This is a short story about a politician trying to get a reporter to stop a story by any means. Whilst there is reluctance, what is offered is freely given.
A special thanks to RF-Fast for helping to proofread and ensuring the story is in good shape.
To double cross a double cross?
"You can't do this." The young woman demanded, and I sat back and felt amusement.
Jessica Rachel Honeycutt, 27, was married shortly after she left university. Studied politics and passed with OK grades, but made a run for a political post when she was 22 and shocked everyone when she was elected.
I might have inadvertently helped, as I'd published a story about her opponent that she'd leapt upon to her advantage. She came from a conservative family who were wealthy, but not rich. Certainly not rich enough to explain her meteoric rise.
Her husband's family was connected to businesses with dubious practices, which her political influence could help or protect. Four election wins in five years, perfectly timed for her to progress to a higher office each time
As a wordsmith, I could appreciate the skill of the speeches she read, even if I disagreed with the content. But they weren't her words. You knew that after seeing her in an unscripted interview. When she hit on the first question she struggled with, it would cause her to launch into a rant over the biases of the press.
No, she must have had powerful backers, and I was desperate to find out who.
Returning to the moment, I replied to her objection.
"I already have. Just because I've not published yet..."
"But it will ruin my career."
"So? It will advance mine." I replied, and enjoyed the look of venom on her face.
She jumped up and for a moment I thought she'd slap me, and I was disappointed she didn't. Not that I would have enjoyed the pain, but my office was wired with microphones and hidden cameras. It wasn't surprising given how many people came to see me in person, after I hinted about my upcoming stories. They'd come to stop me and often reveal even more without meaning to do so. It didn't always work, but it was worth it, just in case.
Ms Honeycutt was a young and upcoming political hot potato. Someone big had found a pretty young graduate with a cut throat attitude and no morals, then backed her career. So far, I've not found out who, but I'd get there, eventually. Especially if I published a story that could wreck her further political aspirations. In that case, I could feel the vibrations in my web of information to see what had turned up.
I'd no interest one way or another if I fucked her over or not. I was interested in bigger fish.
She paused with her back to me, and I saw her hand in her purse from the many reflections in the room. I saw her fiddle with her phone, then turned back.
"But all the people I've helped?"
"I showed you the figures. By my maths, the votes you've cast have cost each of your constituents hundreds or thousands each. Ironically, at the same time while earning your contributors millions. That's why it's a good story."
She glared at me and made an overly dramatic feint at crying. Turning away, she took a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed her eyes to cover her, placing her phone on a shelf. I was pretty sure she was recording this, and I turned to one camera and shook my head.
I was fairly sure even this was stage managed by someone. Her outfit was subtle, but easy to spot if you were looking for it. She wore black patent leather high heels. They were a little taller than her usual public persona. Her hair and makeup were a little overdone, and the grey button up dress was a nice touch. Knee-length, but figure hugging. The neckline emphasised a bust she didn't have, but drew your eyes to it. It wasn't overtly sexual, but hinted that way.
This wasn't a new ploy, and was one of the reasons I'd bugged my office. If Kimberley was so proficient at setting her phone like that, I prayed I'd get the chance to listen to what she'd recorded. Who knew who else she'd recorded?
She looked at me harder.
"So, what's it going to take?"
"Sorry?"
"You heard me. But I doubt money is of much interest to you." She looked around the room and projected pity at the paucity of my office furniture.
I'd have laughed that she was so naΓ―ve in such matters. Tycoons sold their wealth with opulence. Others sold themselves as down to earth by going the other way. If I wanted to, at 50, I could retire tomorrow to any sunny beach and live out my years with umbrella cocktails and pretty girls on my arm. But I loved the cutthroat nature of journalism. Skewering one politician after another was too sweet. With no political leaning myself, whoever was corrupt was a fine target for me. It's just I'd not expected Ms Honeycutt to be added to my list so quickly.
"I have influence," she threatened.
"So, do I. Only mine is the kind to encourage people to do the right thing. What your party is means nothing to me. How you do it, nada. Doing what your voters want rings my bell."
"But power..."
I shook my head and pointed to the wall behind me. I'd won dozens of awards and earned professional acclaim.
"Power is just an opportunity to abuse it." I tossed her a page I'd written but not included in my spoiler.
Normally you'd expect to keep a political scandal under your hat until you published it, to avoid someone scooping you. However, this was a different sort of story and I wanted to see what cages were rattled when they found out.
Serious players keep electronic communications to a minimum, knowing that anything can be hacked. So, they dealt with each other face-to-face. The biggest problem with that is when something urgent comes up.
We had more than a dozen investigators watching her, her husband, and associates. Any sudden change in plans or unexpected meetings was a new thread to investigate.
The new page I showed her, showed how she had pressured the city to award a contract to a company heavily associated with her father-in-law. A company with no skills or expertise in the work required. And it had overrun by over six months, costing the city double the original price.
She glared at me, then turned to the window. The night sky perfectly reflected her as she unbuttoned the top button on the dress. That was interesting. I'd expected more threats and pleading first. An attempted seduction would be an interesting and unexpected approach.
Kimberly was slim and fit. At best, I'd say I was acceptable for my age. My job had cost me my marriage and, to be honest, I was glad to let it go. Too many hours and too much stress, so my wife moved on and found a better guy. I resorted to the occasional massage parlour, but even then, I was still a reporter looking for a story.
"So, you say you won't stop publishing it, because it's the right thing to do. And money and power have no influence over you. What does?" She leant over my desk and thrust her rather modest chest at me. "Are you going to ask me for sexual favours?"
I nearly laughed out loud at how amateur she was about this. To me, it was obvious she'd been sent to see me and told to do whatever it takes to make this go away. But I suspect her ego refused to accept whatever advice she'd been given on how to do it. Thinking her womanly wiles would win me over. She was pretty, but was clearly no seductress.
It would be amusing to introduce her to Candy. A hooker I knew who was both an informant, and a heck of a lot smarter than me. She could easily hold her own talking with tenured professors while sucking dick like a goddess. Let's just say I need to verify my sources.
"Why would you think I would do anything like that, Ms Honeycutt?"
Her expression showed she was thinking hard. Not much of a surprise. Her modest IQ would make it easier for her backers to control her.
"Because I know your kind. Low life with low tendencies. I can arrange for the most proficient courtesan to deal with your base needs."
It was amusing that she used the word courtesan, as if it would throw me. Words were my career. I nearly asked her how she knew Candy. But I kept my eyes neutral.
"Kimberly..." I started and watched her scowl. "Despite your bias to the press. I'm not that kind of guy. Even if your husband is..."
Her eyes flared wide, and I was impressed that she kept her temper. She obviously knew that her husband was unfaithful. I'd heard rumours, but no evidence she'd had lovers. I suspected both she and her husband were sleeping around to further her career.
It was hard to think about the commitment the pair had to their future. But was it different from Candy? She was more honest about it, but Honeycutt would earn more, eventually.
She glanced around, and seeing no cameras, popped another button.
"Trey. It's just us. I need your help. You hold my entire career in your hand. Tell me what you'd like to put in mine?" She mimed giving me a hand job.