All the President’s Menus by Julie Hyzy Read Free Book Online Page B

fingers in front of his nose. “I have additional information for you.”
    I waited.
    “It’s about the Saardiscan elections.”
    I remembered his jab about keeping up with headlines. “Go ahead.”
    Sargeant leaned forward, hands atop his blotter. “In my position as chief usher, I am privy to some intelligence. Not a great deal of it, but from time to time, I am granted access to information I need to know in order to perform my job to the best of my abilities.”
    “What are you trying to tell me?”
    “You understand, Ms. Paras, that I am choosing to divulge certain things to you, trusting that you’ll keep them confidential.”
    “You know I will.”
    He nodded. “Our agencies’ sources have reason to believe that Kerry Freiberg may have a better chance at winning the election than the Saardiscan administration is allowing the world to believe.”
    That
was
news. “What does that have to do with me? Or our chef guests?”
    He leaned back again, watching me with his tiny, squirrel-like eyes. “As you know, Ms. Freiberg is a revolutionary in her country. She wants to establish alliances with other countries, and has expressed her willingness to negotiate on everything from arms to trade.”
    “I thought that was why she had no chance of winning.”
    “It seems the winds of change are blowing in Saardisca.” Sargeant folded his hands on his desk again. “Because her chances seem to be improving, President Hyden wants to do his utmost to make her feel welcome while she’s here. He’s hopeful that perceived support from the United States will be enough to help her win the election.”
    “Sounds promising,” I said.
    “Our job is to ensure that all goes perfectly smoothly during her visit. I understand that working among men who dispute your authority doesn’t create an optimal environment, but I urge you to put your issues aside for the greater good. If doing so requires that Buckminster Reed take charge of the kitchen for the duration of their stay, so be it.”
    My jaw went slack. “You didn’t really just say that, did you?”
    He leaned forward over his hands. “I am not suggesting that you give up control of your kitchen, merely that you do what’s in the best interests of the country. If these visitors respond better to your assistant, why not find a way to make that work? Wouldn’t that be better than fighting with them for the next two weeks?”
    I was speechless. Struck dumb.
    When I didn’t respond, he lowered his voice. “Ms. Paras, I am not saying that this is your only option. If you can get these men to respect your authority in the short period of time that they’re here, I will personally congratulate you. I’m merely suggesting that you see the problem logically. And that you do whatever you must to achieve our goal.”
    “Are you suggesting that the ends justify the means?”
    “On occasion, they do. This may be one of those times.”
    “I will make this work. My way,” I said. I felt the blood rise into my cheeks and I took pleasure in the fact that Sargeant seemed the tiniest bit alarmed. “Count on it.”

CHAPTER 6

    I stole a few precious minutes to put in a call to Gav, to ask about how things were going with Bill and Erma. His phone went to voice mail. I didn’t leave a message, knowing he would return the call when he could.
    I then hurried up to the pastry kitchen, taking a quick look around for the raspberry sauce that the Saardiscans and Marcel had all tasted. None of the other men had fallen ill, so I didn’t believe the sauce was at fault, but I did want to get a closer look at it.
    I found it in a small, open container, sitting on a countertop. This probably should have been refrigerated, but in the excitement and chaos from the day before, no one would have thought to put it away. Four spoons sat next to the container, and it was clear from the smeared red markings on their bowls that these had been used for sampling.
    What I wanted, most of all, was to