40. The Scheme
40 THE SCHEME
Daphne
I didn’t see a swift trip to London to convince an MP to roll on his buddy in my future, but it was my best hope. If stage one was rallying my family, reclaiming my family name was stage two. Todd Deyoung—the man desperate to serve as Home Secretary—was hungry for power and one of Chandler’s best cronies. If anyone knew where the bodies were buried but longed to steal Chandler’s sunshine, it was Todd.
The timeline was tight. I’d arrive Friday morning, meet with Chandler’s frenemy, and return to the States within hours. While I’d be jet-lagged the day I made my save-my ass board presentation, this was the only way forward. Lanie rode with me, despite her frequent refrain that politics “bored her to tears”.
I reached out to Todd Thursday and wrapped up the meeting details over the Atlantic as I rose. He met us at a private club Chandler was now banned at. I forced him out while keeping my membership active. It was just one more “fuck you” I lodged at him. Todd, recently divorced, was an easy mark. Given how Lanie dressed for the meeting, it was clear where we were headed here.
“You don’t have to do this, Lanie,” I said. “Not like that.”
At the Savoy, we dipped into a room just to freshen up. Soon, we were on an elevator headed down to our meeting.
“Men are dumb. Politicians are especially dumb. No offense to your man, of course. Cal is smarter than the average bear. He also isn’t a bigoted nutcase.”
I snickered.
“I will be the most tempting helper in this scenario.”
“I will settle for charming. Please do not sleep with him.”
“The man voted to leave. I’d never sleep with a leaver.”
“So did Chandler,” I groaned.
While she claimed no political opinions, Lanie got into a screaming match with Chandler over his preference for leaving the EU when she was a teen.
It reminded me that for years I held my tongue on politics all because arguing with Chandler was exhausting and futile. Even a simple discussion spiraled into him ignoring me for days. I squeezed Lanie’s hand.
“Never again,” Lanie whispered. “We’re going to end this.”
“Beautiful Daphne,” Todd saw us approach and gave me a polite cheek peck. “It has been too long, darling.”
“It has,” I lied.
If I went another year without speaking to Todd, it would be too short.
“And who is this beautiful young thing?”
“This is my sister, Lanie. She’s in London with me.”
“I begged to come with,” Lanie said. “I was so bored.”
Lanie’s voice changed from its normal timbre to a flirtatious, higher pitch. She was acting—as any good actress would. Lanie could sell this. She might be my best move to play even if I’d doubted her. Never doubt a Delphine, Daphne .
“Well, I see you all managed to come out beautiful,” Todd said.
We took a seat while a server approached. “May I get you all something?”
Chicago time, it was only ten, but it was four London time. I had a drink to get through this.
“I will have a good aged Balvenie,” I answered. “Surprise me with whatever the bartender prefers.”
“And I will have an espresso martini and add a cherry in for fun, thanks.”
“A lady’s drink,” Todd nodded at Lanie.
“She knows what she wants,” Lanie said in third person, her eye contact smoldering .
Bless her for trying so hard!
Lanie talked Todd’s ear off, lulling him into security until our drinks appeared. Now, it was time to strike.
“We wanted to talk to you about the unfortunate matter that hit the press,” I said. “I wanted to see if you knew anything. I heard a little birdie say that you might be my knight in shining armor who would illuminate things.”
Todd coughed.
“He seems more prince than knight, Daph.” Lanie laid it on. “Can you help us, Todd?”
He fell for her flattery.
“I could try to recall anything,” Todd said.
“That would be great,” I said. “I’d so appreciate it.”
Lanie leaned in further, “This was incredibly painful for all of us, Todd. I mean… can you imagine?”
“I… I cannot. It is very sad. That is why I agreed to talk to you, Daphne.”
I smiled. “So, there is a matter of how this got out. Might you know something about it?”
“I… I don’t…”
He looked at Lanie as she recrossed her legs as slowly as possible, her skirt inching higher.
“Uh…” He stammered more. “I… uh...”
“Well, let’s cut the shit,” I said. “Because I’ve never been one for flowery language. I know Chandler did this. I have evidence of it from other sources but none of them tie back to his physical location in a way that give us enough to charge him. But, if you were to say… help me with that or provide additional information, Scotland Yard would investigate.”
Todd snapped to me. “Daphne, with the election?—”
“Wouldn’t it be fab to see him do a perp walk and get out of your way?” Lanie asked, slowly removing the cherry from its skewer.
Todd considered. “So, with him out… it could… help?”
“You could prepare your future PM to denounce him,” I said. “It’s a bit of a hit job, but what isn’t in this game?”
I waited for him to put it together. “I… I’d need to talk to John, of course.”
“Of course.” Lanie oozed sex, “you would want to run it by leadership. You’re a clever man, Todd.”
His lips curled into a slight smile as he stared at her tits.
“You’re… you’re right.”
“You could be the hero, Todd. Daphne’s hero, the party’s, and mine, of course.”
He was sold. I could have been offended by Lanie’s success in getting Todd to do the right thing with nothing but her feminine wiles, but I couldn’t be bothered with the why. If he got me my freedom and good name back, it was worth everything.
Todd cleared his throat, stood, and adjusted his trousers. “Let me call John.”
He walked to the corner, turning back every other minute to look at my sister.
“He’s going to have massive blue balls after this,” Lanie said. “I almost feel bad about it.”
“Nah, he’s going to cream his pants once he realizes he’s going to be Home Secretary and Chandler won’t,” I whispered.
“I’ll give him my number, Daph, then block him.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Daph, I’d do whatever to stick it to that twat. Promise.”
I smiled; happy she had my back.
After a few minutes, Todd returned.
“I will level with you,” Todd said. “And this might hurt, Daphne. I’d never want to hurt a lady, but I will be honest.”
“Yes?”
“He sent the video to a number of us—using his email.”
“His government email?” Lanie said too loudly.
I shot her a look of admonishment.
“Sorry. It’s just so stupid.”
“We worried about Labour running with it. So, John asked us all to delete it and keep it quiet for fear it would hurt us in the election.”
Because you’re fucking cowards.
“But as you’ve illuminated—and if you are willing to go on record about how much this hurt you—we can run with it.”
I extended my hand. “Todd, you have a deal.”
I knew full well that this would backfire on them as soon as the inquest revealed they received the message and did nothing about it, but by that time, they’d be the party in government and have the moral high ground. As long as they were in office, the rest didn’t matter. It was a brutal truth, but just the game of chess we played. If my name was cleared and Chandler served time, I’d live with the fact that these men ultimately betrayed me before timidly agreeing to help.
Mission accomplished.
* * *
Cal
Daphne
I did what I could do. I will call you when I know more.
Daphne’s text came in the late afternoon just before I met with DNC officials for handshaking and a dinner with community organizers. Somehow, I managed to skate by. The party wasn’t happy for my recent drama, but the younger audience couldn’t stop watching the trainwreck that they assumed was my private life.
Me
Good. I am sure we will have better news soon. When is your presentation.
Daphne
Tomorrow. I’m so nervous!
I was about to respond when Jo poked her head in. “Are you ready to go?”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
I followed Jo to the waiting car. She hammered me with details. After ten minutes, I called for a ceasefire.
“Jo, look. I know you want me to be at the top of my game. And I know that means remembering whoever’s nephew interned at whatever place, but… I need a break. I’m really struggling today.”
“You can’t afford?—”
“Jo, if I cannot afford to be fucking human, what good does it do!?” I shouted, beyond help.
I expected Jo to shout back—she had every right—but she called the driver, “Can we circle? The Mayor needs a minute.”
She turned to me. “What is going on with you? What do you need?”
“Compassion. Time. I don’t know.”
She furrowed her brow. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
“I have never loved anyone the way I love this woman, Jo. Daphne is fighting for her life and I’m here doing stupid shit I don’t care about. I should. You’ve done so much, and I appreciate it immensely. I do. But…”
“Your mind is elsewhere?”
I nodded.
She took a long, deep breath, as if defeated.
“I wish you would leave her—not that I think she’s a bad person. The timing is terrible —but I need you at the top of your game for this speech, Cal.”
“I know. I am telling you that I cannot be—not until I can see her. We have another week of this. I have a week to get my head in the game. Unfortunately, until I clear some things up with her, I won’t be able to do that.”
Jo patted my knee. “Fine. Get done here. Do the best you can and go see her. If that is what you need to calm down, do it. I can’t handle this right now—you, like this. Stop being a sad sack, Cal.”