Balance of Power

    Hampton's expression became wry, his tone etched with an astringent humor. "But just to be sure, I intend to offer an amendment to the senator's bill to ensure full funding for his ambitious goal of near-total compliance for background checks, and to bar tort immunity for gun manufacturers. I may even offer the President's bill as an amendment to the senator's own." Abruptly, his speech became slow and very serious. "And if the senator attempts to bar us from debating these amendments, the 'cynics' in our caucus will keep his bill from coming to a vote—unless he permits the President's bill to be considered simultaneously."

    Briefly, but to Hampton's satisfaction, Fasano looked skeptical and surprised, as though he doubted Hampton had the forty votes necessary to sustain a filibuster. Hampton rested one hand on the Styrofoam board which framed Antonio's picture. "This," he said, "is not done simply out of the respect that this body owes President Kilcannon. It reflects the decent regard we owe to the memory of Antonio Harris. Anything less should embarrass us all."

    With this, Chuck Hampton sat down.

* * *

    When morning business had ended, Hampton crossed the aisle to speak to Frank Fasano.

    Fasano had long since retrieved his air of imperviousness; only the glint in his eye betrayed his annoyance. "That was quite a performance," Fasano said. "Almost worthy of KFK himself."

    Feeling his sense of satisfaction deepen, Hampton paused a moment before indulging it fully. "I'm beginning to take that as a genuine compliment, Frank—especially after the beating he gave you on his tort reform proposal. My colleagues noticed it, too. So I'm delivering a message from all forty-six of us—even those whom the President's bill makes nervous."

    "And what might that be, Chuck?"

    Hampton smiled. "Deal straight up with KFK's bill," he answered in his most amiable tone. "Or we'll screw you like I just promised we would."

* * *

    Arrested by Hampton's speech, Cassie Rollins returned to her office preoccupied. Which was not the proper state of mind for a Republican senator up for reelection and fifteen minutes late for a meeting with Charles Dane.

    She found him watching C-SPAN in her reception area, and ushered him to her office with a graceful apology. "This was one morning," she concluded, "when I thought it best to hear out Chuck's body count to the unusually bitter end. He seems to have been eating his Wheaties."

    "I saw." Dane's manner was respectful but direct. "So there's no need for either of us to mince words. This is the vote, Cassie."

    Cassie rested a curled finger to her lips, eyes narrowing in an expression which was good-humored yet pointed. "Exactly which vote," she asked, "is 'the vote'? The one against Kilcannon's gun control bill? Or in favor of your tort immunity bill?"

    Dane's already intent look deepened. "Both," he answered flatly. "They're the same vote—the acid test of who our friends are, and who cares to remain our friend. Where do you stand, Senator?"

    The abrupt switch to her formal title, Cassie knew, was meant to signal Dane's willingness to consider her an adversary. Though this put her on edge, Cassie kept her voice even and, to her satisfaction, seemingly unruffled.

    "Tort immunity," she observed, "is one thing. But the President's bill is largely focused on keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and wife-beaters, not law-abiding gun owners."

    Dane leaned forward, his posture suggesting suppressed impatience. "Why should 'law-abiding gun owners' be subjected to intrusive background checks, whether at gun shows or elsewhere? It's the first step toward keeping ordinary people from owning guns—confiscation by harassment and inconvenience, where neighbor can't sell a gun to neighbor, or a father give one to his son."

    Crossing her legs, Cassie sat back in her wing chair, her chin resting on clasped hands. "Before I accept that, Charles, I'm going to ask you to persuade me that it's so. From the sound of Hampton's speech, you'll have the time.

    "As for immunity, I think these lawsuits are pretty flimsy, and you know my strong position in favor of tort reform. But the one lawsuit everyone knows about is Mary Costello's. Effectively, you're asking us to vote against Lara Kilcannon, her surviving sister, their three murdered relatives, and three other families whose loved ones Bowden slaughtered by accident. Why make your 'friends' cast that vote if your lawyers can get this judge to throw Mary Costello out of court, which is what the best legal minds I've talked to think he'll do. If we can restrain ourselves from trampling on the First Lady before he gets the chance."

    Dane paused before responding, seeming to measure his words. "She's not only the First Lady," he said quietly. "She's the wife of our foremost enemy. Her sister, their pawn, has sued the SSA itself. You can't give them aid and comfort and be our friend."