The Complete Night Stalkers White House by M. L. Buchman

Author:M. L. Buchman [Buchman, M. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Buchman Bookworks, Inc.

Chapter Three

Of course they chose that picture.”

Anne was not going to give her brother the satisfaction of appearing put out by the newspaper he was waving around. His wife Alice was paying very careful attention to her bowl of fruit and yogurt.

They were sitting on stools in the Residence’s third floor kitchen around the large maple cutting block island. She’d always liked this kitchen, it was elegant but cozy—dark-stained oak cabinets with brass hardware. If she ever had a house of her own, it would have a kitchen like this one. Alice wore jeans, a turtleneck, and a knit sweater in Christmas red with a complex white snowflake worked into the back. Daniel wore his inevitable three-piece suit. This President was more informal than most, often found in no more than a shirt and tie with his suit pants, but not his Chief of Staff.

“I think it’s cute,” Anne just couldn’t leave it alone: Zachary’s face distorted like a circus clown’s, her own head back in the moment of the laugh she’d been unable to repress.

“VP Fools Around With…double-entendre intended…Unidentified Blond,” Daniel read the headline aloud for the fifth time, each time with the same notation. Her brother always was a little predictable.

Alice didn’t speak but pointed her spoon toward the small television on the counter tuned to CNN, but with the sound off. Anne’s own picture, not a bad one thank god, was on the screen. Large white letters on a red background read, White House Chief of Staff’s Sister.

“No longer unidentified. Don’t I even get my own name?”

“Not in this city,” Alice smiled at her. “Even if I hadn’t taken Daniel’s last name, it wouldn’t have mattered. At the CIA I’m typically referred to as the W-H-C-o-S wife. That’s pronounced whickos, like whackos. You learn to roll with it.”

“Why did you take my brother’s name anyway? I always meant to ask.”

“I just love him that much,” she smiled sweetly at Daniel.

Anne made a gagging sound.

“I also wanted to anchor firmly in his subconscious that this is permanent. I only give my heart once.”

“Don’t have to worry about that. My brother is more loyal than a herd of lemmings.”

“He is. So are you, which is a very sweet family trait. So, when are you going to tell your brother what kind of a kisser the Vice President is?”

“Why would I tell him about tha—” And Anne knew that she’d walked right into Alice’s trap. She had to remember that Alice Darlington III was a top analyst and nothing slipped by her despite the impression given by her casual attire and cheerfully unruly mop of russet-colored hair that often hid one or other eye from view.

“You…kissed…the…Vice…President?” Daniel finally slumped onto his stool, his power-smoothie still untouched before him.

“He kissed me.”

“Details, Sister,” Alice ignored her husband’s sputtering. “I want details.”

“Okay, maybe I kissed him. But he’s such a gentleman that sometimes the girl has to take the initiative.”

“Don’t I know it,” Alice sighed and spooned up some more yogurt. “Your brother has the same issue.

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