Leman Kevin - A primary decision: a novel

2016 by Dr. Kevin Leman and Jeff Nesbit Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-0409-4

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

To those who are given much, much is required is a paraphrase of Luke 12:48.

Edited by Ramona Cramer Tucker

To all those curious enough to seek, question, and forge their own path in life. And to those who choose to do the right thing, no matter the consequences. Contents Glossary AF: American Frontier AG: Attorney General DA: District Attorney DHS: Department of Homeland Security DOJ: Department of Justice FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation GOP: Grand Old Party (Republican Party) JC: Judiciary Committee NGO: Non-governmental organization NYPD: New York Police Department RNC: Republican National Convention

R USSELL S ENATE O FFICE B UILDING
W ASHINGTON , D.C.

Tension crackled in the air.

All eyes in the room swiveled toward attorney general nominee Sarah Worthington.

You dont think its an issue? The dark eyes of Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Phelps pierced Sarah with an accusatory glare. That, should you be confirmed as the head of the Department of Justice, that same department will be prosecuting American Frontier? The very company for which your brother is CEO? In one of the biggest oil disasters our country has ever faced?

It wasnt the first targeted barb shed faced from the 18-member committee during the all-day vetting session. Arrows had flown from both majority and minority members inside the dark woodpaneled room of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Sarah didnt flinch. Steely gaze met steely gaze. I believe I have already answered that question from multiple venues in the past eight hours, Mr. Chairman. But let me be even clearer. I will do the right thing always, no matter the cost to me personally. She lifted her chin. Just like every member in my family has done in every venture theyve been involved with. And that includes my brother Will at American Frontier.

She could have said much more. Her natural instinct was to defend her family from completely off-the-mark comments. But long ago shed learned from Will that staying calm under fire and using fewer words was better. People had less ammunition for their arguments. From her other brother, Sean, shed assimilated the masterful art of negotiationseeing both sides of any situation. The members of the JC were merely doing their job. Shed already gone rounds with their questions not only about her work on past cases with the Department of Justices Criminal Division, but also about her two brothers recently aborted political runsWills for the Senate seat in New York, and Seans for governor of New York.

But the intensity of questioning and the flash of cameras in the press gallery had built into what now threatened to be a migraine. Sarah was tired of sitting behind the same nine-by-twelve black-cloth table.

Tired of being grilled by senators who had to sit in the same room but didnt like each other. It was like watching adolescent boys trying to one-up each other on the playground by flexing their muscles.

Tired of the lukewarm water in the plastic pitchers next to her, since the ice had long ago melted.

The chairman gave a short, dismissive nod. That concludes our business here today. Voting will proceed at the next session. We thank you for your time, Ms. Worthington.

Sarah swiftly gathered her papers and stashed them in her briefcase. She was glad for the previous meetings with the legislative affairs staff at the White House to prepare her for the vetting process. The White House staff had warned her that the JC process would be uglythat shed likely receive vengeful challenges from surprise quarters. Her nomination by President Rich, whose tirades earned him increasingly wide enemies and fair-weather friends even within his Republican camp, and the fact shed somehow vaulted over several rungs of Department of Justice leaders had raised suspicions in both Democrat and Republican wings. That she was a woman didnt help with the male old-timers on the JC, especially when only two of the previous 80-plus US attorney generals had been women. That she was from a well-known blue-blood family headlined often by the media notched up the controversy further.

The White House staff had assumed the threat of any weaknesses being exposed would scare Sarah. Instead that threat made her more determined to face down any bullies. She would not cave in. America needed strong, dependable leaders with courage, expertise, and long-range discernment. She had determined long ago to be in those ranks. The only questions had been exactly where and when.

From the earliest moment she could remember, her father, Bill Worthington, had drilled into her mind the mantra that continually drove her: To those who are given much, much is required.

So, at the end of those prior meetings with the legislative affairs staff, shed only said, Lets get to work then. I do not intend to lose this.

Now the vetting session shed prepared for was over. The Senate Judiciary Committee would call a vote at a later date. If that vote was in her favor, the matter would go to the Senate floor next. Then the full Senate vote would likely take a few weeks, even a month.

The long and short of it was, if she was confirmed, shed be the new head of the Department of Justice and serve on the presidents cabinet. She intended to use that power for good, no matter who shed have to face off with.

Now, though, after the intensity of the grilling shed just gone through with the JC, she knew the road ahead would likely be harder than shed ever dreamed.

N EW Y ORK C ITY

Will Worthington had felt conflicted all morning and into the afternoon during his high-powered Worthington Shares meetings. Sarah was taking a big step today. He was worried, and not only about her. Her being vetted as attorney general meant a lot of people would be digging deeply into the secrets of the Worthington family. Less than a year ago, that wouldnt have concerned him in the least. Now, well...

He checked the time. Hopefully shed be out of the Judiciary Committee vetting session. He speed-dialed her cell and asked without preamble, So, how did it go?

She laughed. Typical big brother, cutting to the chase. Then her voice sobered. It was intense. Very intense.

Anxiety flickered again. Anything in particular?

There was a pause. Nearly everything. I havent had a chance to filter through any of it. I left the room only minutes ago. Im not even in the limo yet.

He took a breath. It was now or never. He had to ask, even though he was certain what her response would be. Sure you want to do this?

Whyyou think Im not up to it? Her tone turned testy.

So, he gathered, it had been a much harder day than even his unconquerable sister had imagined.

No, thats not it, he replied gently. I learned the hard way never to underestimate my little sister.

What is it then? He didnt have to be standing next to her to picture her scowl and narrowed eyes.

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