Deception Point Page 109

A few of the reporters laughed.With his daughter perambulator d deliver fast from his right, sexton had no doubt this father-daughter reunion would verbotengo be held in private. Unfortunately, privacy was scarce at the bite. Sextons eyes darted to the blown-up section on his right.Still blithe several(prenominal) calmly, Sexton waved to his daughter and stepped away(p) from the micro bring forward. Moving toward her at an angle, he maneuvered such that Rachel had to pass tail assembly the partition to get to him. Sexton met her halfway, hidden from the eyes and ears of the press.H iodiny? he said, smiling and opening his arms as Rachel came toward him. What a surpriseRachel walked up and slapped his face. only if with her father now, ensconced fucking the partition, Rachel glared with loathing. She had slapped him hard, but he barely flinched. With chilling control, his shammer smile melted away, mutating into an admonishing glower.His voice turned to a mephistophelian whisper. You should not be here.Rachel saw wrath in his eyes and for the starting signal time in her life felt unafraid. I turned to you for help, and you exchange me out I was almost killedYoure obviously fine. His tone was almost disappointed.NASA is truthful she said. The professorship told you that What are you doing here? Rachels short flight to Washington alongside the Coast Guard Osprey had been punctuated by a flurry of phone calls between herself, the fair House, her father, and even a distraught Gabrielle Ashe. You promised Zach Herney you were going to the White HouseI am. He smirked. On election day.Rachel felt sickened to envisage this man was her father. What youre close to do is madness.Oh? Sexton chuckled. He turned and motioned behind him to the podium, which was visible at the end of the partition. On the podium, a stack of gaberdine envelopes sat waiting. Those envelopes contain information you sent me, Rachel. You. The Presidents blood is on your hands.I faxed you that information when I needed your help When I thought the President and NASA were guiltyConsidering the examine, NASA certainly appears guilty.But they are not They deserve a chance to admit their own mistakes. Youve already won this election. Zach Herney is finished You manage that. Let the man retain somewhat dignity.Sexton groaned. So naive. Its not about winning the election, Rachel, its about power. Its about decisive victory, acts of greatness, crushing opposition, and dictatorial the forces in Washington so you fundament get something done.At what price?Dont be so self-righteous. Im simply presenting the evidence. The people can draw their own conclusions as to who is guilty.You know how this depart await.He shrugged. Maybe NASAs time has come.Senator Sexton sensed the press was getting restless beyond the partition, and he had no intention of standing here all morning and creation lectured by his daughter. His moment of glory was waiting.Were through he re, he said. I have a press conference to give.Im asking you as your daughter, Rachel pleaded. Dont do this. Think about what youre about to do. Theres a better way.Not for me.A howl of feedback echoed out of the PA system behind him, and Sexton wheeled to line up a late-arriving female reporter, huddled all all over his podium, attempting to attach a network microphone to one of the goose-neck clips.Why cant these idiots arrive on time? Sexton fumed.In her haste, the reporter knocked Sextons stack of envelopes to the ground.Goddamn it Sexton marched over, cursing his daughter for distracting him. When he arrived, the woman was on her hands and knees, collecting the envelopes off the ground. Sexton couldnt see her face, but she was obviously network-wearing a full-length cashmere coat, matching scarf, and low-slung mohair beret with an alphabet press pass clipped to it.Stupid bitch, Sexton thought. Ill take those, he snapped, holding out his hand for the envelopes.The woman scra ped up the last of the envelopes and reach them up to Sexton without looking up. Sorry, she muttered, obviously embarrassed. Hunkering low in shame, she scurried off into the caboodle.Sexton quickly counted the envelopes. Ten. Good. Nobody was going to steal his manna from heaven today. Regrouping, he adjusted the microphones and gave a joking smile to the crowd. I deduce Id better hand these out before someone gets hurtThe crowd laughed, looking eager.Sexton sensed his daughter nearby, standing just off-stage behind the partition.Dont do this, Rachel said to him. Youll regret it.Sexton ignored her.Im asking you to rely me, Rachel said, her voice growing louder. Its a mistake.Sexton picked up his envelopes, straightening the edges.Dad, Rachel said, intense and appeal now. This is your last chance to do whats right.Do whats right? Sexton cover the microphone and turned as if clearing his throat. He glanced discreetly over at his daughter. Youre just the like your mother-ideali stic and small. Women simply do not go steady the true nature of power.Sedgewick Sexton had already forgotten his daughter by the time he turned back toward the jostling media. Head held high, he walked around the podium and handed the stack of envelopes into the hands of the waiting press. He watched the envelopes disseminate rapidly through the crowd. He could hear the seals being broken, the envelopes being torn apart like Christmas presents.A sudden hush came over the crowd.In the silence, Sexton could hear the defining moment of his career.The meteorite is a fraud. And I am the man who revealed it.Sexton knew it would take the press a moment to understand the true implications of what they were looking at GPR images of an insertion shaft in the ice a living ocean species almost identical to the NASA fossils evidence of chondrules that formed on earth. It all led to one shocking conclusion.Sir? one reporter stammered, sounding stunned as he looked in his envelope. Is this for true(a)?Sexton gave a somber sigh. Yes, Im afraid its very real indeed.Murmurs of sloppiness now spread through the crowd.Ill give everyone a moment to look through these pages, Sexton said, and then Ill take questions and attempt to shed some light on what youre looking at.Senator? another reporter asked, sounding dead bewildered. Are these images authentic? Unretouched?One hundred percent, Sexton said, speaking more(prenominal) firmly now. I would not present the evidence to you otherwise.The confusion in the crowd seemed to deepen, and Sexton thought he even heard some laughter-not at all the reaction he had expected. He was starting to consternation he had overestimated the medias ability to connect the obvious dots.Um, senator? someone said, sounding oddly amused. For the record, you stand behind the authenticity of these images?Sexton was getting frustrated. My friends, I will say this one last time, the evidence in your hands is one-hundred-percent accurate. And if anyon e can prove otherwise, Ill eat my hatSexton waited for the laugh, but it never came. departed silence. Blank stares.The reporter who had just spoken walked toward Sexton, shuffling through his photocopies as he came forward. Youre right, senator. This is scandalous data. The reporter paused, scratching his head. So I forecast were puzzled as to why youve decided to share it with us like this, especially after denying it so vehemently earlier.