“Mr. President,” Benjamin Benares replied, “this man is well known to me because of his tremendous skill in foreign policy. He would be a splendid representative for you at official meetings abroad.” He paused. “And if I may say so, sir, he would help you greatly with the youth vote in the next presidential election. He has a lot of appeal to younger voters.”

“But what about some of the other candidates?” Ted Rust asked. “Surely there must be others. What about the secretary of defense, Al Augustus? He’s certainly very capable.”

“Indeed, he is, sir,” Benjamin Benares answered. “Very capable. But, sir, Augustus is indispensable to you at the Department of Defense. How could you replace a man like him in such a crisis?”

“That’s right, Ben,” Ted Rust answered. “Didn’t think of that.”

“There’s another point,” Benjamin Benares said. “A sitting member of Congress can get approval overnight. I don’t know how long it might take to confirm someone else.”

Rust warmed to the thought. “Beaulieu. Vice President Mark Beaulieu. It doesn’t sound bad, does it? Ben, get my wife on the phone, then see if you can get Beaulieu over here ASAP.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. President,” Benjamin Benares replied as he bowed ever so slightly and exited the room.

Within minutes, the president’s personal buzzer sounded. “Your wife is on the line, Mr. President.”

Ted snatched up the phone. “Valery!” he said. “I like this Benjamin Benares you got for me. Got a level head on his shoulders. But tell me something. What would you think of a congressman named Mark Beaulieu for my new vice president?”

Valery, who had already been briefed on the plan by Tauriq Haddad, tried not to appear overly enthusiastic. “Mark Beaulieu? That’s interesting. Who suggested him?” she asked. “Surely, you didn’t come up with his name by yourself.”

“Came up in a call from the Speaker. Benares seems to like the idea too.”

“Beaulieu,” Valery mused. “Mark Beaulieu, huh? Rich, good-looking, quite a speaker, and gets rave reviews in the press. Ted, you could do a lot worse.”

“Does that mean you approve?”

“Sure, I do. The selection of a New York congressman like Beaulieu would look like a stroke of genius. I think you should go for it.”

“Good, Valery,” Ted replied. “Thanks. I knew I could count on your advice.”

Ted Rust could never be accused of having an analytical mind. Nor could he ever be charged with overcaution. He charged through life following his instincts, which were like putty in the hands of those who wished to exploit him.

That night, he forwarded to the Congress the name of Congressman Mark Beaulieu to be the constitutional successor to the president of the United States. The next day, by acclamation, Mark Beaulieu was confirmed by Congress as the new vice president of the United States.

From that moment on, Ted Rust’s days on earth were numbered.

Chapter Thirteen