take what many would consider a demotion to come back to DOCS? What’s in it for him?”
“If we can figure that out, we may be able to stop the train before it runs over you. Where are the governor and the commissioner on this?
I’m assuming you’ve heard from them, right?”
Kate thought back to her meeting earlier that morning with her boss.
“C’mon in, Kate. Have a seat.”
She sat down in one of the visitor’s chairs facing the commissioner’s desk.
“Seems as though you’ve been taking a hell of a beating lately from our friends in the fourth estate.”
“So it would seem, sir.”
“Look, Kate.” Sampson leaned forward, placing his palms flat on the smooth wood surface. “You remember when I had you in here about a month ago? We talked about the increasing scrutiny we were going to face from those assholes at the DNC?”
She nodded.
Lynn Ames
“Well, now the bastards are all over me to fire you. They’re saying you’ve become a liability.” He couldn’t meet her eyes.
“Sir, you do whatever it is you need to do.” Her tone was calm, her voice clear and unwavering, even as the words tore a hole through her insides. Kate prided herself on being the best at whatever she did.
Failure was not an option. And while she knew with certainty that she was being set up to fail, her inability to turn the situation around was eating at her.
“Kate, I appreciate your willingness to take one for the team, but you and I both know that this whole thing is bullshit. Whatever’s going on, it has nothing to do with your competence. You’ve been doing an extraordinary job, and scathing editorials to the contrary, I have no intention whatsoever of either asking for, or accepting, your resignation.”
It was not what he said that surprised her so much as the vehemence with which he said it. Defying the party bigwigs was serious business.
“And I am ever so grateful for your support, sir, but are you sure this is the wisest course?”
“The governor and I agree, Kate. It will take more than a few lousy editorials and some unfortunate news coverage for us to lose faith in you.
You have our full support.”
“Huh,” Peter grunted, “I’m assuming you didn’t share your suspicions with him about the root of this whole mess.”
“Right. First of all, I didn’t want to sound as if I was making excuses, and, second, I didn’t want to come off as some paranoid wacko. Not to mention the fact that we don’t really know yet what’s going on.”
“No, we don’t, but we will. I swear to you we will.”
“I know you’re right, Technowiz, I just hope it doesn’t take too long.”
Wanting nothing more than to lift his best friend’s obviously sagging spirits, Peter changed the subject. “What’s going on with you and Jay?”
He loved the way Kate’s eyes lit up at the mere mention of her fiancée’s name.
“Everything’s great, except that we don’t seem to have nearly enough time for each other. I never thought I could feel this way about someone.
The second she’s out of my sight I miss her.”
“She’s clearly just as crazy about you, you know.”
“Yeah,” Kate sighed dreamily. “I know.”
“Have you guys talked any more about when the wedding is going to be, or where, for that matter?”
“We made a date to talk about it tonight, in fact. I can’t wait.”
Her enthusiasm made Peter smile. “Well, just make sure you give me enough warning so that I can rent a tux.”
The Cost of Commitment
“A man-about-town like you doesn’t own a tux? Why, Peter Enright, I’m shocked and appalled!” She slapped him playfully as they made their way out the back door of the restaurant.
“Yeah, yeah, tell it to somebody who believes you, Kyle.” After a pause he added, “Hey, Kate, make sure you keep in close contact with me about this, okay? Don’t second-guess yourself. I want to know everything that looks even remotely suspicious.”
“I promise, you’ll be the
“If we can figure that out, we may be able to stop the train before it runs over you. Where are the governor and the commissioner on this?
I’m assuming you’ve heard from them, right?”
Kate thought back to her meeting earlier that morning with her boss.
“C’mon in, Kate. Have a seat.”
She sat down in one of the visitor’s chairs facing the commissioner’s desk.
“Seems as though you’ve been taking a hell of a beating lately from our friends in the fourth estate.”
“So it would seem, sir.”
“Look, Kate.” Sampson leaned forward, placing his palms flat on the smooth wood surface. “You remember when I had you in here about a month ago? We talked about the increasing scrutiny we were going to face from those assholes at the DNC?”
She nodded.
Lynn Ames
“Well, now the bastards are all over me to fire you. They’re saying you’ve become a liability.” He couldn’t meet her eyes.
“Sir, you do whatever it is you need to do.” Her tone was calm, her voice clear and unwavering, even as the words tore a hole through her insides. Kate prided herself on being the best at whatever she did.
Failure was not an option. And while she knew with certainty that she was being set up to fail, her inability to turn the situation around was eating at her.
“Kate, I appreciate your willingness to take one for the team, but you and I both know that this whole thing is bullshit. Whatever’s going on, it has nothing to do with your competence. You’ve been doing an extraordinary job, and scathing editorials to the contrary, I have no intention whatsoever of either asking for, or accepting, your resignation.”
It was not what he said that surprised her so much as the vehemence with which he said it. Defying the party bigwigs was serious business.
“And I am ever so grateful for your support, sir, but are you sure this is the wisest course?”
“The governor and I agree, Kate. It will take more than a few lousy editorials and some unfortunate news coverage for us to lose faith in you.
You have our full support.”
“Huh,” Peter grunted, “I’m assuming you didn’t share your suspicions with him about the root of this whole mess.”
“Right. First of all, I didn’t want to sound as if I was making excuses, and, second, I didn’t want to come off as some paranoid wacko. Not to mention the fact that we don’t really know yet what’s going on.”
“No, we don’t, but we will. I swear to you we will.”
“I know you’re right, Technowiz, I just hope it doesn’t take too long.”
Wanting nothing more than to lift his best friend’s obviously sagging spirits, Peter changed the subject. “What’s going on with you and Jay?”
He loved the way Kate’s eyes lit up at the mere mention of her fiancée’s name.
“Everything’s great, except that we don’t seem to have nearly enough time for each other. I never thought I could feel this way about someone.
The second she’s out of my sight I miss her.”
“She’s clearly just as crazy about you, you know.”
“Yeah,” Kate sighed dreamily. “I know.”
“Have you guys talked any more about when the wedding is going to be, or where, for that matter?”
“We made a date to talk about it tonight, in fact. I can’t wait.”
Her enthusiasm made Peter smile. “Well, just make sure you give me enough warning so that I can rent a tux.”
The Cost of Commitment
“A man-about-town like you doesn’t own a tux? Why, Peter Enright, I’m shocked and appalled!” She slapped him playfully as they made their way out the back door of the restaurant.
“Yeah, yeah, tell it to somebody who believes you, Kyle.” After a pause he added, “Hey, Kate, make sure you keep in close contact with me about this, okay? Don’t second-guess yourself. I want to know everything that looks even remotely suspicious.”
“I promise, you’ll be the
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