Grass Roots by Stuart Woods

Author:Stuart Woods [Woods, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 2011-03-09T06:00:00+00:00

"You have done the right thing, and I won't forget it."

"It's been a privilege, sir," Jenkins replied. He walked on air all the way to his car. when Jenkins had left, the Archon went through the photographs again.

The man certainly did good work; he would remember that. The pictures were nicely shot and expertly printed--all the details were there, including the ecstatic faces of both the participants.

The Archon picked up a telephone and dialed a number.

"Hello?" a man's voice said.

"Hello," the Archon replied.

"You know who this is?"

"Yes, sure. You heard about Jim Winslow getting the Republican nomination?"

"Yes, within minutes."

"Not what we'd hoped."

"It's unacceptable," the Archon replied, "but don't despair just yet.

I've told you we're going to have an effect on elections in this state, and believe me, we're just getting started. To that end, I want to place something of importance in the hands of just the right journalist. This is not the sort of story that might appeal to the nobler members of the profession, if you get my drift."

"Newspaper or TV?"

"Wherever it will get the most play. You're a better judge of that than I; I just don't want it traceable to us."

"Mmmm. I think I might have an idea; fellow on the Columbus Beacon, name of Huel Hardaway."

"Does he have credibility with his colleagues?"

"I think so. He's thought to be a little over the hill, drinks a fair bit, but he drinks with other press people.

I've heard that he makes more money than he's been worth, lately, and his position at his paper is not very secure. He might jump at something big, even if it was on the questionable side."

"He sounds ideal. How soon can you get some material to him?"

"Tomorrow, if you're in a hurry."

"Not too big a hurry. We've got a few days before the primary. I'd like this to break late; say, the Sunday papers before the Tuesday primary. I don't want the story to have time to cool before the vote."

"You've got something on one of the candidates?"

"When you see the material, you'll know who. Another thing, I don't want this to seem to come from his opponent.

We don't want a backfire."

"I think I can manage that all right, but I'm a little confused. What do we care who wins the primary?"

"We want our man to have the opponent who's easiest to beat, don't we?"

"But Jim Winslow isn't exactly our man."

"You let me worry about that."

"Now listen, I know Winslow, and he will never be reliable for us."

"I'm aware of that," the Archon said with some irritation.

"No offense, I just... well, I'll let you handle it."

"You do that. I'll leave the material in your mailbox before midnight.

You just get it to your man, Hardaway, tomorrow, but stress that he holds it until Sunday."

"Yes, sir."

The Archon hung up, then sat quietly for a moment.

The upset he had felt at the selection by the Republicans of Winslow was ebbing away. He saw his way clearly now. This little private detective, Jenkins, had given him the means to control the primary.

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