This story is a work of fiction. Only the really boring parts are autobiographical. Any resemblance of any character in this story to any real person is unintentional and pure coincidence. Please read Chapter One to get the context for this story.
*****
The Monday after my meeting at Karen's condo, I called one of my connections. Jim Carr had served as Governor Warren's "political adviser" during her campaign for President. I had met him when he was in my state, and we'd had beers together a few times. He was now a K Street consultant by had good connections in Government.
After pleasantries, I started by telling Jim that my source for what I was about to tell him was privileged. I gave him the basic part of the story first. When I finished, the line was quiet for almost a minute.
Finally, Jim said, "I heard something about that during the campaign, but I dismissed it as urban myth. You are sure that what you're telling me really happened?"
"Jim, I wasn't there so I can't give you 100%, but I think my source is truthful."
"Well, the campaign was vicious and I know that there are folks at 1600 who wouldn't mind getting their own back, but Trout is pretty discredited now. I'm not sure anyone at a responsible level is going to be very interested in this."
"Does that change if you can tie in Speaker Rhoden and Majority Leader McDonald?" I asked.
"That makes a huge difference. What makes you think that they were involved?"
"I don't know their level of involvement, but they knew and ogled, "I said. Then I proceeded to tell him about the JSGFT's appearance at the White House.
"Let me make some calls," Jim said. "My guess is that someone will be getting back to you."
I waited a couple of days. I wasn't sure how to push the issue if I met with indifference in Washington. To my relief, I got a call from some on DOJ's Public Integrity Section. I fed that person all of the details I had been given and sat back to wait to see if an investigation developed.
That afternoon, my phone rang again. This was Karen.
"Harry, how are you? I have to be Downtown tomorrow at Federal Court to testify in an auto theft case. The AUSA thinks that I'll be done before lunch. If I am, are you free for lunch? You can bring me up to date."
How would I turn down lunch with Karen? "Sure," I replied. "Call my cell when you are finished and we'll work out the details." I gave her my cell number.
About 11:00 the next morning, my phone made the odd noise it makes when it receives a text with an attachment. The text said "DONE & HUNGRY. K." The attachment was a photograph, of Karen, facing the camera and smiling. She was nude in the picture.
I texted back "5TH & MAIN. 5 MIN."
I met Karen, looking gorgeous in a conservative business suit on standing on the corner. I couldn't resist teasing her.
"You look great, but I like your texting outfit better," I said.
Karen smiled. I attach that when I want to be sure to get someone's attention," she said. "They won't let me wear that one in court. Where are we eating?"
I took Karen to a new, rather pricey, place that had recently opened. Its shtick was "inventive cuisine." That notwithstanding, it wasn't a bad meal, but maybe that was because of the company.
Over lunch, I told Karen about my calls with Carr and DOJ.
"I've heard of that PI guy," she said, referring to the lawyer from Public Integrity. "The word is that he doesn't let go when he gets hold of something until he has a conviction. I hope they leave him on it."
A few moments later, Karen said, "Oh! I need to tell you that there is a third JSGFT girl in with us now. Remember that I told you we had a girl from the Coast Guard?"
I nodded.
"That was Carrie. She's a lot of fun. She doesn't look like anything special with her clothes on, but she is beautiful naked. Anyway, she's in."
That was the third or fourth time I had heard Karen or MaryLou comment on how their JSGFT colleagues looked nude. I couldn't resist asking a carefully worded question.
Karen smiled at my question. "Harry, we spent a great deal of time together stark naked. There were training exercises where the only clothes we took were footwear. If you spend that much time with people naked in stressful situations some, well, intimate bonding is going to happen"
"I see," I said.
Karen smiled again. "No you don't. You haven't been there, at least not yet. Don't worry, though. Just because we JSGFTers have a special bond doesn't mean that any of us, well at least most of us, don't like men."
I really wasn't sure how to take that. I tensed a bit and said, "Well, it is none of my business. Not that it would happen, but the ethics rules prohibit me from relationships with clients."
Karen smiled her high intensity smile. "I know," she said.
We didn't hear anything for about three months. Fortunately, Karen, MaryLou, and Carrie (whom I'd yet to meet) knew how government works. Finally, I got an e-mail from a lawyer at DOJ sending an agreement that allowed me to tell DOJ who I represented in connection with JSGFT without the Government being able to use that information against my clients. After talking it over with Karen, I signed and returned that agreement.
Two things happened very rapidly. First, I was e-mailed a draft "Report on Joint Study Group on Female Terrorism" with a covering message saying that the final report would be released in five days. The report was pretty accurate and thorough, although it portrayed the women who served in JSGFT as victims of "pornographic sexism at the highest levels of the Federal Government."
That characterization did not go over well with my clients. MaryLou said over the phone that "I have never been anyone's victim and I never will be."
Over drinks, Karen explained, "I feel victimized because promises were made to me that were not kept. I don't feel victimized from being in JSGFT. It was fun and it opened up a whole new aspect of life for me. I like people seeing my bare tits, ass, and cunt. It is a real turn-on. But for being in JSGFT, I'm not sure that I would ever have developed the courage to experience that."