Chapter 527 - 245: Seeing Through
Washington, Georgetown District.
This was one of the oldest and most expensive neighborhoods in the entire city.
The cobblestone streets were lined with 18th-century red-brick townhouses, and behind every door could live a retired ambassador or a Supreme Court justice.
Late at night, a black Chevrolet Suburban pulled to a stop at the end of a secluded alley.
Leo Wallace opened the car door and stepped out into the rain.
He walked up to an unmarked, three-story building and rang the doorbell.
The door opened. A burly man in a black suit and an earpiece blocked the entrance, sizing up Leo with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Leo Wallace."
Leo gave his name.
The burly man stepped aside to let him pass.
This was a private club, not open to the public.
Richard Taylor was sitting in an armchair by the first-floor fireplace.
"You’re punctual, Mr. Mayor."
Taylor gestured to the chair opposite him.
"Have a seat."
Leo took off his drenched overcoat and handed it to a nearby attendant.
He sat down without touching the drink on the table.
"I hope the reason you asked to see me is that you’ve figured out what you want to do," Taylor said.
"Mr. Taylor." Leo got straight to the point. "I’m here to discuss a business deal with you."
"A business deal?" Taylor scoffed. "We’re not interested in small-time stuff."
"This deal is called Pennsylvania."
Leo uttered the word.
"Go on."
"I know you’ve had your eyes on Pennsylvania for a long time."
Leo leaned forward, trying to project a sense of pressure.
"The general election is in two years, and Pennsylvania is a swing state you must win. But the current situation doesn’t favor you."
"Although the Republican Party’s base is still solid, the Democratic Party’s Governor Bob Campbell has stable approval ratings. As long as he’s in office and Pennsylvania’s economy is running, it will be very difficult for you to turn the tables statewide."
"You need an opening."
"You need chaos within the Democratic Party."
Leo paused, giving Taylor time to process the information.
"So, how are you going to throw the Democratic Party into chaos?" Taylor asked.
"What if I have a way to take Campbell down?"
Leo dangled the bait.
"What if I have a way to completely smash the statewide machine the Democratic Party has been building in Pennsylvania for over a decade?"
"What if I can plunge the Democratic Party into a bloody civil war, have the progressives and the Establishment Faction tear each other apart in Harrisburg, and make moderate voters utterly despair of the Democratic Party’s ability to govern?"
"Mr. Taylor, is this a deal you’re interested in?"
Of course Taylor was interested.
This was the exact scenario the Republican Party had been dreaming of.
A divided, chaotic, and scandal-ridden Democratic State Government would be the best catalyst for the Republican Party to retake Pennsylvania.
"You can do this?" Taylor’s voice was laced with doubt. "You’re just a mayor, Leo. Even though you’ve been stirring things up in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg is a whole other level of the game."
Taylor suddenly slapped his forehead as if in a moment of epiphany, an exaggerated expression spreading across his face.
"Wait a minute, Leo. You didn’t actually take what I said on the phone last time seriously, did you?"
"I thought we were just joking around, swapping some political gossip. You don’t really think we’d support you in taking down your own governor, do you? That would be so unseemly."
Leo watched Taylor’s performance, feeling nothing.
He knew this was the knee-jerk reaction of a Washington politician.
A meaningless disclaimer, or perhaps a subconscious attempt to apply pressure.
This kind of conversational reflex was like breathing to these people, embedded deep in their bones.
Leo ignored the clumsy probing and continued calmly, "I have my methods. I have public opinion, the unions, and some bargaining chips you don’t know about."
"But I need help."
"I need your people in Harrisburg to play a part in a show I’m putting on."
Taylor dropped the expression. "Spit it out."
"I want the State Senate."
Leo stated his condition.
"I want your Republican Party caucus in the State Senate to support a personnel change I’m making."
"What change?"
"I want to replace the current Acting President of the Senate, Gareth Kaufman."
"Kaufman?" Taylor was surprised. "He’s one of ours. He’s a key figure in our control of the State Assembly. You’re asking me to help an outsider take down one of my own men?"
"He’s useless."
Leo said bluntly.
"He’s too hung up on so-called bipartisan cooperation. As long as he’s in charge, Campbell can get his budgets through the State Assembly and keep the government running."
"Mr. Taylor, is a smoothly running Pennsylvania what you want to see?"
"No."
Leo said coldly.
"You want to see a shutdown, a stalemate, a paralysis."
"Only when the government is paralyzed will the voters get angry and cast their ballots for the opposition party."
"Kaufman can’t do that, but the person I’ve chosen can."
"Who?" Taylor asked.
"William Saint Cloud."
Hearing the name, Taylor fell silent.
Then Leo saw him take out his phone and do a quick search.
A moment later, he burst out laughing.
"That playboy? The rich heir who doesn’t know how to do anything but spend money?"
"That’s right." Leo smiled too. "That’s the one."
"I need a fool in that seat."
"A fool who doesn’t understand any of the rules of politics and will do nothing but bang the gavel on command."
"As long as William is the Acting President, I can control the Senate’s agenda through him."