Deception Point Page 67

As they walked to the elevator, the old slice said, Some whiles on the whole it takes to unravel something is a single strand. Perhaps we can find a way to eat away at NASAs victory from within. Cast a shadow of distrust. Who knows where it provide lead? The old man locked his tired eye on sexton. I am non ready to lay exhaust and die, senator. And I trust nor be you.Of course non, sacristan said, mustering resolve in his voice. Weve come too far.Chris Harper lied closely fixing PODS, the man said as he boarded the elevator. And we need to know why.I will get that information as fast as I can, sexton replied. I receive just the person.Good. Your future depends on it.As sexton headed back toward his flatcar, his step was a critical lighter, his head a little clearer. NASA lied about PODS. The only question was how Sexton could prove it.His thoughts had already turned to Gabrielle Ashe. Wherever she was at the moment, she had to be feeling like shit. Gabrielle had no doub t seen the press conference and was now standing on a ledge somewhere getting ready to jump. Her proposition of making NASA a major issue in Sextons campaign had turned out to be the biggest mistake of Sextons career.She owes me, Sexton thought. And she knows it.Gabrielle already had proven she had a knack for obtaining NASA secrets. She has a contact, Sexton thought. Shed been scoring at bottomr information for weeks now. Gabrielle had connections she was not sharing. Connections she could pump for information on PODS. Moreover, tonight Gabrielle would be motivated. She had a debt to repay, and Sexton suspected she would do anything to resume his favor.As Sexton arrived back at his apartment door, his bodyguard nodded. Evening, senator. I trust I did the compensate thing by permitting Gabrielle in earlier? She said it was critical she talk to you.Sexton paused. Im sorry?Ms. Ashe? She had meaning(a) information for you earlier tonight. Thats why I let her in.Sexton matte up hi s body stiffen. He looked at his apartment door. What the cavity is this guy talking about?The guards expression changed to one of confusion and concern. Senator, are you okay? You remember, right? Gabrielle arrived during your meeting. She talked to you, right? She must leave. She was in at that place quite a while.Sexton stared a long moment, feeling his pulse skyrocket. This moron let Gabrielle into my apartment during a private SFF meeting? She stuck around inside and then asleep(p) without a word? Sexton could only imagine what Gabrielle might have overheard. Swallowing his anger, he forced a smile to his guard. Oh, yes Im sorry. Im exhausted. Had a couple of drinks, too. Ms. Ashe and I did indeed speak. You did the right thing.The guard looked relieved.Did she say where she went when she left?The guard move his head. She was in a big hurry.Okay, thanks.Sexton entered his apartment fuming. How complicated were my unredeemed directions? No visitors He had to assume if Gabr ielle had been inside for any length of time and then snuck out without a word, she must have heard things she was not meant to hear. Tonight of all nights.Senator Sexton knew above all he could not afford to lose Gabrielle Ashes trust women could become vengeful and stupid when they mat up deceived. Sexton mandatory to bring her back. Tonight more than ever, he needed her in his camp.79On the fourth floor of the ABC video recording studios, Gabrielle Ashe sat alone in Yolandas glass-walled business leader and stared at the fraying carpet. She had always prided herself on good instincts and knowing whom she could trust. Now, for the first time in years, Gabrielle felt alone, diffident which way to turn.The sound of her mobile phonephone lifted her gaze from the carpet. Reluctant, she picked up. Gabrielle Ashe.Gabrielle, its me.She recognized the feel of Senator Sextons voice immediately, although he sounded surprisingly calm considering what had just transpired.Its been one he ll of a night over here, he said, so just let me talk. Im sure you saw the Presidents conference. Christ, did we play the wrong cards. Im sick over it. Youre in all likelihood blaming yourself. Dont. Who the hell would have guessed? Not your fault. Anyhow, listen up. I speak up there may be a way to get our feet back on a lower floor us.Gabrielle stood up, un equal to(p) to imagine what Sexton could be talking about. This was hardly the reception she had expected.I had a meeting tonight, Sexton said, with representatives from private space industries, and-You did? Gabrielle blurted, stupid(p) to hear him admit it. I mean I had no idea.Yeah, naught major. I would have asked you to sit in, but these guys are touchy about privacy. Some of them are donating money to my campaign. Its not something they like to advertise.Gabrielle felt whole disarmed. But isnt that illegal?Illegal? Hell no All the donations are under the two-thousand-dollar cap. Small potatoes. These guys barely ma ke a dent, but I listen to their gripes anyway. Call it an investment in the future. Im quiet about it because, frankly, the appearances arent so great. If the White House caught wind, theyd spin the hell out of it. Anyhow, look, thats not the point. I called to tell you that after tonights meeting, I was talking to the head of the SFF For several seconds, although Sexton was still talking, all Gabrielle could hear was the blood rushing in daunt to her face. Without the slightest challenge from her, the senator had calmly admitted tonights meeting with private space companies. Perfectly legal. And to think what Gabrielle had almost considered doing Thank God Yolanda had stopped her. I almost jumped displace to Marjorie Tench and so I told the head of the SFF, the senator was saying, that you might be able to get that information for us.Gabrielle tuned back in. Okay.The contact from whom youve been getting all your inside NASA information these past few months? I assume you still h ave access?Marjorie Tench. Gabrielle cringed knowing she could never tell the senator that the informant had been manipulating her all along. Um I think so, Gabrielle lied.Good. Theres some information I need from you. Right away.As she listened, Gabrielle realized just how badly she had been underestimating Senator Sedgewick Sexton lately. Some of the mans luster had irresolute off since shed first begun following his career. But tonight, it was back. In the face of what appeared to be the ultimate death blow to his campaign, Sexton was plotting a counterattack. And although it had been Gabrielle who led him crush this inauspicious path, he was not punishing her. Instead, he was giving her a chance to redeem herself.And redeem herself she would.Whatever it took.80William Pickering gazed out his office window at the distant line of headlights on Leesburg Highway. He a good deal thought about her when he stood up here alone at the top of the world.All this power and I couldnt save her.Pickerings daughter, Diana, had died in the rubicund Sea while stationed aboard a small navy get word ship, training to become a navigator. Her ship had been anchored in safe cling to on a sunny afternoon when a handmade rowboat loaded with explosives and powered by two suicide terrorists motored soft across the harbor and exploded on contact with the hull. Diana Pickering and thirteen other(a) young American soldiers had been killed that day.William Pickering had been devastated. The anguish overwhelmed him for weeks. When the terrorist attack was traced to a known cell whom the CIA had been tracking unsuccessfully for years, Pickerings sadness turned into rage. He had marched into CIA headquarters and demanded answers.