Deep State by Chris Hauty

Author:Chris Hauty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Published: 2020-01-06T16:00:00+00:00

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HOMER STEPHENS, WEARING his favorite silk robe and hedonistically enjoying a late-night second glass of his favorite bourbon, watches CNN on his computer screen. Nothing surprises him, not anymore. The cable news anchor is relaying the news, in the typical shrill manner, that the White House has confirmed reviewing long-standing treaty guarantees, including Article 5, all on the eve of a visit from Russia’s president. Though many in Washington had predicted that President Monroe, with the death of Peter Hall, might retreat from a possible realignment of European alliances, it is now recognized by most pundits across the political spectrum there will be no shift in the administration’s policy.

Homer chuckles and takes another sip of his marvelous bourbon, savoring its sharp bite. No one really cares about Europe, and that goes double for Estonia. It’s the relationships, stupid. As Monroe keeps stumbling around, blindly obliterating those very valuable connections between players in their respective countries, he’s undercutting individual power alliances that have existed for decades. The US intelligence community has invested God knows how much money, time, and energy in relationships with allies and overseas assets that will take generations to rebuild. This is a power struggle of the ages, one in which the parties involved are playing for keeps.

The Pulitzer winner toggles down the volume with the keyboard. He broods on the events of the day and his drinks meeting with Asher and his friend earlier. The girl had obvious intelligence and grit but is inexperienced. What cannot be easily dismissed is the fact Hayley Chill had seen something of significance at Hall’s residence on Kalorama Road. And what is there to make of her wild and completely unsubstantiated tale of her near murder? Homer considers himself a wily interviewer. He knows how to get subjects to reveal themselves without even realizing they’re being questioned. Why not give the CIA deputy director a call? Perhaps the old warhorse might inadvertently disclose something that will be the seed of a story. If even just a fragment of what the West Virginia girl alleges is true, then conceivably there might be a second Pulitzer in Homer’s future!

Across town, James Odom is preparing a midnight snack in the kitchen when he sees his phone on the marble counter top light up and vibrate like those ridiculous gadgets restaurants hand out to patrons waiting for tables. Curious who might be calling at this late hour, he snatches up the phone and accepts the call. Phone pressed to the side of his head, he utters a single word that lands with the thud of an artillery shell. “Odom.”

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