Page 27 of Campaign Season
Candace Reid was not a typical leader. Voters lit up when she entered a room. At fundraisers, she remembered the names of donors’ children, even their dogs. In debates, her spine straightened, and her hazel eyes cut through opponents like glass. She could take a 300-page policy brief and extract the thread that connected it to the broader tapestry of international relations. Alex had seen intelligence analysts with less acuity.
This made the decision harder. Alex wanted to argue against bringing anyone with ties to General Matthew Waters into the fold. Waters commanded a rare kind of respect—military, political, and public. His family name carried even more weight: his sister had been First Lady Jane Merrow, and his father, Dr. Donald Waters, was publicly lauded for fertility breakthroughs while privately tied to CIA black programs.
Alex’s stomach twisted. She knew too much. She had tracked evidence that Donald Waters wasn’t dead. He continued working on the human enhancement projects he and William Brackett had implemented. Those programs had scarred Cassidy’s family. The Boston clinic Waters had founded had provided the opportunity for Brackett to steal embryos. The revelation that Claire Brackett was Cassidy’s sister had cut Alex’s family to the bone.
Matthew Waters’s loyalty to his father’s legacy made him dangerous. Bringing in Greg Scott—someone with ties to Waters—was a risk. But sometimes, the only way to track an enemy was to make him think you viewed him as an asset.
“Alex?” Candace’s voice pulled her back.
“I’d like to know a little more about Greg Scott,” Alex said carefully.
“So would I. He’s consulted for Costin Barbu.”
Alex groaned. The Romanian president was always a wild card. “Candace.”
“I know. His presence could be problematic. But it could also present opportunities. Do you think appointing him will raise suspicion?”
“No more than any appointment.” Alex leaned back. “How much time do I have to dig into him?”
“I spoke with the CIA Director yesterday. His wife is struggling with early dementia.”
“You knew he wanted to resign.”
“I did. It presented an opportunity to make some moves. He’d like to step down by the first of the year. But I need to make your appointment public sooner.”
“And Greg Scott?”
“I’d like to say take as much time as you need.”
“But you need me to take as little time as possible,” Alex finished for her.
Candace nodded.
“I’ll get on it.”
“Thank you.” Candace sighed. “We need to talk about Lawson Klein.”
“Something new?”
“No. Nothing specific. Grant will be here next week.”
Alex nodded.
“I need him, Alex.”
“I don’t have anything against Grant.”
“But?”
“Can I be candid?”
“I hope so.”
“I think it might benefit us to keep Grant out of the West Wing.”
“Alex, he has?—”
“He has connections that are more likely to feed him information if he has a little distance from you.”
