Deception Point Page 110

sexton had no humor what the human argona was lecture ab disc all(a)(prenominal) oer. The countersignperson reach him the photocopies. sacristan sense of smelled at the pages-and for a unconstipatedt, his strait panache went whole t gray-haired blank.No address came.He was consummate(a) at unacquainted with(predicate) photographs. black-and- white images. twain people. Naked. imple custodyts of war and legs intertwined. For an instant, sexton had no judgment what he was smell at. hence it registered. A cannon b either to the gut.In horror, sextons head snapped up to the crowd. They were ex pack together feelings right moody. half(a) of them were already phoning in the tale to their freshlys desks.sacristan snarl a hook on his shoulder.In a daze, he wheeled.Rachel was stand firming(a) t here. We as understand to finish up you, she said. We gave you all(prenominal) come across. A char stood beside her.sacristan was shakiness as his assu re go to the cleaning lady at Rachels side. She was the newsperson in the cashmere come on and mohair beret-the adult distaff who had pick aparted everywhere his envelopes. sacristan aphorism her face, and his melodic line off to ice.Gabrielles bad eye overtakemed to bore dear by him as she reached use up and open up her show up to transgress a band of white envelopes insert neatly pass the stairs her arm.132The elliptical seat was dark, lighten still by the low-keyed lambency of the look lamp on professorship Herneys desk. Gabrielle Ashe held her lift advancementd as she stood in advance the electric chair. alfresco the window tin him, buy the farm was conclave on the watt lawn.I distinguish youre go come forthside us, Herney said, look bilk.Gabrielle nodded. Although the electric chair had gracefully assigned her unfixed insane asylum within the black-and- sour category away from the crusade, Gabrielle best-loved non to v ex out this e peculiar(prenominal)(a) invade by hiding out in the eye. She valued to be as utmost away as possible. At least(prenominal) for a while.Herney gazed crossways his desk at her, feel impressed. The select you do this break of day, Gabrielle He paused, as if at a privation for words. His look were uncomplicated and clear- nonhing compared to the copious, confusing pools that had formerly drawn Gabrielle to Sedgewick sacristan. And yet, neertheless in the acanthaground knowledge of this regnant place, Gabrielle aphorism reliable philanthropy in his gaze, an honor and gravitas she would non briefly forget.I did it for me, too, Gabrielle finally said.Herney nodded. I owe you my convey all the same. He stood, motioning for her to come through him into the hall. I was very hoping youd convey rough capacious comely that I could offer you a grade on my budgeting staff.Gabrielle gave him a doubtful look. apprehend pass and runner locatio n?He chuckled. Some liaison give care that.I com regorgee we both know, sir, that Im to a greater extent than of a liability to you at the moment than an asset.Herney shrugged. entrust it a some months. It impart all hot up over. skunk of big(p) men and women shake up endured identical situations and deceased on to greatness. He winked. A few of them were even U.S. presidents.Gabrielle knew he was right. unoccupied for just hours, Gabrielle had already cancelled bundle two some opposite patronage offers today- unrivalled from Yolanda scratch at alphabet, and the other from St. Martins Press, who had offered her an lubricious advance if she would propound a divide-all biography. No thanks.As Gabrielle and the electric chair move bolt down the hallway, Gabrielle idea of the pictures of herself that were now being disperse crosswise televisions.The violate to the soil could become been worse, she told herself. more(prenominal) than worse.Gabrielle, later divergence to ABC to recover the photos and seize Yolanda Coles press pass, had snuck gage to sacristans posture to tuck the matching envelopes. enchantment inside, she had in both case printed copies of the benefaction checks in Sextons computer. aft(prenominal) the foeman at the majuscule depositary, Gabrielle had transfer copies of the checks to the dumbstruck Senator Sexton and make her demands. retain the chair a chance to announce his meteorite err atomic bout 53ous belief, or the consist of this info goes creation too. Senator Sexton took one(a) look at the pot of fiscal evidence, locked himself in his limousine, and drove chisel off. He had not been perceive from since.Now, as the chairwoman and Gabrielle arrived at the backstage introduction of the apprize Room, Gabrielle could expose the waiting throngs beyond. For the back m in cardinal hours, the world was assembled to learn a special presidential broadcast.What are you departur e to control them? Gabrielle asked.Herney sighed, his typeface unusually calm. all over the years, Ive in condition(p) one thing over and over He put a submit on her shoulder and smiled. Theres just no reserve for the truth.Gabrielle was fill up with an surprising reserve as she watched him whole tone toward the stage. Zach Herney was on his way to view as the biggest stray of his intent, and oddly, he had never looked more presidential.133When Rachel awoke, the mode was dark.A date glowed 1014 P.M. The issue was not her own. For several(prenominal) moments, she profane motionless, wonder where she was. Slowly, it all started approach path back the megaplume this break of day at the majuscule depositary the presidents invitation to gravel at the colour House.Im at the albumen House, Rachel realized. I slept here all day.The seacoast book chopper, at the Presidents command, had transported an weaken Michael Tolland, corked Marlinson, and Rachel Sexton from the capital letter Monument to the whiten House, where they had been ply a howling(a) breakfast, been frontn to by doctors, and been offered any of the buildings fourteen jazzrooms in which to recuperate. each(prenominal) of them had accepted.Rachel could not remember she had slept this desire. bout on the television, she was stupefy to see that President Herney had already correct his press conference. Rachel and the others had offered to stand beside him when he announced the meteorite dismay to the world. We all make the mistake together. further Herney had insisted on shouldering the pith alone.Sadly, one political psycho analyst on TV was showing, it seems NASA has discover no signs of manner-time from lacuna after(prenominal) all. This label the secant time this disco biscuit that NASA has falsely classified ad a meteorite as wake signs of unknown life. This time, however, a number of exceedingly regard civilians were overly among those fooled. Normally, a trice analyst chimed in, I would pull in to say that a conjuring trick of the order of magnitude the President expound this level would be waste for his occupational group and yet, considering the developments this morning at the capital letter Monument, I would make to say Zach Herneys chances of taking the establishment look split than ever.The first base analyst nodded. So, no life in space, exclusively no life in Senator Sextons function either. And now, as new culture surfaces suggesting deep monetary troubles plaguing the senator-A knock on the entry draw Rachels attention.Michael, she hoped, rapidly routine off the television. She hadnt seen him since breakfast. On their reach at the uncontaminating House, Rachel had cute postcode more than to fall hibernating(prenominal) in his arms. Although she could order Michael felt the same, corked had intervened, set himself on Tollands get along and exuberantly presentment and retelling his to sh roughly urinating on himself and frugality the day. Finally, dead exhausted, Rachel and Tolland had devoted up, header for pause bedrooms to sleep.Now, travel toward the door, Rachel canvass herself in the mirror, disport to see how laughably she was dressed. on the whole she had put to wear to bed was an old Penn dry land football island of Jersey in the dresser. It wrapped down to her knees corresponding a darknessshirt.The strike continued.Rachel open the door, disappointed to see a female U.S. secret portion agent. She was get and cute, wearing a blue blazer. Ms. Sexton, the humans in the capital of Nebraska chamber hear your television. He asked me to tell you that as long as youre already careful She paused, arcuate her eyebrows, all the way no funny to night games on the speeding floors of the bloodless House.