It's Classified by Nicolle Wallace

Author:Nicolle Wallace [Wallace, Nicolle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2011-06-02T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Charlotte

Are those bedsheets over the windows?” Charlotte asked. She and Melanie were still sitting in the room from which they’d participated in the call with the Sit Room. Constance had left already for a breakfast with the Korean foreign minister.

“I believe the technical term, Madam President, is pipe and drape,” Melanie quipped.

“And why are they hanging over the windows?”

“Why do you think?”

“To reduce the glare on the laptops?”

“Guess again.”

“I can’t contemplate the alternative.”

Melanie laughed.

“It is humbling to learn that the best antispying measures we’ve got are the same ones ten-year-old kids use to build forts, isn’t it?” Melanie teased.

“Jesus. If people had any idea.”

“Most of the information the host countries get during these trips is obtained from our trash. The Secret Service puts shredders in every hotel room now because people were leaving their line-by-line schedules with each and every one of your movements in the garbage cans at hotels.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

Charlotte couldn’t stop staring at the blue pieces of fabric stapled and taped over the windows. “That’s just incredible.”

Melanie watched in amusement.

“Thanks for staying an extra day. I know you have to get back to testify on the Hill,” Charlotte said.

“No problem. I had some good meetings here. It was definitely worth the trip.”

“What did you think about the call?” Charlotte asked.

“I’m not sure it was worthy of convening a call across several continents. Youseff is AWOL. The bureau lost him and they are trying to cover their asses so the CIA doesn’t throw them under the bus if something happens.”

“Do you think something will happen?”

“It’s always a possibility,” Melanie said.

“The bureau and the agency agree, for once. Doesn’t that make you nervous?” Charlotte probed.

“A little, but it’s just as likely that they’re both wrong,” Melanie said.

Charlotte made a disapproving face.

“I thought Tara sounded good,” Charlotte offered.

“Mmmn.”

“You didn’t?”

“What do you want me to say, Charlotte? I think she cost you a lot of credibility and goodwill with her interviews this week. It’s probably wise for me to keep my views to myself at times like this.”

“Why? Because otherwise you’ll tell me that she was a stupid choice and that I was craven and impulsive to put her on the ticket?” Charlotte was standing now.

Melanie seemed stunned by Charlotte’s rare display of anger. She didn’t react right away.

“Look, Melanie, you were there. You know that I did it for Neal as much as I did it for myself. If I’d had any idea that she wasn’t up for it, I wouldn’t have picked her.” Neal McMillan was Charlotte’s first vice president. He’d offered to step down so Charlotte could shake up the campaign by putting a Democrat on the ticket and running on the first ever “unity ticket,” a concept that had long been contemplated by presidential candidates, but had never before been attempted.

“Charlotte,” Melanie started quietly. “She was never even vetted. Some oppo research guys Googled her and watched videos of her on YouTube.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

“Melanie, she was vetted. Ralph said the lawyers gave her the standard questionnaire and asked her all the questions we asked Neal four years earlier.

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