As Governor Brown returned to his official mansion, he looked down from the chopper to what looked like every TV news crew in Texas. The frenzy had started. Texans loved nothing better than a strong Republican President. When he was one of their own, the love affair became an obsession. He had discussed all of the options with his campaign manager, press secretary and major contributors on a two-hour conference call on the ride home. They were all agreed, the return from his Moscow trip after meeting the Russian President was going to be the time to announce. He would never look more presidential, particularly as he would be disembarking a private Boeing 747, very like Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. A refueling stop that wasn’t actually necessary had been planned and that was where he would announce, before flying back to his home state to kick off his campaign.
The invite from Moscow to visit had been arranged many months earlier and to say the timing was opportune would have been an understatement. Moscow had initially sent a half-hearted invite to The White House giving the date of a state banquet to be hosted by the Russian president. The guest list read like a who the hell is that of state leaders. Unsurprisingly, the US President declined. Governor Brown received his immediately after the president had declined and was advised within his team to accept. To say the list of attendees had transformed would have been an understatement. The question on every other leader in the free world’s lips was why had the US President declined to attend when everyone else it seemed had accepted. Only a British royal wedding could have outshone the event that the Russian President was hosting and the US attendee at the State banquet of the year was going to be Governor Rick Brown.
As the chopper landed, the Governor was met by his Chief of Staff running towards the helicopter. The same Chief of Staff who had failed, very uncharacteristically, to dial in for the conference call. Rick expected a huge smile and hug of congratulations. They were nearly there, years in preparation were finally about to pay off. The look was anything but congratulatory. In fact, it was the most somber look he had ever seen on his Chief of Staff’s face. Rick instantly thought back to Laredo, the CIA had screwed him, it was all a play to destroy him and not in fact to help him. Jesus, he suddenly realized all the news crews could be there to destroy him, not anoint him and of course, it explained his Chief of Staff’s absence from the conference call.
“Jesus what’s wrong?” asked Rick. “Have the CIA fucked us?”
His Chief of Staff shook her head, her blond hair swooshing as perfectly as any TV model promoting the next best hair product. The sun caught her tanned and sallow skin and it shone with a luster that even cosmetic companies would die for. She was the single biggest weapon in Rick Brown’s campaign and over the years had destroyed every contender who stood in Rick Brown’s way. As smart as she was beautiful, few could compete with her intellect and even fewer with her beauty. TV loved her, voters loved her, even the politicians she had destroyed loved her. Fortunately, Rick Brown’s wife, Nicole, a former Miss Texas could match her on the beauty stakes and loved her also. Unbeknownst to all but the two women, a little too much. Initially threatened by his choice of Chief of Staff, it had not taken long for Nicole to be won over. Particularly as it appeared the Chief of Staff was more interested in her than Rick.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Jesus, Katherine, what then?” he shouted over the chopper’s noise.
She took his arm and guided him away. This was not a message to be shouted.
“There’s been a terrible accident, it’s Nicole.”
Rick disengaged from Katherine and rushed towards the house, Katherine caught him and stopped him.
“I’m sorry Rick, it’s too late, she’s dead.” Katherine watched the man crumble before her. She couldn’t help but think this was not a smart move. But Surkov’s message had been clear, the wife was to die and the governor must still travel to Russia.
The freak accident of the Governor’s wife slipping on the wet bathroom tiles after stepping out of the shower was a lesson to all. The sale of anti slip mats and anti slip tiling would explode in Texas. Of course, there had been no such accident. Katherine had secretly joined Nicole for a very private meeting, as she did whenever the Governor was not around. After a very enjoyable love making session the two had enjoyed a shower together, after which, Katherine, with an extremely heavy heart, had killed her lover. A trip backwards at exactly the right point and guiding the base of her skull towards the step ensured a quick and painless death. Staging the scene had been easy. Particularly as she would be the one who would find Nicole.
Katherine took no pleasure in any of it. Nicole had been a very beautiful woman and exceptional lover. She would miss her dearly. But orders were orders. Her task now was to ensure the trip to Moscow went ahead. It wasn’t going to be easy but whatever Katherine wanted Katherine got.