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perhaps, at such a young age, she decided the jump was a little too early, a degree premature.
    That said, he knew he was the one, if unwittingly, who put a real hold on any potential individual political career plans his wife may have harboured. For, not long after she turned down the Party’s offer, she met the young, ambitious assistant AG from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office – a good looking, charismatic, forward-thinking young man with high principles and the tenacity to match. And for some reason, she had decided that her ‘eggs’ were better placed in his basket, that her energies – personally and professionally – would be more productive if invested in this man, this potential political phenomenon, with all his flaws and lofty ideals.
    They were married within months of their first introduction, after which she moved to Richmond, the following year giving birth to Thomas Bradshaw Jnr. She became a wife, a mother, and powerful political ally all at the same time – even managing to hold down a close to full-time position as legal advisor to the Latham administration.
    While he had the high goals and more than enough drive to see them through, she was always there – supporting his choices, fostering his political advancement, suggesting, strategising, organising and reinforcing the issues that put votes in his pocket.
    She was a huge asset, there was no doubt, but sometimes he could not help but wonder if living vicariously through him would ultimately be enough. She was ‘in’ the game, but not the ‘box seat’ which in many ways seemed a waste of her incredible political intellect.
    Of course, she had never voiced any regrets; never mentioned what
could have
and probably
would have
been if she had chosen an alternative route – but then, when he thought about it, that was probably why he loved her so much, because of her unselfish dedication to
him
, and her magnanimous refusal to dwell on what might have been.
    â€˜All right then,’ she smiled, interrupting his thoughts and turning towards the door. ‘I am going to ask Karl if Mother has left the building. As soon as your parents get here, they’ll call for us. You have roughly,’ she looked at her diamond-clustered Cartier, ‘thirty-nine minutes before you have to head downstairs.
    â€˜I would have preferred that you’d had more time to rest this evening but . . . ,’ she looked back towards him, a slip of concern sliding across her flawless features. ‘Oliver mentioned Dick needed a moment.’ She was referring to CIA Director Richard Ryan who had requested a late, last-minute briefing with the Vice President.
    Despite his friendship with Ryan, Bradshaw knew his wife had little time for the CIA’s top man. True, Ryan was not the most personable of characters, but they went
way
back, and her aversion to his oldest comrade had always been a source of discomfort.
    â€˜It’s a new problem,’ he said. ‘Of special interest to me, and I asked him to keep me updated.’
    â€˜I know he is an old university buddy, darling, and that he has helped you through some hard times, but surely a briefing could have waited until tomorrow morning. You look tired. You could use a few minutes’ break.’
    â€˜It’s not Dick’s fault. I am the one with all the questions.’
    â€˜On national security?’
    â€˜Not so much an external threat, this one could be closer to home. It involves that new corporate drug cartel – I think I mentioned it to you;A-grade drugs for white collar clients? Dick thinks they may have a distribution base somewhere on the east coast, somewhere with easy access to New York, Boston, Washington.’
    â€˜I remember, but if it’s local, then shouldn’t it be a matter for the FBI? I mean the CIA have tabs on Panama, but not on Philadelphia.’
    â€˜Dick wants to keep this one to