in your SUV, push the button for the gate to open, and ease out.”
“Okay, got it.” He let out a small chuckle. “Seems like everything’s on track so far.”
“So far.”
Snow went downstairs, where Liz was peeking out the drapes. She turned and sized him up. “Was that Debra? You two plotting again?” Her tone was less accusatory than their encounter coming home from O’Hare.
“Just trying to figure out how to escape.”
During long conversations in the preceding days, Eric had assured Liz that she could spend most of her time in Illinois while he was in Washington and that he would continue to privately fund her African philanthropy if he won appointment to the Senate. She didn’t relish the public spotlight or playing the role of hostess for Washington soirées, and there still was much to work out between them, but she had grudgingly given Eric the green light to proceed — even though it was a very pale green indeed.
Snow’s exit from his house proceeded according to Debra’s instructions, although he was a bit taken aback by some of the questions hurled by the reporters: “What about separation of church and state?” “Would you represent Muslims and Jews, or just Christians?” “Are people who disagree with you going to hell?”
III
After Snow’s black SUV — an American–made hybrid, he was always quick to point out — snaked through the crowd of journalists, several of them took up positions for live feeds back to the morning shows, including Julia Holderman of Have A Good Day, Chicago.
“I’m here at the suburban home of Reverend Eric Snow, who’s among two finalists for replacing indicted U.S. Senator Sam Barker, whose guilty plea is reportedly imminent,” she said, pushing an errant earpiece back into place while keeping her eyes fixed on the camera.
“Snow didn’t have much to say as he retrieved his morning newspaper.” She paused while the video of Snow’s comments was played for the home audience.
“Snow, of course, is the high–profile pastor of Diamond Point Fellowship, the megachurch attended by thousands each week, among them the daughter of Governor Avanes,” she continued. “Prior to founding DPF, he started Snow Visionary Software, drawing on his finance degree and MBA,” she said, in error on the last detail. “He advised President George W. Bush on the Israeli–Palestinian situation and gained statewide acclaim as a leader of the task force that solved the RTA’s seemingly intractable fiscal crisis.”
Back in the studio, co–host Deanna Foster posed a question — one for which the reporter had already researched an answer. “Isn’t it unusual for a pastor to be considered for appointment to a national stage like this?”
“Well, Jimmy Carter taught Sunday school at a Baptist church before and after his presidency,” Holderman replied. “William Harrison was a vestryman at an Episcopal church, James Garfield preached at revival meetings when he was in his twenties, and William McKinley studied to become a Methodist minister.”
Foster appeared satisfied with the prepared script. “What would be the political gain for the governor if he appointed Snow?”
“State Republicans are splintered into several warring factions; by appointing someone unaligned with any of those blocs, he avoids alienating large sections of the party. Also, Snow’s integrity hasn’t been challenged, which would be refreshing in light of this scandal surrounding Senator Barker. Of course, both those facts are also true of Chief Criminal Courts Judge Reese McKelvie, who’s also up for consideration.”
As Holderman recited her answer, Foster was frantically flipping through background notes prepared by a staff researcher. A producer prompted her through her earpiece: “No confirmation hearings.”
When the camera’s red light blinked on again, Foster looked up and said with an air of confident authority, “Of course, neither Snow nor McKelvie would have to
“Okay, got it.” He let out a small chuckle. “Seems like everything’s on track so far.”
“So far.”
Snow went downstairs, where Liz was peeking out the drapes. She turned and sized him up. “Was that Debra? You two plotting again?” Her tone was less accusatory than their encounter coming home from O’Hare.
“Just trying to figure out how to escape.”
During long conversations in the preceding days, Eric had assured Liz that she could spend most of her time in Illinois while he was in Washington and that he would continue to privately fund her African philanthropy if he won appointment to the Senate. She didn’t relish the public spotlight or playing the role of hostess for Washington soirées, and there still was much to work out between them, but she had grudgingly given Eric the green light to proceed — even though it was a very pale green indeed.
Snow’s exit from his house proceeded according to Debra’s instructions, although he was a bit taken aback by some of the questions hurled by the reporters: “What about separation of church and state?” “Would you represent Muslims and Jews, or just Christians?” “Are people who disagree with you going to hell?”
III
After Snow’s black SUV — an American–made hybrid, he was always quick to point out — snaked through the crowd of journalists, several of them took up positions for live feeds back to the morning shows, including Julia Holderman of Have A Good Day, Chicago.
“I’m here at the suburban home of Reverend Eric Snow, who’s among two finalists for replacing indicted U.S. Senator Sam Barker, whose guilty plea is reportedly imminent,” she said, pushing an errant earpiece back into place while keeping her eyes fixed on the camera.
“Snow didn’t have much to say as he retrieved his morning newspaper.” She paused while the video of Snow’s comments was played for the home audience.
“Snow, of course, is the high–profile pastor of Diamond Point Fellowship, the megachurch attended by thousands each week, among them the daughter of Governor Avanes,” she continued. “Prior to founding DPF, he started Snow Visionary Software, drawing on his finance degree and MBA,” she said, in error on the last detail. “He advised President George W. Bush on the Israeli–Palestinian situation and gained statewide acclaim as a leader of the task force that solved the RTA’s seemingly intractable fiscal crisis.”
Back in the studio, co–host Deanna Foster posed a question — one for which the reporter had already researched an answer. “Isn’t it unusual for a pastor to be considered for appointment to a national stage like this?”
“Well, Jimmy Carter taught Sunday school at a Baptist church before and after his presidency,” Holderman replied. “William Harrison was a vestryman at an Episcopal church, James Garfield preached at revival meetings when he was in his twenties, and William McKinley studied to become a Methodist minister.”
Foster appeared satisfied with the prepared script. “What would be the political gain for the governor if he appointed Snow?”
“State Republicans are splintered into several warring factions; by appointing someone unaligned with any of those blocs, he avoids alienating large sections of the party. Also, Snow’s integrity hasn’t been challenged, which would be refreshing in light of this scandal surrounding Senator Barker. Of course, both those facts are also true of Chief Criminal Courts Judge Reese McKelvie, who’s also up for consideration.”
As Holderman recited her answer, Foster was frantically flipping through background notes prepared by a staff researcher. A producer prompted her through her earpiece: “No confirmation hearings.”
When the camera’s red light blinked on again, Foster looked up and said with an air of confident authority, “Of course, neither Snow nor McKelvie would have to
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