The Last White Knight by Tami Hoag Page A

more a ploy to spend time with her than a plea for help. Erik’s conscience nipped him, but for once he ignored it. He wanted to know more aboutLynn Shaw. If he had to take a crash course in juvenile delinquents to get what he wanted, then so be it.
    Lynn’s eyes narrowed as she took another step back from him. She tightened her arms against her chest and shook her head. She’d made the mistake of letting him get too close too many times already. Getting involved with him would be an absolute disaster. She wouldn’t change his mind about girls like Regan—girls like she had been. He was too firmly indoctrinated in midwestern moral righteousness, the Scandinavian-Lutheran ethics of proper behavior. He probably had more in common with Elliot Graham than he did with her. He had it in his head now that he wanted her, but in the end he would disapprove of her the same way he disapproved of Regan, and she would end up standing alone with the pieces of another broken relationship crumbling in her hands.
    “You came here to lend your support to our cause and to get your face in the paper, Senator,” she said quietly as she turned toward the door. “Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Congratulations, you’re page one in the
Post Bulletin
today. Page three in the
Star Tribune
and
Pioneer Press
.”
    Erik wedged the receiver between his shoulder and ear, frowning as he tightened the knot in the dark green towel he’d hurriedly slung around his hips. His aide went on with all the enthusiasm of a hungry young political hound.
    “They called this morning to confirm some facts about your voting record. Lori and I conducted a little impromptu poll afterward and the general feeling so far is that you’re a hero for saving women from being thrown into the street. There’s been some negative vibes about the delinquent girls, but I think wecan downplay that angle and still get you good coverage. What do you think? Erik? Are you still there?”
    Erik stood staring out his bedroom window at the lush green woods beyond his backyard. Rob William’s words had hit him like a hammer. This was exactly the call he would have expected from his right-hand man. This was the kind of strategy they discussed every day. He’d never given it a second thought. This was the way the game was played. His was a high-profile profession, a profession that hung on public support. Most days he took it in stride. Today his stride faltered as a vision of Lynn’s face loomed up in his mind’s eye, her expression cynical and accusatory.
    “Erik?”
    “Yeah, Rob, I’m here,” he mumbled. Phone dangling from the fingertips of his left hand, he slowly paced the length of his bed, his bare feet brushing silently across the thick beige carpet. He listened with one ear as his aide filled him in on Elliot Graham’s designs on a recently vacated city council seat, then went on to other matters of concern on the agenda.
    “…  and we could schedule a press conference if you want, but don’t forget you’ve got lunch with Gary Pressman from
Minnesota Monthly
and a golf date with the governor at three.”
    “Cancel it.”
    The voice on the other end of the line was stuck between a chuckle of disbelief and the silence of outright shock. “W-What?”
    “You heard me,” Erik said decisively. “I can’t make it to the Cities today. If Pressman wants a story, he’ll have to come and get it. As for the governor, I think he’ll understand if you tell him I had more important things to do than commiserate with him about his slice.”
    “But—but—”
    “Thanks for the info on Graham. I’ll touch base later.”
    They said their good-byes, Rob sounding less than sure about his boss’s sudden change of plans. Erik set the phone down on the oak stand beside his bed and went into the bathroom to shave. He went about the task quietly, methodically, his actions automatic, his mind on Lynn.
    “You’re a jerk,” he said to himself at last.
    He stood before