lobbied congress hard for the issues that have been the platform of this administration. This year, we step it up a notch. Remember, when the new president is elected, we will all be without jobs. This is the year that defines the rest of your career. Let’s all think of this as a launching pad to future successes, and not the highlight of our resumes.”
I pause and take a sip of my coffee. God, I wish that I believed the last part of my motivational speech. “Okay, our first order of business is the press. Evan, I caught a radio show this morning that was a bit discombobulating. It’s three guys that call themselves the Sons of Liberty. They’re on some Sirius Radio Station …”
Evan raises his hand, stopping me. “They’ve been on our radar screen for a while now. I’m familiar with them.”
“This morning, they indicated that they had a source inside the White House, and even dropped some intel on a conversation that was held in the President’s private office with me and six other men. I want to know who the source is.”
“Interested in bringing NSA into this?” he asks as he spins the pen in his hand.
I roll my eyes and take another sip of coffee. “These guys are small potatoes. Let’s start with Google.”
“I don’t think that’s enough, Rachael,” Evan says clicking his pen. “We’ve been keeping tabs on them for about six months. These guys are ghosts. Their salary is wire transferred to an offshore account. They record out of a secret location. Sirius doesn’t know their identities.”
Michael Fitzpatrick, my deputy White House Chief of Staff, speaks up, “They’re pretty friendly toward President Jones.” A huge grin breaks out across his face, as if he has something epic to tell me. “They’ve come up with cartoon characters for some of us. Know which one you are?”
My face turns to stone. “Enlighten me, please.”
As if it’s even possible, his smile grows larger. “You’re Tinker Bell.”
Every head in the room whips in my direction, waiting to see what my reaction is going to be. The comparison makes me boiling angry, but I’ve learned in this world that you never let anyone know that you’re bothered. “Blonde, fair, petite, I can see the resemblance. Dare I ask which cartoon character the President is?”
Michael and Evan snicker, which further adds to my annoyance. “President Jones is Hank Hill from King of the Hill. ”
I deadpan, “Any other characters that are noteworthy?”
“They call the First Lady Jessica Rabbit and Drake Bart Simpson,” Evan adds.
“Okay. Let’s stay on top of the Sons of Liberty. Let’s lean on Sirius and see if we can determine the hosts’ identities. Evan, have someone in your department listen to all of the episodes and summarize them for us. I have a gut feeling that these guys are going to be a thorn in our side this last year.”
“Will do,” Evan reassures me as he quickly makes notes in his tablet.
“Just a second, Rachael,” Michael stops me from moving on. “Do you know who the Sons of Liberty are?”
“Historically, or referring to the guys on the radio?”
“Historically.”
“Absolutely,” I say addressing the whole table. “The Sons of Liberty were a secret society that formed before the American Revolution that were concerned about the colonist rights, and looked for abuses of power by the British. The founding members are some of the most influential men in the Americans’ fight for independence from the British, and the building of our nation’s government.” I’m so happy that after I read Graham’s file and before I started on my email, I Googled the Sons of Liberty.
Michael adds, “The name has also been used throughout history by groups wanting change in our government.”
“What’s your point, Michael?” I ask, while I check my watch. I don’t want to spend the entire meeting focused on a radio program.
“My point is that there’s a reason that these guys have chosen the
I pause and take a sip of my coffee. God, I wish that I believed the last part of my motivational speech. “Okay, our first order of business is the press. Evan, I caught a radio show this morning that was a bit discombobulating. It’s three guys that call themselves the Sons of Liberty. They’re on some Sirius Radio Station …”
Evan raises his hand, stopping me. “They’ve been on our radar screen for a while now. I’m familiar with them.”
“This morning, they indicated that they had a source inside the White House, and even dropped some intel on a conversation that was held in the President’s private office with me and six other men. I want to know who the source is.”
“Interested in bringing NSA into this?” he asks as he spins the pen in his hand.
I roll my eyes and take another sip of coffee. “These guys are small potatoes. Let’s start with Google.”
“I don’t think that’s enough, Rachael,” Evan says clicking his pen. “We’ve been keeping tabs on them for about six months. These guys are ghosts. Their salary is wire transferred to an offshore account. They record out of a secret location. Sirius doesn’t know their identities.”
Michael Fitzpatrick, my deputy White House Chief of Staff, speaks up, “They’re pretty friendly toward President Jones.” A huge grin breaks out across his face, as if he has something epic to tell me. “They’ve come up with cartoon characters for some of us. Know which one you are?”
My face turns to stone. “Enlighten me, please.”
As if it’s even possible, his smile grows larger. “You’re Tinker Bell.”
Every head in the room whips in my direction, waiting to see what my reaction is going to be. The comparison makes me boiling angry, but I’ve learned in this world that you never let anyone know that you’re bothered. “Blonde, fair, petite, I can see the resemblance. Dare I ask which cartoon character the President is?”
Michael and Evan snicker, which further adds to my annoyance. “President Jones is Hank Hill from King of the Hill. ”
I deadpan, “Any other characters that are noteworthy?”
“They call the First Lady Jessica Rabbit and Drake Bart Simpson,” Evan adds.
“Okay. Let’s stay on top of the Sons of Liberty. Let’s lean on Sirius and see if we can determine the hosts’ identities. Evan, have someone in your department listen to all of the episodes and summarize them for us. I have a gut feeling that these guys are going to be a thorn in our side this last year.”
“Will do,” Evan reassures me as he quickly makes notes in his tablet.
“Just a second, Rachael,” Michael stops me from moving on. “Do you know who the Sons of Liberty are?”
“Historically, or referring to the guys on the radio?”
“Historically.”
“Absolutely,” I say addressing the whole table. “The Sons of Liberty were a secret society that formed before the American Revolution that were concerned about the colonist rights, and looked for abuses of power by the British. The founding members are some of the most influential men in the Americans’ fight for independence from the British, and the building of our nation’s government.” I’m so happy that after I read Graham’s file and before I started on my email, I Googled the Sons of Liberty.
Michael adds, “The name has also been used throughout history by groups wanting change in our government.”
“What’s your point, Michael?” I ask, while I check my watch. I don’t want to spend the entire meeting focused on a radio program.
“My point is that there’s a reason that these guys have chosen the
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