deception point | Page 4

“You’re not. The President is. You should jump ship before it’s too late.” “Haven’t we had this conversation?” “Think about your future, Rachel. You can come work for me.” “I hope that’s not why you asked me to breakfast.” The senator’s veneer of calm broke ever so slightly. “Rachel, can’t you see that your working for him reflects badly on me. And on my campaign.” Rachel sighed. She and her father had been through this. “Dad, I don’t work for the President. I haven’t even met the President. I work in Fairfax, for God’s sake!” “Politics is perception, Rachel. It appears you work for the President.” Rachel exhaled, trying to keep her cool. “I worked too hard to get this job, Dad. I’m not quitting.” The senator’s eyes narrowed. “You know, sometimes your selfish attitude really—”

“Senator Sexton?” A reporter materialized beside the table. Sexton’s demeanor thawed instantly. Rachel groaned and took a croissant from the basket on the table. “Ralph Sneeden,” the reporter said. “Washington Post. May I ask you a few questions?” The senator smiled, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. “My pleasure, Ralph. Just make it quick. I don’t want my coffee getting cold.” The reporter laughed on cue. “Of course, sir.” He pulled out a minirecorder and turned it on. “Senator, your television ads call for legislation ensuring equal salaries for women in the workplace…as well as for tax cuts for new families. Can you comment on your rationale?” “Sure. I’m simply a huge fan of strong women and strong families.” Rachel practically choked on her croissant. “And on the subject of families,” the reporter followed up, “you talk a lot about education. You’ve proposed some highly controversial budget cuts in an effort to allocate more funds to our nation’s schools.” “I believe the children are our future.” Rachel could not believe her father had sunk to quoting pop songs. “Finally, sir,” the reporter said, “you’ve taken an enormous jump in the polls these past few weeks. The President has got to be worried. Any thoughts on your recent success?” “I think it has to do with trust. Americans are starting to see that the President cannot be trusted to make the tough decisions facing this nation. Runaway government spending is putting this country deeper in debt every day, and

Americans are starting to realize that it’s time to stop spending and start mending.” Like a stay of execution from her father’s rhetoric, the pager in Rachel’s handbag went off. Normally the harsh electronic beeping was an unwelcome interruption, but at the moment, it sounded almost melodious. The senator glared indignantly at having been interrupted. Rachel fished the pager from her handbag and pressed a preset sequence of five buttons, confirming that she was indeed the person holding the pager. The beeping stopped, and the LCD began blinking. In fifteen seconds she would receive a secure text message. Sneeden grinned at the senator. “Your daughter is obviously a busy woman. It’s refreshing to see you two still find time in your schedules to dine together.” “As I said, family comes first.” Sneeden nodded, and then his gaze hardened. “Might I ask, sir, how you and your daughter manage your conflicts of interest?” “Conflicts?” Senator Sexton cocked his head with an innocent look of confusion. “What conflicts do you mean?” Rachel glanced up, grimacing at her father’s act. She knew exactly where this was headed. Damn reporters, she thought. Half of them were on political payrolls. The reporter’s question was what journalists called a grapefruit—a question that was supposed to look like a tough inquiry but was in fact a scripted favor to the senator—a slow lob pitch that her father could line up and smash out of the park, clearing the air about a few things. “Well, sir…” The reporter coughed, feigning uneasiness over the question. “The conflict is that your daughter works for your opponent.”

Senator Sexton exploded in laughter, defusing the question instantly. “Ralph, first of all, the President and I are not opponents. We are simply two patriots who have different ideas about how to run the country we love.” The reporter beamed. He had his sound bite. “And second?” “Second, my daughter is not employed by the President; she is employed by the intelligence community. She compiles intel reports and sends them to the White House. It’s a fairly low-level position.” He paused and looked at Rachel. “In fact, dear, I’m not sure you’ve even met the President, have you?” Rachel stared, her eyes smoldering. The beeper chirped, drawing Rachel’s gaze to the incoming message on the LCD screen. —RPRT DIRNRO STAT— She deciphered the shorthand instantly and frowned. The message was unexpected, and most certainly bad news. At least she had her exit cue. “Gentlemen,” she said. “It breaks my heart, but I have