Read In Sheep's Clothing: An Action-Packed Political Thriller (Matthew Richter Thriller Series Book 1) for Free Online Page B

questions.
    “Are you telling me I should quit?” he had asked. 
    “Not at all,” she had responded.  “I can’t make that decision for you.  And I don’t think you’re ready to make it either.  Not yet.  Not until you know more about who you are and not until you know more about what you want.”
    It was odd, he thought as he waited for the train.  He had never considered that there might come a day when he wasn’t with the Service. 
    They had talked for over two hours, and he had surprised himself by agreeing to meet again.
___
    Later that day, as Richter took up his post outside the Oval Office, inside, President Kendall glanced at the calendar then looked up at Charles Howell.
    “What’s this meeting with Phil Perry?” he asked.
    Howell shook his head.  “Rumson set it up directly with Arlene, last night.” 
    Arlene Reardon was the president’s secretary.  Howell explained that although she had informed him, he assumed that the president had requested it. 
    “Rumson set it up?”  The president frowned.  “Charles, I review everything with you.  If I wanted to discuss the election, I would have told you.”
    Howell apologized for not verifying it with him, and the president knew it was unlikely to happen again.  Howell was a trusted aide and skilled Chief of Staff, effectively coordinating the work of the Executive Branch while deftly balancing the president’s time with a keen sense of what was urgent and critical and what could be handled without his involvement.  It was Howell’s job to control the schedule.  From the Presidential Daily Briefs and national security updates in the mornings to the meet-and-greets with visiting groups and dignitaries in the afternoon, and then the Cabinet meetings and countless policy discussions in between, Howell was responsible for controlling access to the Oval Office.  The president’s only free time was the few hours in the late afternoon that he reserved for reading briefing documents or making phone calls.  The president frowned.  It appeared that Rumson had done an end run around his Chief of Staff. 
    He knew he would have to make a decision soon.  In the remaining time he had left in office—only two years—he wouldn’t be able to accomplish all of the things he had resolved to do.  Washington didn’t move that fast.  But running for reelection wasn’t something he could decide on his own.  He had to speak to his family first.
    “Should I cancel it, sir?”
    The president hesitated, then shook his head.  “No.  Let me see what he has to say.”
___
    Phil Perry leaned forward. “Sir, I’ve been thinking about the election.” 
    Kendall nodded.  He glanced at Rumson, who was sitting quietly, watching. 
    “As you know,” Perry continued, “it’s only twenty-four months away.  I’m not sure how much thought you’ve given to this yet, but there are a few things you should be doing at this stage.”
    Kendall nodded.
    “You need to start thinking about strategy.  You need to start thinking about fundraising.  And you need to start putting a campaign team together.  That’s the most critical component right now,” Perry said as he slid a document across the table.  “I’ve put together a recommendation for you.”
    Kendall nodded again but left the report unopened on the table.  The fact that Perry had already been thinking about the upcoming election was expected.  But why had he gone to Rumson first?  Rumson, he noticed, was still silent. 
    “Give me the summary, Phil.” 
    “As I said, at this stage, the organization is the priority.  Once you select a campaign manager, a lot of the other pieces will fall into place.” 
    Kendall sat silently, waiting for him to continue.
    Perry leaned forward.  “You need a top-notch manager running your campaign, sir.” He paused. “And Tad Davinsky is the best there is.” 
    Davinsky?  It took him a moment to remember where he’d heard the name before.