Trevayne by Robert Ludlum Page B

her.
    “You’re a rough old lady, you know that?”
    “Andy?” Phyllis Trevayne looked at her husband calmly, but with a fear he rightfully had never seen before. “Whoever it was tried to rape me. I remember that.”
    “I’m glad you do. He didn’t.”
    “I don’t think so.… Why, Andy, why?”
    “I don’t know, Phyl. But I’m going to find out.”
    “Where
were
you?”
    “In a traffic accident. At least, I thought it was an accident. I’m not sure now.”
    “What are we going to do?”
    “Not we, Phyl. Me. I have to reach a man in Washington. I don’t want any part of them.”
    “I don’t understand you.”
    “Neither do I, really. But I think there’s a connection.”
    “The President’s in Camp David, Mr. Trevayne. I’m sorry, it wouldn’t be convenient to reach him now. What’s the matter?”
    Trevayne told Robert Webster what had happened to his wife. The presidential aide was speechless.
    “Did you hear what I said?”
    “Yes.… Yes, I did. It’s horrible.”
    “Is that all you can say? Do you know what the President and Hill
told
me last week?”
    “I have a good idea. The chief and I discussed it; I explained that.”
    “Is this connected? I want to know if this is part of it! I have a right to know!”
    “I can’t answer you. I don’t think he could, either. You’re at the Plaza? I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”
    Webster hung up, and Andrew Trevayne held the disconnected telephone in his grip. They could all go
screw!
The Senate hearing was scheduled for two-thirty the next afternoon, and he’d tell them all to go to hell! Phyllis was no part of the bargain! It was one thing to go after him; he could handle that. Not his family. He’d level those bastards at two-thirty tomorrow as they’d never been leveled! And he’d hold a press conference afterward. He’d let the whole goddamn country know what kind of pigs inhabited a town called Washington, D.C.! He didn’t need it! He was
Andrew Trevayne!
    He replaced the telephone in its cradle and walked over to the hotel bed. Phyllis was asleep. He sat down on a chair and stroked her hair. She moved slightly, started to open her eyes, and then shut them again. She’d been through so much. And now this!
    The telephone rang, its bell causing him to jerk his head up, frightened, furious.
    He ran to it.
    “Trevayne! It’s the President. I’ve just heard. How’s your wife?”
    “Asleep, sir.” Trevayne was amazed at himself. In the midst of his anguish he still found the presence of mind to say “Sir.”
    “Christ, boy! I haven’t any words! What can I say to you? What can I do?”
    “Release me, Mr. President. Because if you don’t, I’m going to have a great deal to say tomorrow afternoon. Inside the hearing and out.”
    “Of course, Andrew. It goes without saying.” The President of the United States paused before speaking further. “She’s all right? Your wife
is
all
right?
”
    “Yes, sir.… It was a … terror tactic, I guess. An obscene … 
obscene
thing.” Trevayne had to hold his breath. He was afraid of the words that might come out of his mouth.
    “Trevayne, listen to me. Andrew, listen! You may never forgive me for what I am about to say to you. If you feel strong enough, I’ll accept the consequences and expect your roughest condemnation tomorrow. I won’t rebut you … But you must think now. With your
head
. I’ve had to do it hundreds of times—granted, not like this—but, nevertheless, when it hurt badly.… The country knows you’ve been chosen. The hearing is only a formality now. If you tell them to shove it up their ass, how are you going to do it without paining your wife further?… Don’t you see? This is exactly what they want!”
    Trevayne took a deep breath and replied evenly. “I have no intention of paining my wife further or of allowing any part of you to touch us. I don’t need you, Mr. President. Do I make myself clear?”
    “You certainly do. And I agree