Balance of Power

    Clayton chuckled softly. With no change of expression, but in a cooler tone, Kerry asked, "Did you confirm our information about Lexington?"

    "Yes. Its British parent, Shawcross Holdings, has a major interest in North Sea Oil Leasing and, not-so-coincidentally, is an ardent supporter of the Prime Minister. Who has a considerable say about the future of North Sea drilling."

    "As between guns and oil, what does Shawcross care about most?"

    "Oil. There's way more money in it."

    The President thanked him. Leaving the Oval Office, Clayton marveled at the intricacy of Kerry's four-sided chess game with the SSA, Fasano, and Bob Lenihan and Sarah Dash, so subtle and complex that no reporter would ever divine it.

* * *

Alone, the President placed his scheduled call to the Prime Minister.

    The two men, telegenic leaders of a similar age, liked each other. So the exchange of pleasantries was genuine, as was the respect with which they exchanged views on their painstaking war against the Al Qaeda successors of Mahmoud Al Anwar. Only toward the end did Kerry observe, "I took a bit of a black eye yesterday."

    "Yes," the Prime Minister said with sympathy. "I saw. Fortunately, under your system they don't run you out for losing one vote in the legislature."

    "Not yet. But I certainly wouldn't care to lose again." Briefly, Kerry paused. "On a tangent to that, I have a favor to ask—assuming you feel free to grant it."

    "If I can, Kerry. As long as you're duly grateful."

    "Always," Kerry answered. "A man named George Callister seems to have washed up on your shores. His ultimate employer is Shawcross Holdings. It's dawned on me that a word from you might hasten his return."

    "It might," his ally answered pleasantly. "What do I need to know?"

* * *

    "Twelve million dollars," Sarah said, gazing coldly at Lenihan. "When—if Mary hadn't—did you intend to tell me?"

    Lenihan crossed his arms. "Nolan and Fancher still don't know. There was no point in telling you unless Mary had an interest."

    "In what?" Sarah snapped. "Telling me? Don't bullshit me, Bob. You and Dane were trying to settle this case around me. And might have if Mary hadn't fulfilled your obligations."

    Their client sat between them in the interior conference room of the Kilcannon Center, an unhappy wraith at the meeting Sarah herself had demanded. Glancing at their client, Lenihan folded his arms. "Don't accuse me of being some sort of fifth column for those Nazis at the SSA. Or is how CNN got those documents still a mystery to you?"

    The boldness of this statement gave Sarah pause. "That's another thing," she said more slowly. "Bond could have hung us both, and with it Mary's case. But I suppose it's all worthwhile to you if it made Dane up his offer."

    "Of course it did. Don't be naive."

    "I'm hardly that," Sarah rejoined. "If Mary settles, that would remove the biggest obstacle between Fasano and a veto override.

    "Dane's stated condition is that the settlement amount never be disclosed, and that the files remain nonpublic. Why? Because without disclosure the public will think we're acknowledging that the case has no merit." Turning to Mary, Sarah added softly, "You get eight million, and Bob's firm gets four million as its contingent fee. And no one will be able to sue a gun company or the SSA, ever again. Because you'll have helped cause the President to lose."

    Now Lenihan spoke to Mary. "The President," he countered, "may well lose anyway. Then you'll end up with nothing."

    Mary looked sallow, thinner, so diminished by their conflict that Sarah, feeling both empathy and alarm, turned her focus back on Lenihan. "I'm all for Mary being compensated. But isn't this lawsuit also about saving lives?"

    "Of course . . ."

    "Of course

," Sarah said with the edge of disdain. "So shouldn't this settlement require Lexington to discontinue making the bullet which ensured Marie would die? Or the gun Bowden used to kill her, Inez, and Joan? And wouldn't a public disclosure of settlement terms help the President and encourage other gun companies to alter their behavior?"

    Lenihan slammed down his coffee mug. "And requiring George Callister to commit public hari-kari would send an even stronger signal. But the SSA won't agree to any of that, and they're the ones who'll put up most of the money." Facing Mary, he said more quietly, "It's not just that the President may lose. Even if he doesn't, we may—because of Gardner Bond. It's not a betrayal of anyone to make a prudent assessment of the risks, and where you may wind up in the end."