Everything to Lose by Gross Andrew

Author:Gross, Andrew [Gross, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

State Senator Frank Landry parked his car in the lot of the posh country club just outside Hartford and stepped inside the clubhouse. He admired the view of the eighteenth green through the large windows in the lobby, the well-known eighteenth hole covered in a layer of fresh white frost. It was a strange place to meet in January. Come April, the place would be alive in manicured, sweet-smelling green. Landry asked a red-vested club employee where the restaurant was and she directed him to the right. A pretty hostess was at a podium.

“Mr. Franzino, please,” Landry said.

“He just arrived.” The hostess grabbed a menu and led him in. “He’s over here.”

Landry didn’t exactly need her to direct him. There were only two tables with anyone at them in the room, and Landry had been acquainted with the head of the state’s Democratic Party for over ten years. Since Landry first contemplated running for office. Steve stood up as he arrived at the table. “Frank, thanks for coming out.” He grasped Landry’s hand warmly. “I’m sure it seems like a strange place to meet this time of year.”

“I was wondering,” he said. “Beautiful though, come April.”

“They used to have a PGA tourney here every July. All the pros. Anyway, one of the beauties of this time of year is that we can have the place pretty much to ourselves. Which comes in handy, I’ve found, when you want to escape everyone poking around into your business up in the capital. Sit, please.”

Landry took a seat and the hostess left the menu.

Steve said, “Thank you, Jill.”

Franzino was a muscular, barrel-chested guy, with bushy gray temples and thick hands, and he looked every bit the part he had played earlier in his career, that of the most intimidating union lobbyist in the state. He was tied into everything. A kingmaker or a career wrecker, depending on where his loyalties fell. A nod from him could do either. Landry asked for coffee. He ordered a fruit plate and a muffin. Franzino ordered a western omelet. They chatted for a while, mostly small talk related to the capital. At a pause Franzino looked at him earnestly. “So how’s it going, Frank?”

The question seemed to come with a lot of weight to it.

“Without Kathi,” the party chairman clarified. “Such a horrible, horrible thing, what happened down there. To lose her like that, with the family there. You spoke so beautifully at the service.”

“It’s tough, Steve. I won’t say otherwise. The house is empty without her. The kids miss her. I miss her, Steve.”

“Of course. Everyone does, Frank. She was a wonderful gal.”

Landry smiled. “Thanks.” He took a sip of his coffee. “But I know the head of the state Democratic Party didn’t ask me all the way down here to hear me talk about that.”

“No. No, I didn’t, Frank, you’re right. And of course, this is the kind of little powwow our colleagues up in Hartford or the local press there didn’t have to see.

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