Deception Point Page 12

Rachel closed her eyes as the compressed rocketed skyward. She wondered where she had gone wrong this morning. She was supposed to be at a desk musical composition gists. Now she was straddling a testosterone-fueled torpedo and existing through an oxygen mask.By the date the tom leveled out at xlv thousand feet, Rachel was feeling queasy. She willed herself to focus her thoughts elsewhere. Gazing gloomy at the ocean nine miles below, Rachel mat suddenly far from property.Up front, the airplane cowcatcher was talking to someone on the radio. When the colloquy ended, the polisher hung up the radio, and immediately banked the Tomcat sharply left. The plane tipped near to the vertical, and Rachel felt her stomach do a somersault. Finall(a)y, the plane leveled out again.Rachel groaned. Thanks for the warning, hotshot.Im sorry, maam, further Ive retributive been given the classified coordinates of your encounter with the administrator.Let me guess, Rachel said. Due north?Th e pilot seemed confused. How did you know thatRachel sighed. You gotta love these computer-trained pilots. Its nine A.M., sport, and the sunlight is on our right. Were flying north.There was a mowork forcet of silence from the cockpit. Yes, maam, well be traveling north this morning.And how far north be we going?The pilot checked the coordinates. to a greater extent than or less three thousand miles.Rachel sat chase away upright. What She tried to picture a map, unavailing even to imagine what was that far north. Thats a four-hour flightAt our current speed, yes, the pilot said. Hold on, please.Before Rachel could respond, the part abjure the F-14s wings into low-drag position. An instant later, Rachel felt herself slammed into her fucking yet again as the plane shot forward as though it had been standing still. Within a small they were cruising at well-nigh 1,500 miles per hour.Rachel was feeling vertiginous now. As the sky tore by with blinding speed, she felt an uncont rollable swan of nausea hit her. The professorships voice echoed faintly. I assure you, Rachel, you will not rue assisting me in this matter.Groaning, Rachel r to each oneed for her hack sack. Never imprecate a politician.13Although he dislike the handsial filth of public taxis, Senator Sedgewick sacristan had intentional to endure the occasional humbling moment along his road to glory. The grubby Mayflower cab that had just deposited him in the lower parking garage of the Purdue Hotel afforded sexton something his stretch limousine could not-anonymity.He was bright to find this lower level deserted, altogether a few dusty cars dotting a forest of cement pillars. As he made his way diagonally crosswise the garage on foot, sexton glanced at his watch.1115 A.M. Perfect.The globe with whom sexton was meeting was always touchy just about punctuality. Then again, sexton reminded himself, considering who the valet represented, he could be touchy about any(prenominal) dam ned thing he postulateed. sexton saw the white Ford Windstar minivan park in exactly the same point as it had been for every one of their meetings in the eastern corner of the garage, behind a row of trash bins. sacristan would rent preferred to meet this soldiery in a suite upstairs, but he certainly understood the precautions. This mans friends had not gotten to where they were by being cargonless.As Sexton travel toward the van, he felt the familiar uncomfortableness that he always experienced forward these encounters. Forcing himself to relax his shoulders, he climbed into the passengers seat with a cheery wave. The dark-haired gentleman in the drivers seat did not smile. The man was almost seventy years old, but his leathery complexion exuded a toughness bewitch to his post as figurehead of an host of brazen visionaries and ruthless entrepreneurs.Close the door, the man said, his voice callous.Sexton obeyed, tolerating the mans gruffness graciously. subsequently all, this man represented men who controlled commodious sums of money, much of which had been pooled recently to poise Sedgewick Sexton on the threshold of the most right on onwardice in the world. These meetings, Sexton had buzz off to understand, were less strategy sessions than they were monthly reminders of just how beholden the senator had become to his benefactors. These men were expecting a serious return on their investment. The return, Sexton had to admit, was a shockingly bold read and yet, almost more incredibly, it was something that would be within Sextons sphere of influence once he took the Oval Office.I wear off, Sexton said, having learned how this man liked to get sight to business, that another installment has been made?It has. And as usual, you are to use these funds solely for your exploit. We have been pleased to see the wadvass shifting consistently in your favor, and it appears your campaign managers have been spending our money effectively.Were gainin g fast.As I mentioned to you on the phone, the old man said, I have persuaded six more to meet with you tonight.Excellent. Sexton had blocked off the time already.The old man pass Sexton a folder. Here is their information. discipline it. They want to know you understand their concerns specifically. They want to know you are sympathetic. I signal you meet them at your residence.My home? plainly I usually meet-Senator, these six men run companies that possess resources well in excess of the others you have met. These men are the big fish, and they are wary. They have more to gain and therefore more to lose. Ive worked unenviable to persuade them to meet with you. They will entreat special handling. A personal touch.Sexton gave a quick nod. Absolutely. I can arrange a meeting at my home.Of course, they will want total privacy.As will I.Good luck, the old man said. If tonight goes well, it could be your last meeting. These men alone can provide what is indispensable to push the S exton campaign all over the top.Sexton liked the sound of that. He gave the old man a convinced(p) smile. With luck, my friend, come election time, we will all claim victory.Victory? The old man scowled, leaning toward Sexton with ominous eyes. pose you in the gabardine House is nevertheless the first step toward victory, senator. I assume you have not forgotten that.14The White House is one of the smallest presidential mansions in the world, measuring only clxx feet in length, 85 feet in depth, and session on a mere 18 acres of landscaped grounds. Architect crowd Hobans plan for a box-like stone mental synthesis with a hipped roof, balustrade, and columnar entrance, though clearly unoriginal, was selected from the open design combat by judges who praised it as attractive, dignified, and flexible.chairwoman Zach Herney, even after three and a half years in the White House, seldom felt at home here among the maze of chandeliers, antiques, and armed Marines. At the moment, h owever, as he strode toward the West Wing, he felt invigorated and oddly at ease, his feet almost weightless on the rich carpeting.Several members of the White House lag looked up as the President approached. Herney waved and greeted each by name. Their responses, though polite, were subdued and attach to by forced smiles.Good morning, Mr. President. thin to see you, Mr. President.Good day, sir.As the President made his way toward his office, he feel whisperings in his wake. There was an insurrection moving inside the White House. For the past mate of weeks, the disillusionment at 1600 Pennsylvania boulevard had been growing to a point where Herney was beginning to feel like Captain Bligh-commanding a struggling ship whose crew was preparing for mutiny.