Id be a lot better if I were a lot further ahead in the polls, she said. A waitress handed Perry Mason a menu. Five! Like they would care. Brad treats them like crap. You givin Frank a problem, man? This close Billy smelled of cloying beer, cigarettes and sweat. He was ready. His hands were fists. Sizable fists. The man who wanted to be president was seated in his shirt-sleeves behind a large carved desk in a book-lined room that must have been the library.Hello, Bill, he said as he got up and stretched out his hand. The Senator shook it and half-turned toward me. “You know Harvey, of course. Oh, I see. I hope you didnt come all this way to see us. But I suppose you didnt even know we were here. Our preliminary estimate showed that by cutting away the hill we could make a small fortune. It was a splendid business stroke, Mr. Mason. Then we found that the freeway was going to go through. That freeway will be needing dirt for a fill. Well be able to level the property, sell the dirt, and— Montgomery smiled inscrutably at Devine and disappeared somewhere. No, it was natural causes. Well, sort of. Really, Mr. Longmire, Tutor said. When President Gallops agreed to give you an appointment, I dont think he was expecting you to deliver a critique of his administration of the union. As we understood it, you were solely concerned with the disappearance of President Mix. I fail to see how that, tragic as it may be, has anything to do with the unions current affairs. Quite apparently, Mason said, affably, the fingerprints of the defendant are on that canoe also. Then perhaps you can help… Listen! Yes, yes, go on, never mind that. Ill go see her this afternoon, I said. After I go see the police and tell them how I found Max. Nor was Valentines laptop or phone anywhere to be found. But a suitcase he had spotted in the closet when he had previously searched Valentines room was gone, along with what looked to be some clothes. At least I hope to God it will..