෴෴෴ ෴෴෴ ෴෴෴

Bargaining and Denial

  Director Kellog sat at his desk in the unmarked DC office building that housed Project Turnabout. The office offered a picturesque skyline view that included a peek at the nearby Potomac River. Kellog often liked to stand at the plate glass window wall and practice what he thought of as his power poses. Other times he simply liked to bask in the knowledge that his view of the river was the best in the building, aside from the rooftop. 

  The phone rang. He put on a confident but stern smile and picked up the handset. “Go for Kellog” 

  “Good afternoon sir. How are things on y—”

  His voice remained steady as his expression crumpled into fear and uncertainty. “Oh. I see.”

  “That is true. Things could have gone better. We had some unfortunate events leading up to, and throughout the operation.” He sat there, leaning his head on the hand holding the phone as though it took all of his strength simply to hold it up. 

  “Sir, it is strongly implied in my mandate that I c—”

  “Be that as it may, this doesn’t need to get out.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Oh. I see. Do we know who leaked it?”

  “No, I suppose it doesn’t really matter at this point.”

  “Ok, I hear what you’re saying. I’ll get ready to transfer to another agency effective imme—” The words from the other end seemed to hit him like a physical blow. His shoulders hunched up as though anticipating another.

  “No Director-General, that part of the operation also failed.” His shoulders sagged further at this admission.

  He sat in silence for several minutes listening.

  “Yes sir, you’re right. No, there’s no excuse. Of course, I’ll have the report to you by morning.” He slumped over the desk, holding his head up with one hand, and the phone to his ear with the other. 

  “Yes, I’ll set up a press conference in the morning. I’ll take full responsibility.” A moment later he hung the phone up and slouched into his chair as if the last of his strength had failed him.

  “Damnit. Why did you have to press that damn button!” He muttered at himself. “How did they know to save that footage? Someone had to have tipped them off!” 

  Long after the end of the call he sat in his office facing the wall. Although he liked to reflect on having the best view aside from the roof, that view was wasted on him today. 

  Eventually, he pulled out a paper pad and started writing down names. “I may go down, but whoever tipped them off is going down with me!” 

  He looked up, and then scribbled down the names of every technician in the building, and then began to list administrative and facilities staff that might have known about the incident. 

  At the moment he began to write down the name of his newly-promoted Deputy Director Stratton, he stopped and stared at the paper, rubbing his temples, and then crossed it out. “No, not him, he wouldn’t do that.”

  In the next room, Stratton sat on the floor with his back to the shared wall between the offices. The spot he sat in was as close to where Director Kellog sat in the next room as possible. His posture was tight as though exerting great effort. Soon after Director Kellog scratched his name off the list, Stratton let out a quivering breath and relaxed.