he started to cough and leaned back in his bed . she 'd said the same tired thing too many times and she could n't even pretend tonight that it made a difference . the letter also said they had acquired the means . a part of me wants to slap him , teach him a lesson by way of smacking him across the lips with a nice long kiss . his platform was a scandal-free politician . lily leaned more of her weight on her hand on the woman 's desk . 