Page 23 of A More Perfect Union

“You know I’m nota fan of the military, and what you’ve told me isn’t doing anything to changethat. The military bureaucracy is a big ole boys club, playing with people’slives.” Rook said. “Why not let them implode?”

“Just pretend fora minute it’s not about them,” Julia said. “It’s about a president that evenyou respect, trying to get something accomplished to quell the very seriousturbulence in the Middle East with a military establishment that makeseverything we do like wading through quicksand. The Pentagon has alreadystarted their own internal investigation, but you and I both know that’ll go abig fat nowhere, and when word gets out, Congress is going to yank funding fromevery project we have in the pipeline.”

“So what exactlydo you want me to do?”

“Oversee theinvestigation for us. Just work with whoever they assign and make sure theydon’t do anything super stupid that makes us all look bad.”

“Julia, really. Ido crisis management, not babysitting. If you want to call when this goes titsup, I’ll consider helping, but right now it sounds like a bureaucraticsnooze-fest.”

“Grow up, Rook.Real people do boring stuff sometimes, because a bunch of boring links make apretty strong chain. It’s called being an adult. Adults make things, they don’tjust fix them.”

Rook had walked awayfrom the meeting telling Julia she’d think about it. As the hours wore onduring her meeting with the Newman family, Julia’s words had stung, partlybecause they echoed the disapproval of her father who’d never understood howshe could throw away her law degree to, as he put it, tilt swords with thelikes of theNational Enquirer. She liked to think she’d long sincestopped caring what Richard Daniels expected of her, but old insecurities diedhard.

Ultimately, herdecision to work with the White House wasn’t about her father’s expectations.She’d been intrigued by what Julia had told her and she’d been even moreintrigued by what she hadn’t said. There was more to this story and sheintended to peel back the layers until she found out what was really going on.

Thinking of layersbrought Major Zoey Granger to mind. Julia had mentioned several times how theNine Tech scandal was the primary reason this story was likely to garner moreattention than it would in a regular news cycle. Zoey had done a great jobpacifying the Senate Armed Services Committee with how she’d reported the fraudimmediately upon discovery. She presented well, her testimony was articulateand forthright, and she’d risked her career to expose the crime. But the hookerscandal had no central hero, only a cast of dumbasses who put their libidos andegos ahead of duty. If Julia wanted Rook to spin shit into valor, it wasn’tgoing to be easy.

The guard at theWhite House security gate checked their names off his list and directed Georgeto a parking space, but Rook suggested he take off.

“I’ll wait.”

“I don’t know howlong I’ll be.”

“It’s okay.” Hepulled into the spot and cut the engine, closing the discussion. “I’ll be herewhen you come out.”

Rook shook her headand climbed out of the car, stopping by George’s window before she walked tothe portico. “Thanks.”

He nodded and pulleda copy of the latest Harlan Coben novel out of the console. “I’m pretty anxiousto find out what happens, so you’re really doing me a favor.”

Rook laughed. A fewminutes later, she showed her ID again to the Marine officers manning theentrance. She was issued a visitor’s badge and provided an escort in the formof a young male intern who could only be described as super pretty. As hewalked her through the halls, he asked if she’d been in the building before.

“A few times, butmostly in the East Wing for social functions.” She could tell he wanted to askfor details since West Wing interns probably didn’t attend a lot of White Housegalas, but instead he gave her a rambling narrative of the various rooms theypassed.

He was on his thirdspiel, “And this is the Roosevelt Room. Most people don’t know it’s named forboth Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt,” when Julia appeared in the hall aboutten feet in front of them.

“There you are. Thegate said you’d checked in, but I was beginning to think you’d snuck off to thebowling lanes.”

“Actually, thatsounds like a great alternative.” Rook placed a hand on the intern’s shoulder.“Clancy here was giving me the full tour.” She could feel his tension andwanted to keep him out of trouble. “The guy really knows his stuff.”

“Better him than me.I can recite the Constitution and have the entire Congressional delegationmemorized, but I can’t for the life of me tell you which Roosevelt that damnroom is named for. Clancy, thanks for your help, I’ve got it from here.”

Rook watched herguide amble off and wondered if she’d be better off joining him, but shedutifully followed Julia to her office.

“Saw your guy onGoodMorning America,” Julia said.

“He’s not my guy.”

“He is now. You ownthe entire family and the drama that comes with them until someone fesses up tokilling that girl.”

“Any theories?”

“Don’t try to drag meinto your drama. Not unless you want to give me a cut of what I’m sure is thevery exorbitant fee you’re collecting from the congressman.”

“I’d bring you on as aconsultant, but you look like you might be a bit busy.” Rook walked intoJulia’s office. “Wow, this is huge.”

“Biggest office inthe building. Don’t worry, there’s no coup. The big guy still runs the placefrom his tiny little oval command center.”

Rook sank into one ofthe cushioned chairs across from Julia’s desk. “Okay, so I’m here. Tell meexactly what you want me to do.”

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