Chapter 12

I SWEPT BACK INTO THE STATLER-MASON THROUGH the big revolving door and found myself immediately in a bedlam of activity. The lobby was packed with people. It seemed like everyone who was anybody was milling around and trying to get to the floor of the convention hall or up to the galleries. My forward motion was painfully slow, as I was constantly being greeted by one politico after another.

I heard a female voice calling to me and turned to find Lita. "Hi there, Mrs. Ward," I said, careful to treat her formally. "How's it going?"

"Fine, Mr. Vista," she responded in her most aristocratic tones. In a lower voice, which could not possibly be heard over the hubbub and milling about of the throng, she asked, "How did it go?"

I smiled. "Not too sure. Only time will tell now. And there obviously isn't much of that left. Maybe we can get together for a drink later."

"Daiquiris, Markie baby?" Lita said, a tempting smile on her full red lips.

"Could be," I said. "They never taste better than when I drink them from you." Lita giggled and then became serious as she remembered the crowd rubbing against us.

We split up at the back of the lobby. I headed for the elevators while she went out on to the floor. I figured she would be trying to entice away some of our delegates right up to the voting. That was all right. We had our people doing the same thing.

The corridor was crowded when I stepped off at Cataldo's floor. The bastards really come around in the eleventh hour when they figure a guy's a winner. They all want to be seen and to try to give you the impression that they've been with you right from the beginning of the campaign. When they figure a guy's a shoo-in they come buzzing around and practically force you to take their dough. We take it all right, but we don't forget either when they finally kicked into the kitty. If you win, those later climbers-on get nothing. You take care of the people who were with you from the start. Who sweated out the campaign and kicked in with their money when nobody knew how it was all going to come out.

I made my way along the hall, greeting all the phonies who thought they were making points with the next Governor's press secretary. I made mental notes of who they were. My shit list was growing longer all the time. But it's all part of the game: the handshaking and the phony talk.

I finally managed to squeeze my way into Cataldo's suite. A top aide quickly beckoned to me and admitted me into the inner sanctum where Johnny was closeted.

"Mark, where are they? How did you do? You got 'em? Let's have 'em." Cataldo was squatted like a huge Buddha on a double bed. He reached for the photographs.

I handed them over and tried not to think that the cost for them had included two lives. I would shut those thoughts out of mind. Later there would be time to think about them.

Cataldo quickly riffled through the set of photographs. "Very, very good. Old Swenson will drop his pants when we show him a couple of these. I wouldn't mind jumping in the sack with either one of these broads. The big blonde looks the most interesting. I'll have to have Tony set it up for me."

I didn't see any sense of informing him that Mary was dead and probably even now getting a cement overcoat for an eternal swim in one of our nearby lakes or rivers. Tony could fill him in later.

"Okay, okay, Mark. I'll see that Swenson get's a couple of these as quickly as possible. With a note telling him how he and his buddy should vote. Hell come around."

"Right, Johnny," I said. I sensed something was wrong though. Cataldo was never the most affable guy in the world. But he was especially aloof now in his tone and mannerism. I couldn't help wondering if Angela had been stupid enough to shoot her mouth off. It seemed incredible that she would. And why did he say he would have Tony set it up with Mary? Why hadn't he suggested that I set it up? Something was wrong. I decided to play it like I knew from nothing which was about the truth. Hold on and cool it until I got a better clue as to just what was up with the wop bastard.

"Right, Johnny. Now where do you want to be during the voting?" I asked trying to sound as innocent as possible.

Johnny seemed to hesitate. "Check with Phil and see how we are with the newsmen. After that check around. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Get back to me fast if you hear anything, especially if Ward makes a big move to grab off any of our delegates."

He glanced at his watch. "We better all get moving. The voting will be starting in less than half an hour."

I got up to leave. Johnny called after me, "Mark, stay in touch. I want to know where you are fast."

I nodded, more puzzled than ever. Something definitely was wrong. Johnny always permitted me a wide latitude of freedom. He knew I took care of my end and that wherever I was, it was doing him some good. A slight shiver of fear coursed through my body. I shook it off. Screw him, I hadn't come this far to get scared off. I'd look up Ima. She'd know what the hell was going on.

The floor of the convention was a mad house, thundering with the voices of partisan supporters of the various candidates. The chairman was calling again and again for order. "Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats," he kept calling. "Order! Delegates please take your seats." He called for the sergeant-at-arms to clear the floor and herd the delegates into their seats for the start of the voting.

I found Phil at our press booth to the left front of the hall. It was manned by about six of the prettiest girls in the state, aptly clad in Cataldo's colorful uniforms.

I looked them all up and down as I approached. Each one of them had been handpicked by me. I already had scored with three of them and had three to go. Each of them gave me a big wave and a hello. Smart broads. They knew on what side their bread was buttered. It was going to be fun being press secretary. I figured I could find room for each one of those broads somewhere on the staff. Lunches were going to be fun in my back corner office with the door locked. One for each day of the week and one left over for leisurely weekend munching.

"How's it going, Phil," I asked over the din inside the monstrous hall. My voice was real friendly like. I decided it would be politically astute at that point to play it buddy-buddy with Phil. Maybe he could give me a hint of what was going on.

But it was obvious from his report that he knew nothing. He still had the chip on his shoulder but simultaneously showed the proper deference to my position. If Cataldo was planning to shaft me, it was quite obvious that Phil was not to be my successor. I politely thanked Phil for his report. His eyebrows rose even further when I complimented him on its completeness and details.

I strolled slowly away. I wanted to look as cool as possible in case Cataldo had a shadow on me. I repeatedly stopped to chat with delegates as I made my way off the floor. Several newsmen yelled greetings and I even got a glimpse of Sarah Whynot up in the TV and radio gallery. My eyes bulged. She had taken off her jacket because of the heat and was holding back those tremendous cones T remembered so well with a tight T-shirt. Barooom! My friend smelled her and started to come to life. I had to push those lustful thoughts of her out of my mind or I'd have trouble walking out of the hall. I noticed that if she saw me, she didn't let on. Real cool broad that one. I'd fix her wagon later.

Out in the hallway, I hopped on to an elevator. No one followed. I rode up and down for a while to throw off any one just the same. Sure I was in the clear I finally got off at the ninth floor and walked to Ima's suite, 963. I knocked softly. Nothing. Again, a little harder.

I cursed. Where the hell could she be. Then I heard a voice call Ima's voice to come in. Instantly, I opened the door and shut it behind me. For good measure, I slid the bolt home. Un-like my last visit, the suite was well lighted.

"Ima, it's Mark, Mark Vista. Where are you?"

"Hi, Mark, I thought it would be you. Have a drink and I'll be right out," she called.

I went to the bar and poured myself a stiff J & B Rare on the rocks. I needed it and swiftly poured it down. I poured another and gave it a good squirt of soda. That one I'd drink more leisurely.

"Mark, how good to see," Ima called, sweeping into the living room like a duchess making a grand entrance at the royal castle.

"Wow! Ima that's quite an outfit. Right in style too."

"like it," she said obviously pleased. She twirled around to give me a good look.

It was really a simple ensemble. Unlined white organdy pant-suit clung to her firm round hips and dropped to about four inches above the knees of her tanned thighs. The pants flared so that they resembled a skirt. The pant-suit was of the most transparent organdy available. It was quite easy to see that she wore the briefest bikini possible under the unlined outfit.

"Sexy, Ima, sexy as hell." She was, too. I remembered all the hundreds of times Ima had made the scene. What a broad! And in that outfit, I had to fight to hold down my lust. Her bubbies stuck way out in front. They were swept up and the nipples were clearly discernible through the dress. The bottom of the bikini was just a passing gesture toward modesty.

"Now, now, Markie. Business before pleasure. We'll make it eight-hundred and four shortly. Maybe as a victory celebration. I assume that everything is all set for Cataldo?"

"That's right, Ima. It took some doing but we should have the needed votes right on the head. We can watch it on TV. The voting must be ready to start, if it hasn't already."

I flipped the set on while Ima poured herself a drink. It would have been a perfect evening if it hadn't been for that gnawing doubt about Cataldo. The bastard really had me on edge. If only I could be sure that he wasn't up to anything.

I got the picture good and clear and turned up the sound. "Ima, the voting is already started." She came over to stand beside me. We both sipped our drinks while keeping our eyes fixed on the wide-screen set.

With more than six hundred delegates to poll I figured it would take at least an hour to finish. No sense in not being comfortable in the meantime. I finished the rest of my drink and put the glass down. I slipped an arm around Ima's small waist and pulled her to me. She came readily.

"This is going to take a little while, Ima. Let's get comfortable."

"I'm all for that, Mark, as long as you say it's all set," she responded warmly.

I looked around for a place to stretch out and only saw a sofa. It was done in cinnamon-finished maple and covered with off-white hop-sacking. Throw pillows in red, yellow and pink covered it.

Ima laughed behind me. "Here," she said, "I'll show you something." Ima reached down and pushed a button. There was the faint whirring of a small motor and in the next second the sofa came to life to be transformed into a full sized bed. My eyes almost popped at the quick change.

"like it, Mark?" Ima said smiling at my amazement. She patted the bedspread and beckoned me to stretch out. I kicked off my shoes and loosened my tie. Piling up some pillows for the two of us, I sprawled out on the bed to watch the television screen.

Ima strode around the room flicking out the lamps. Soon the room was dark except for the light from the television screen. Ima walked in front of the screen and stopped, blocking my view. I couldn't have cared less as I could hear the voting anyway. Besides I had something else on my mind by then. Even as I watched transfixed, Ima unbuttoned the front of her suit, slipped it off her shoulder and let it fall in a pile at her feet. With a big smile on her face, she stepped out of the suit and walked toward me.

"Don't you like me better this way?" she asked.

I didn't answer. I mean what was there to say? As it was, I had all I could do to stay fast on the bed and not jump her.

Ima started humming a waltz aloud and twirling slowly around in front of the screen. The bikini formed two black strips across the fullness of her tip-tilted breasts and the round expanse of her hips. Impervious to my scrutiny, she twirled ever so slowly on the toes of her high heels. Her legs and arms gleamed in the gentle light. It was as though she were riding on her own little merry-go-round. I thought how I would like to give her a ride on my merry-go-round. I fully intended to very shortly.

The voice on the screen told us that Cataldo and Ward were neck and neck through the E's. Then the poll came to the F's. C'mon, Sally, I urged silently. Don't let me down. Sally came through like a trouper when they called out "Mrs. Fitzpatrick." She responded with the announcement that her four votes were for Cataldo. Pandemonium broke loose within the convention hall. For a couple of minutes the voice of the announcer was drowned out by the thunderous shouting and horn blowing.

Ima, sure now of the outcome, twirled faster and faster to her mind's music. Her bubbies stood up straight in profile as she whirled crazily about.

"Hey, doll, you better slow down or you're going to get dizzy as hell," I cautioned.

"Relax, Markie," she called. But she did stop and walk over to the bed. She climbed up on the bottom and stood up on the bed with her high heels still on. Man, what beautiful legs. They rose to the two solid columns of her muscled thighs. Flat out on my back, she resembled a giantess measuring some ten feet in height. I heard her take a deep breath and throw out her chest. The skin stretched tightly over her rib cage. Each rib was distinctly visible in the dim light. Her breasts were two fabulous melons waiting to be plucked. The bra, hardly more than a narrow bit of cloth, threatened to burst from the tension she was putting on it. First one and then the other nipple popped into view from behind the bra. Ima laughed and breathed deeper. The single button holding the bra together at her back, popped and went spinning off to be lost in the shadows. Ima and I joined in laughter. She raised her arms and the tiny piece of cloth fell away to the floor revealing the round fullness and ripe beauty of those love cones to my gaping eyes.

"Beautiful, Ima. Just beautiful," I said shakily. Man, what a build she had. My mouth watered to taste those fruity globes. I had to loosen another button on my shirt and adjust my slacks to be more comfortable.

The counting had resumed on television and Senator Tom Ward once again was catching up to Cataldo. The four-vote lead fell away to three and then two. I panicked a bit when the lead was whittled to one vote in Cataldo's favor, Of course this was what we had expected. Swenson, if everything had gone right, would give us the lead Ward wouldn't be able to overtake.

Ima now was gyrating about on the bed. She bent over from the waist and revolved her body about. While I stared wide-eyed, she slowly bent over backward until her head disappeared and only those two tremendous bubbies pointed straight up toward the ceiling. From down behind her back, she reached up to undo the single button holding the bikini bottoms snug to her hips. Freed the bottom reluctantly gave up its loving hold round that love bush.

Carefully keeping her balance, Ima bent back further. She shifted her legs further apart and crooked them at the knee. With her head nearly trailing on the edge of the bed behind her, her fantastic body was revealed to me fully. The breasts pointed to the ceiling. Her female mysteries no longer were hidden from view but laid yawning in front of me. I knew what to do. I swung around on the bed. Clasping my hands to Ima's quivering thighs, my head went forward so my tongue could begin tasting of those heavenly delights.

Ima ooed and ahhed as my tongue slipped home and began its frantic exploring. "Wonderful Mark," she cried. She bent backward a little further so she could clasp her own ankles with both hands.

With my tongue still in her, Ima slowly fell forward. As her knees and then her soft round belly came down, I had to pull away. While she was completing her gentle forward motion, I jumped up off the bed. In a minute I too was bereft of my clothing and back on the bed with Ima. She was stretched out in all her glory and sensuality. I laid beside her, pulling her to me by her buttocks. She spread her legs for my pulsing masculinity and I slowly inserted it. She groaned in contentment.

"He's so big, Mark. like a big red-hot poker. No one is built like you. You're half man and half bull.

And thanks be that the bottom half is all bull."

"He's big for you, Ima," I confided. "Only for you. No one else can bring him to his full power like you. He loves to show off for you."

"Beautiful, Mark. It feels so good. Keep it coming."

Only too happy to comply with her wish, I slowly rolled her over. She opened wider so I could thrust deeper. Then she brought her long legs up and clapped them tightly around my neck. Her long arms reached down so she could grab me by the buttocks. My hands reached eagerly under her solid cheeks and pulled her to me. I could just as easily die in that position. What else is left when you've had it with the best around? It's all so anti-climatic and repetitious. People tell you that they are all so afraid of dying. I could just as easily depart this planet any time after I finish popping with Ima.

Ima and I went at it in slow motion, locked lovingly together. It was the eight-hundred and fourth time. How's that for a score? When I went down, she pulled it in and tightened up. When I pulled away, she rose up to follow. About every tenth stroke, I'd pull out completely and hold it back about four inches. When she couldn't wait any longer, I'd ram it back in without ever missing those waiting lips.

Above our heavy breathing, I kept one ear cocked to the announcer's voice. "It's coming up to the S's, Ima," I said. She agreed with me to hold off for a moment so we could hear Swenson distinctly. He was polled right after Sam Sugarmen. "Representative Swenson." Cataldo and Ward were neck and neck. I crossed my fingers. Had Cataldo's man got to him with the pictures? Did he understand the message? Could he be kept in line?" There was silence for about twenty seconds. Then a voice that I recognized as Representative Swenson's.

"Mr. Chairman," he called out from the microphone on the floor, "Mr. Chairman, both I and my fellow delegate cast two votes in favor of Mr. Cataldo."

I had to jump quickly out of bed to cut the booming noise from the set. That was it! We were home. Visions of myself as press secretary came to mind.

"We made it, Ima! We made it!" I shouted. "Yahoo!" I was excited as a big kid getting his first piece. "Man, am I going to live. And let's start right now."

Ima jubilantly spread herself for me. I straddled her and shot my bolt home. It whipped forward and hit that familiar clasp with a wet thud. Off we dashed together, hooting and hollering to beat the band. In about one minute flat, we grasped each other with all our strength and soared into orbit in tandem. My jet juices spurted into her engine with great heat and force. She rolled about but stayed tightly to me so as not to miss any.

Exhausted, we broke away. Both of us laid panting on our backs, staring up at the ceiling. The light flickered along its white surface from the TV set.

"What a night, Ima. I can't remember being so excited since that time you and I first rode to the races together about sixteen years ago. Remember?"

Ima laughed in delight and remembrance. "I'll never forget, Mark, as long as I live. You'll always be my man no matter where our paths may take us. This may sound selfish, but I almost wished your man had lost. Then maybe we could have gone off somewhere together."

I kissed her on the cheek. The eternal female. I could easily love her if it wasn't for my ambition. Then I remembered Johnny would want to check over his acceptance speech and I should be there.

"I've got to make a call, Ima." I bounded out of the bed and dialed Cataldo's private number reserved only for about three of us. I knew it would be ridiculous trying to get him on any of the regular lines. Everybody and his brother would be calling to congratulate him and to say they had been with him from the beginning.

The phone only rang once when it was picked up. I recognized the voice immediately. "Tony, Mark. Great isn't it. Really great!"

"It sure is, Mark," he replied but without much enthusiasm. Again the feeling that something was wrong swept over me.

"Is Johnny there?" I asked.

"Hold on," Tony said. I could tell he had placed his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone. I could hear muffled voices. "Mark, Johnny says to get over here right away. He's only got a couple of minutes before he makes his acceptance speech."

"I'm on my way, Tony. See you."

I explained to Ima. She nodded and promised to stay put until I checked back with her. Both of us wanted to make a night of it but she understood that I would be busy for a while. As I was leaving I heard her giving a Washington telephone number to the operator.

I dashed through the hall to Johnny's suite. A number of people slapped me on the back and yelled their best wishes to me. I just smiled and kept on moving. When I got to the suite, I wended my way through the crowd of well-wishers and Tony quickly slipped me in to see Cataldo.

"Johnny, great victory. Wonderful," I cried, playing it by the numbers until I could see what was up.

Johnny didn't waste any time. He never did.

"Okay, okay, Mark, knock off the crap. I'm on to you wise guy. Angela told me all about what you did to her maid. And she said you also tried to make her too. I ought to bust you in half."

I saw my opening. Angela had only told him half the story. "Wait a minute yourself, Johnny," I said letting anger show in my voice. "Since when do you care if I knock off a lousy maid? Why is Angela so sore about that?"

"I don't give a damn about the maid," he snarled in reply. "It's the fact that you tried to put the make on Angela. I still think I ought to break you into little pieces."

I turned to Angela who was sitting cross-legged in a corner of the room. She had a smug smile on her lips.

"Angela, what the hell are you trying to prove. I worked my ass off for Johnny, why don't you tell him the truth?"

"I told him all that there is to tell," she said disinterestedly. "What else is there?"

"You're gambling Angela," I said.

Johnny interrupted, "What do you mean gambling?"

I figured the hell with it, I had nothing to lose.

"Okay, Johnny since we are all leveling with each other. She's a Lesbian, and you and I both know it. So why the hell would I go near her?"

I could see from Cataldo's expression that I had scored a hit on a real sore point. "Okay, okay," he said, trying to collect his thoughts. "So you know, huh. Well it doesn't make any difference. You're a smart guy. Too smart for me. I don't want you around any more."

"That's right, Mark, we don't want you around any more. We've already decided on someone else to be press secretary. Someone of my own choosing," Angela gushed, sticking in the knife.

By then I had a sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach. When I thought of how hard and long I had worked to bring Cataldo victory, and now it was all going down the drain because of that dyke. Why is it all the bastards get ahead in this world? And the rest of us get the short end of the stick?

"Johnny, you can't be serious. You can't dump me now. I practically made you. I sweated my back off for you. There's no one around who can do the same job."

"Oh, yes, there is, smart guy," Angela said. "We've got a news secretary with class. You look sick in comparison."

"All right," I said wearily, "Who is it?"

"Sarah Whynot," Angela smirked. "Now what do you think of that?"

I turned to Cataldo, "Johnny, you can't be serious. Don't you see what Angela is doing. We both know she's a Lesbian. She's setting up Sarah Whynot as your news secretary so she can try and seduce her. It's as plain as the nose on your face."

"Why you son of a bitch!" Angela screamed. "Johnny, throw him out. Toss the ass out!"

"Out, junior," Cataldo ordered. "You're through right now. And make it fast, I've got an acceptance speech to deliver and can't take any more time with the-likes of you."

"With the-likes of me?" I said. I had to laugh. That S.O.B. I had more class in my little finger than he had in his entire fat torso. "Good luck to you, Cataldo," I spat. "You stink. You're nothing without me and you never will be."

"Get out!" Cataldo roared. "Out!"

Cataldo looked as if he was going to have apoplexy so I shrugged my shoulder and strode out. Back out in the corridor, my mind whirled about with a hundred ways I could get even with him.

I returned to Ima's suite. She was aghast when I had informed her of the conversation with Cataldo.

"The pig," she said. "I'm so sorry for you, Mark. I thought this was going to be a happy occasion for you. The bellboy is bringing up two bottles of champagne."

"Ah, Ima, I'm already reconciling myself to it. The champagne sounds great. Funny isn't it? When he was telling me I was through, I thought it was the end of the world. That was only a few minutes ago. And now already. I am adjusting to the situation. I guess I've just been in this cruddy business too long to let anything really upset me any more."

Ima already had a drink in my hand. "Here's to us, Mark," she said, her voice sultry and inviting. "I'll make it up to you. Forget that pig. I'll never know why Washington wants that type in power. They're a disgrace, especially when you think of all the high-class guys around with brains and good looks."

I downed the drink in a couple of swallows. Ima went to get me a refill.

"It's just my pride now," I said. "To think that fat slob beat me out of that job after I fractured my hump for him. That's what's really killing me."

There was a knock at the door. Ima strode across the room to let in the bellhop. He pushed a serving tray carrying a big ice bucket containing two bottles of chilled Piper-Heidsick 1947. Nothing but the best for Ima.

"Take off your jacket and relax, Mark. Pour us some champagne. We'll come up with something to fix Mr. Cataldo."

I slipped off the jacket and tossed it onto a chair. I popped the champagne and poured two glasses. Ima, clad again in her pant-suit through which her bikini was clearly visible, took the glass.

"Well, Mark, here's to us. It always comes back to that, doesn't it? Good luck."

"Thanks, Ima. You're a jewel. A real comfort. A great girl. Salud."

We downed the champagne without stopping. I poured us both another glass. Ima slid over and I sat down beside her. Her lush round hip burned my thigh. My thoughts already were turning to more pleasant subjects.

"What are you thinking about, Mark?"

"About you, Ima," I said straightforwardly. "But I would like to decide about Cataldo first."

"Thank you for always being honest," Ima said. "Let's put our collective heads together and I'm sure we can fix him."

I sipped my champagne. My thoughts flashed back through the past six months. Man, how hard I had worked. But that was water over the dam. And as for tonight, I couldn't threaten him on the death of Mar" I would only implicate Tony and myself.

It was Ima who finally decided how we should settle with Cataldo. Cataldo knew his wife was a Lesbian and had adjusted to that fact. But he didn't know she also liked it the other way as proven by her actions with me. So we would show him how Angela could put out when she wanted to. It would kill him.

"But won't my face show?" I asked.

"No, we'll have it doctored up. We won't send him the entire film. Just some select slides we'll have made up extra big. He'll really enjoy viewing them at home. I figure he'll send Angela packing once he gets a look at them. And I'm sure Sarah Whynot will go out on her backside at the same time."

"That's all right," I said. "It'll be thirty for that smart broad. Maybe for him too. No governor with a divorce will get very far today."

"And we'll be in the free and clear by then. No one can get down on me. I did my job as far as Washington is concerned. Cataldo got the nomination. That's all I was supposed to assure," Ima noted.

We downed some more champagne. My head was getting a little dizzy and I thought how nice it was going to be to go again with Ima. She was a good kid.

"And I've got a big surprise for you too, Mark," she said. "I was holding back just in case Cataldo lost. But the offer is just as good this way. They want you to come to Washington as my assistant. I know you like to be top guy. But you will be, at night with me. How about it?"

"Hey, Washington, how about that," I said excited about my new prospect. "Yeh, sounds great, Ima. Time I shook this burg anyway. And like you said, you may be top dog during the day, but I'll be on top at night. Can't beat that combination can you?"

"You certainly can't," she said, pulling me to her cozy body.