“It’s the Absolex Hearings,” said Jackson. “We’re pretty sure that Senator Griffeth is behind it, or at least driving it.”
“But she invited Griffeth…” Hannah trailed off. “Your grandma is so smart. If the complaint was legit, Griffeth wouldn’t have come. It might taint the investigation or come across as tampering. But if Griffeth doesn’t give a shit about the supposed ethics violation and it’s just partisan jockeying, then she would come to the party. Griffeth would also have to be confident that she’s got the backing to make whatever it is stick against Eleanor. Eleanor just made her show her hand with a party invite.”
“Welcome to the world of Eleanor Deveraux,” said Jackson.
“That’s some next-level chess,” said Hannah, shaking her head. They walked a few more steps in silence, and Jackson waited for Hannah to return to Absolex. He didn’t doubt that she would—she was smart.
“But why Absolex?” Hannah asked. “I looked over all those files when I first got here. Interns do the filing,” she said to Jackson’s questioning expression. “They were interesting, but I didn’t see anything that looked complaint worthy. If Griffeth is so confident about the complaint, there must be something there, but what?”
“That is my question as well because I’m pretty sure Eleanor followed the book on that one,” said Jackson. “She knew everything had to stand up under the strictest scrutiny. Those hearings were under a national spotlight.”
Hannah let out a frustrated sigh, started to speak, and then stopped again.
“Whatever it is, just say it,” said Jackson.
“Did Dad ever take you to see a guy named Green Potts?”
“No, but with that name, I wish he had.”
“Heh. Green Potts is a snitch over on the West Side. And he will tell you so much stuff for the right money, but and, here’sthe thing, he willnevervolunteer information. You pay him, and he’ll squeal, but that is it. But Dad says if Green shows up and starts telling him stuff for free, then Dad pulls out an extra vest and starts putting everything on tape. Trust nothing the guy says because if Green is sharing information, butyouhaven’t paid him…”
“Then you need to be asking who has and why?”
“Exactly. So people are telling us stuff, but it’s not the right people. And if I’m reading Eleanor’s party invite correctly—the complaint and ethics investigation is mostly bogus, then it just adds to my feeling that someone is trying to maneuver Eleanor. It feels like a set-up. And I can’t explain it any better than it’s got the Green Potts vibe. Which doesn’t exactly carry a lot of weight with Eleanor or my co-workers.”
“It carries a lot of weight with me,” said Jackson.
“And that’s why you’re walking me back to the office,” said Hannah.
“What’s the next step?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked, looking up at him puzzled.
“Well, if this was the street, and I started getting some people coming after me on the right, I’d be expecting an offer from the left. Then someone would say,let’s meet – I can help,and then I’d be alone in a location I didn’t pick, and then I’d be dead.”
“Oh,” said Hannah. She looked like she was trying to graft that onto her mental map of Washington politics.
“So, we’re at the threats portion,” said Jackson, breaking it down. He needed her to make the leap for him because he didn’t know the DC players well enough. “Are we at the asking for a meeting part? Eleanor and I met with Ralph Taggert today, but I don’t think that was it. He’s got his own oar in the water. His angle makes sense. But who else is out here swimming around?”
“I don’t think we’re there yet,” said Hannah slowly. “No one has approached us, and Eleanor’s not desperate enough to takeany offers that come at her. She’s got a lot of support that isn’t apparent from the surface.”
“Then they’ll come after the family next,” said Jackson. “We were involved in the Absolex thing, and they’ll want to make her desperate. Everyone thinks they can get to her through us.”
“But they can’t?” asked Hannah.
“They can, but it’s difficult. And people seem to forget that once they involve the rest of us… well, they’ve involved the rest of us. And while we may not play chess, we do occasionally play hardball. And we don’t care about politics, so there’s that.”
“Subpoenas,” said Hanna, shoving her hands in her pockets. “The ethics committee will probably issue subpoenas for all of you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, nodding.
Jackson waited until she had locked the office door before heading back to the party. He was nearly back when his phone buzzed.
“Hey, Aiden,” he said, picking up.
“I can call later,” said Aiden, “if you’re doing a Grandma thing.”
“It’s a party I hate,” said Jackson, “so whatever.”
