God of War: Part 6


Lynn Jepsen

---

"There's a memo..."

"What do you mean there's a memo?"

"I wrote this thing....."

"Lisa!"

"It was years ago. We were in Europe with Paul. It's about The Wrath of
God."

"What possessed you to...."

"I was asked."

"By who! You were an ex-lawyer and an ex-fed! Who asked!"

"Lionel."

"And this memo is?"

"I don't know. I sent it to him for an investigation for Hoynes. I'd just
been in Israel and..."

"You don't know where it is?"

"That's why we're here!"

Okay, let me make something perfectly clear. Toby and Lisa independently
can give me a headache. Together, it's a migraine. Look. Both of you are
going to sit down and shut up for a minute. They look at me as if they
just realized they were shouting in my office, and square off. Toby
glares at me, and remains standing. Lisa actually glances at the chair,
and steps toward it, but she doesn't sit. Fine, let's just be
argumentative. Wouldn't be the first time.

Okay, let's calm down. How inflammatory could this memo possibly be?
"Lionel asked for a report on their ideologies and activities. I didn't
mince words." Okay, so assuming this gets out, we can add a terrorist
group to the list of people who hate us this month. Did it not occur to
you to tell me about this years ago? "It wasn't a thing until last
night." Okay, can I just point out that you are not my official headache?
That job belongs to the guy in the next room. Now, don't you have some
tea party to run or something?

*

"Mr. President, I have to advise you against this appearance tonight. Not
only can we not adequately secure the area, but the level of anger
directed at this issue is dangerous." Sam settles back in his chair to
regard Jeff with that look. That look that makes you remember he actually
is the President. "I understand your concern, Jeff, I really do."

"No, sir, I don't think you do." Ah, bad tactical move. "I understand
perfectly. I was at Rosslyn and I was in New York. I understand all too
well. However, I keep swearing this oath to protect the Constitution, and
I'm afraid that includes the First Amendment. I will not let Mary Marsh,
the Conservative League, or the local racists dictate our policies on
flag-burning, gays, and religious freedom. I will be there, and I will
speak."

Okay, this is too typical. I've spent the last five years trying to rein
him in to keep Sam and Lisa, and more importantly, my goddaughter, safe.
I've been failing, but at least then, I had reelection to dangle over his
head. That, plus Lisa's influence have kept him from sliding too far
left. I guess he's slid too far. He slid far enough on the UCMJ that half
the members of Congress were busy doing ideological contortions to vote
with us. I'm just afraid he's going to single handedly transform this
White House into the ACLU.

Sam.

His head snaps around. Not once in five years have I called him Sam in
front of anyone but Lisa. This is different though. He's got to think
this through. To come out this far left, in the middle of an armed
conflict, when we'll be dropping bombs within forty-eight hours if I
don't miss my guess, is bad politics.

---

God of War: Part 7

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