“Am I out numbered on this one ?” she asks

“You can be out numbered several million to one but at the end of the day we are all here to serve at the pleasure of the President “ Peggy points out

“Kit ? “

“We do need to know what we are dealing with “ Kit says “ When we do that then we see what we are up against. If its booze and painkillers which is what it seems to me – then she has to be talked into getting help “

“Which she will not do while she thinks that you are going to let her in the White House again” Peggy says “ I am sorry Bette but it has to be said that if she believes there is some sort of hope for her while she is doing what she is doing then she will keep doing it“

“For an addict to keep up with their addiction there has to be some sort of bonus for them I hate to refer again to Helena but she told me that only when she was drinking did she not hurt. When she sobered up the pain came back 100 times worse so she drank again. It is a vicious cycle “ I say

Bette rubs her neck – at least she doesn’t look wound up. She does seem to be dealing with this situation better than I thought she would.

“Okay – CJ – can you arrange for her to be kept under 24 hour watch – I would like daily reports”

CJ nods – I know that Bette will have hated agreeing to that

“If she is in need of re-hab I want her in the best possible one “

“I will speak to the clinic where Helena was – really Bette it is the best “

Bette nods “ Thank you “

“What about the newspaper story ?” Alice asks

“Do we have any personal contacts on the paper ?” Kit looks at me

Oh dear – I wish she hadn’t asked that – I dated the deputy political editor for a year. That is one of my exes that Bette does not know about – and the woman in question has not made any sort of capital out of the relationship. For me to ring her now over this one would rightly set off alarm bells. But if I speak to her will that be enough for her to be convinced to drop the story. No – it wouldn’t be right.