Always Time To Die

Chapter 56

ON THE ROAD TO TAOS

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

THE GOVERNOR'S PHONE VIBRATED AGAINST HIS THIGH AS HE DROVE THE WINDING winter road.

"Now what?" he muttered.

The caller ID said Mark Rubin.

Josh pulled over to the side of the road and answered. "Hello, Mark. I take it you saw Dykstra's latest?"

"The phone has been red hot since that show. Reporters clamoring for an interview with you, wanting a contact number for your aunt, wanting to interview everybody from grammar school friends to Vietnam buddies. What the hell is going on? When I asked you about possible land mines to be defused on the way to the presidency, you didn't say anything about your family."

"What's to say?" Josh asked wearily. "My aunt hated my father and transferred that hatred to me. End of story."

"Not this time. Everybody is saying if it's all kosher with your bloodlines, why not have the test? No big deal."

"You don't think it's demeaning for a presidential contender to jump through hoops when a fifth-rate gossip queen snaps her fingers?"

"Not getting a simple test gives her more ammo. Get in front of this story, Josh. Send in a sample. Spike that bitch's guns."

The governor smiled thinly. As always, his campaign manager's jugular instinct was on target. Josh fingered the thin, fresh scab on his neck. It galled him to give in to Dykstra.

But he would.

"Relax," Josh said. "I cut myself shaving this morning and mailed the bandage to Genedyne, just like my aunt wanted. I should have the results in a day or two."

"Do you want me to make an announcement?"

"To Dykstra?"

"Yeah," Rubin said.

"Not one word."

"But-"

"When the test results come in," Josh interrupted, "I'm going to make her eat them in front of a live camera."

Rubin was still laughing when Josh disconnected.