Offshore by Gary Brandner

Author:Gary Brandner [Brandner, Gary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781440544422
Publisher: Prologue Books
Published: 1978-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Andrew York packed the last of his things into the lightweight suitcase that lay open on the rack at the foot of the bed. He tucked the rolled pairs of socks in around the folded shirts and trousers, and he was through. Packing was an operation that always gave him pleasure. If you did it correctly, everything fitted neatly into its place as though it belonged right there and nowhere else.

The congressman sat down for a moment on the bed, which he had made up even though he was checking out and the maid would be in to change the linen. He relaxed, enjoying the feeling of being all ready to go with time to spare. He hated rushing around at the last minute.

The car would be here for him in an hour. There would be a quick stop at City Hall to say a formal good-bye to Mayor Deitrich, then he would be driven into Los Angeles to catch a plane back to Washington. York smiled at the thought of returning home.

How different everything seemed today than it had just twenty-four hours ago. When he had talked to Earle Jellicoe on the telephone early that morning he knew at once that it was all right again. The warmth was back in Earle’s voice, and talking to the young man, York felt the old excitement and affection again. Whatever had been causing the trouble between them was over. York would not bring it up. If sometime in the future Earle wanted to tell him about it, fine, but he would not ask.

Besides, York had his own secret now — Teddy. Probably it would have never happened had the boy not come at a time when York’s defenses were at their lowest. He had not allowed himself a one-night stand in a long time. Around Washington he was much too careful for that sort of thing.

Here in California, however, he could afford a momentary letdown. And the boy had been just what York needed. Teddy had gone quickly away afterward, without making a scene or asking for anything. York thought with near-affection of the boy, but he was grateful that the thing was over and done with.

Yes, he decided, the time in Santa Marta had been well-spent in a number of ways. It was pleasant to get away from the horrid Washington winter for a spell, and the separation had seemed to help patch up the trouble between him and Earle. Also, he had come to a decision about which way to steer his committee in the Caloil matter. That was, after all, his official reason for being here.

The telephone rang. York glanced at his watch, wondering if the car could be early. He hoped not. He was enjoying this little time alone to relax and anticipate his return to Washington.

When he picked up the phone, it was not his driver on the line. It was Wesley Traveller.

“Mr. York, I wonder if I could have a word with you,” Traveller said.

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