlier this evening was precipitated by reports that your wife, Mrs. Ellen Delaney has separated from you?”

Tom became panicked. Perspiration rolled in great drops down his face, and he pulled at an already loosened collar.

Still standing, he responded shakily, “Well, I think if you had taken the time to become acquainted with the facts, you’d know…”

“Sir, I beg your pardon, but we have it from a reputable source that…”

Andrew suddenly stood, his commanding presence halting the debate-turned-interview.

“I think this would be a great time to end this. After all, tomorrow is the last day we’ve got on the trail and I think we all need our rest. So with that, I thank you all for coming, and I ask that regardless of your political philosophy, you just get out and vote!”

Aides ushered most people out of the doors, including the reporting team that had begun to look for responses from audience members. Tom sat on the stage, a sad figure in semi-darkness, cradling his head in his hands. Jack approached from the shadows slowly, shaking his head and visibly exhaling.

Andrew nodded at Jack but didn’t approach too closely.

“Tom… are you going to be okay?” Andrew asked.

Tom looked shell-shocked as he glanced up and nodded mutely. Jack shook Andrew’s hand as the gracious man picked up his coat and headed out. Jack took the seat that had been recently vacated by Andrew Dade. He repeated Andrew’s words.

“You going to be okay Tom?”

“That didn’t exactly go the way I had planned Jack.”

Jack wanted to yell in frustration, That’s what prep work is for! That’s why we run you through the wringer to get you ready… That’s why we have teams of people researching every possible angle we can think of so there are no surprises! That’s why we would never have let you do this! But all he said was, “No- I guess it didn’t.”

The two were alone in the room now, and Tom asked a question that was now in the forefront of his mind.

“So now what, Jack? What am I supposed to do now? If I don’t figure out a way to win this election, everything is over. We will have lost everything.” Tom’s tone was already defeated and it irritated Jack to no end. This man had committed career suicide at least three times today, if one included the disclosure of his marriage ending, the trip to the hospital and this doomed excursion into Andrew Dade’s camp. Jack had a massive mess to clean up, and only one day to do it.

“Well, Tom. Right now, it would help a lot if you didn’t quit on me. Get your head back in the game, man. If you give up, there really is no hope. Andrew Dade just came off looking like this city’s savior and it’s going to take some serious doing to get you back on top.”

“I realize that, Jack. But what do you suggest I do?” Tom’s tone was now clipped and biting.

“I don’t know, yet. Go home. Try to get some sleep. We have to get something big to happen- something that the public is going to thank you for big time. There’s no time to manage something too complicated…” He thought for a moment, and with a sick look on his face finally said, “We have to find Karen… If you find her, and turn her in, then the public will credit you with her capture. And that might bring in the votes you need to win.”

“But Jack,” said Tom stiltedly, “That’s going to mean…” he trailed off.

Jack looked up and almost snarled, “I know what it’ll mean. But there’s a lot more at stake here… and I don’t think we have any other choice.”




HEY! and don't forget to e-mail Kendra Cornell if you have a comment! She would really like to hear from you.





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