Agent Curry exhaled in resignation. “Believe it or not, I’m trying to help you, Summer. As an Unlawful Enemy Combatant, you won’t receive a normal trial. It’ll be a Combatant Status Review Tribunal. I’ve never seen someone released after a tribunal. You gotta give me something, or you leave me no choice. Don’t you wanna see your baby grow up?”
Sweat beaded on Summer’s forehead. Her head pounded from the bright light and the stress. She felt a popping sensation and a slow trickle of fluid soaking her underwear and pants.
52
Naomi and NEA
“We have about five thousand and counting,” Vernon said.
Naomi was in her congressional office, sitting at her desk, across from Vernon. “How many of them are we paying for?”
“I wasn’t counting paid protestors. That’s just from your base. Not bad on short notice, huh?”
Naomi nodded, a smile on her lips. “It’s been less than twenty-four hours since we put out the word.”
“Nobody works anymore.”
“Maybe we can get some robot protestors?”
They both laughed.
As their laughter subsided, Naomi asked, “How many do you think we’ll have on Friday?”
“Including the paid protestors, at least ten thousand, maybe fifteen.”
The desktop phone chimed. Naomi tapped the OLED screen and said, “Yes, Nina?”
“Your one o’clock is here,” Nina said. “Mrs. Regan from NEA.”
Naomi checked her watch—12:58. Where did the time go?
Vernon, aware of Naomi’s schedule, checked his own watch and stood from the desk. He said, “We’ll talk later.”
Naomi nodded to Vernon and said to Nina, “Send her in.”
Vernon left the office.
Naomi greeted Mrs. Regan at the door with a firm handshake. The president of the National Education Association was chunky and pear-shaped, with a ruddy round face. They sat across from each other at Naomi’s desk.
“Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me,” Mrs. Regan said.
“The pleasure’s mine,” Naomi replied. “How can I help you?”
“As you know, unions have taken quite a beating over the years,” Regan said. “The Greater Depression destroyed defined benefit pensions as we knew them. Many pensions were defaulted on. The few teachers who retained their pensions had the value inflated away. With less money to attract quality teachers, public schools have been forced to increasingly use online classrooms to cut costs. Unions have always been an important part of the social fabric of this country. I’d like to restore that. I don’t want to speak out of turn, but, from what I’ve heard, you may be a strong ally of the cause.”
Naomi smiled at the woman. “I’ve been very vocal in my support of unions, and I’ve consistently supported legislation favoring unions. My mother is a retired teacher. I’m left caring for her because her pension was inflated away.”
“I remember you speaking so eloquently about your mother when you announced your candidacy for president. She must be so proud.”
“Thank you. I hope she is.” Naomi paused for a moment. “Most candidates are beholden to the top bidders. Given the financial difficulties of unions, it’s no surprise that politicians have lost interest. But this is the problem with politics. Politicians do what will get them elected, which is often bowing to big money donors, instead of sticking to principles and doing the right thing. I sometimes feel like a lone voice in the wilderness. I’m sure you understand that feeling.”
Mrs. Regan smiled. “I certainly do.”
“You can count on me to be a good friend of the unions, but, if I’m to really make a difference, I must win the presidency, and, to do that, I need donations.”
Regan took a deep breath. “Most teacher associations are supporting Corrinne Powers, even though she’s been a lukewarm supporter of our cause, but they feel as though she’s the most likely to be our next president. What would you say to that?”
Naomi leaned forward, her elbows on her desk, and her fingers steepled. “I don’t need a war chest to beat Corrinne Powers. People are tired of being destroyed by crony capitalism. Corrinne is more of the same. Sixteen new democratic socialists were elected in the midterms. According to polls, 46 percent of Americans support democratic socialism. With this latest stock market crash, I think we’re very close to a majority.”
“But a lot of democratic socialists still support Corrinne Powers.”
“Some may if she wins the Democratic nomination, but just so they can oppose President Warner, not because Corrinne represents their interests.” Naomi straightened and sat back in her chair. “I won’t sugarcoat the situation. It’s an uphill battle for me. You and the other unions see the same polls I do. But, if you support Corrinne, and she wins, what is the likelihood that she does anything for the unions?”
“That’s why I’m here. That’s why NEA would like to support your campaign and your super PAC.”
53
Derek’s Destiny
Derek and his neighbor, Destiny, crept to the bridge under the light of a half-moon. It was muggy and hot, mosquitoes buzzing about.
Destiny smacked her bare leg, just below the hem of her skirt. “I got bit again.”
“Shh,” Derek replied, his finger to his lips. The guard shack and the robot guard were only sixty feet away.
They’d planned their entrance into The Regal Hotel, but this was the first time Destiny had seen it in person.
Derek gestured to the bridge. “You have to use the steel girders like monkey bars.”
She looked down at the dark canal below, her eyes wide. “I can’t swim.”
“I told you about the canal,” Derek whispered.
She snapped her tongue off the roof of her mouth in response.
“I’ll go first. If you fall, I’ll jump in after you.”
She cringed at the mention of falling.
Derek looked into her almond-shaped eyes. “I know you can do this.” And she could. She had been a standout three-sport athlete in high school and still had the athletic build to show for it. Derek opened his backpack and handed her a small pair of rock-climbing gloves. “These’ll help you hold on.”
She nodded and took the gloves.
Derek crossed the underside of the bridge using the steel girders like monkey bars. On the other side of the canal, Derek motioned to Destiny. She hiked her skirt and tentatively followed in Derek’s footsteps, crawling under the bridge and finding handholds on the steel girders. She wore sneakers with her skirt. A serious fashion faux pas, but Derek had her flats in his backpack. She gripped the girders with her gloves, her arm muscles flexing. She started across the steel girders, one hand after the other. Halfway across, she slowed and looked down, her legs dangling over the dark water. Her arms tensed; her face was taut.
“Look at me,” Derek said.
She looked up from the water, her eyes like saucers.
“You’re almost there. One hand over the other.”
She reached for the steel girder in front of her, then the next. Slowly but surely, she crossed the bridge, taking Derek’s hand on the other side.
“I knew you could do it,” Derek said, grinning.
She grinned back at him, shaking her tired arms. “What’s next?”
“Let’s see if he’s here.”
They walked to the parking lot, finding Zhang Jun’s SUV.
“Now we wait,” Derek said.
They waited nearby, concealed by hedges, watching the hotel entrance. Destiny changed into her flats, smoothed her skirt, and checked her makeup. She was ready. Derek looked presentable in khakis and a button-down shirt.
“You have my lipstick, right?” Destiny asked.