THE OFFICIAL THREE-MAN ENTOURAGE was striding quickly down the corridor of the Senate office building. In the lead was the Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. Next to him was Senator Wayne O’Brien.
Behind them was a congressional sergeant at arms.
As the trio of officials entered Senator Jason Bell Purdy’s office, the receptionist smiled at first. Then, when they identified themselves and asked for Senator Purdy, she gave them a startled look, opening her mouth, but unable to speak for a few seconds.
“Please, ma’am, get the senator out here immediately.”
The receptionist closed her mouth, punched Purdy’s intercom, and told him he was needed in the lobby right away.
When Purdy strode out into the lobby, the Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee handed him a packet of papers.
“Senator Jason Bell Purdy, it is my unfortunate duty to deliver formal ethics charges to you relating to your conduct in the United States Senate. Each of the details and specifications of your ethics violations, including but not limited to coercion and blackmail against a colleague, namely, Senator Wayne O’Brien, is enclosed.”
Purdy reached out a limp hand to receive the papers.
Glancing back toward his office, he noticed Linda, his press secretary, approaching him.
“Linda, hey—help me out here, will you? Start making some calls immediately. Round up the troops for me here,” he whispered.
Linda gazed at him, shook her head, and then handed him an envelope.
“My resignation,” she said. “I’ve been hired by the majority leader’s office. Sorry.”
Purdy glumly inched his way up to O’Brien.
“Wayne, friend. Let’s talk. You’ve got to help me out of this deal.”
Senator Wayne O’Brien fixed his fellow Georgian with a stone-cold stare.
“Jason, let me just say this,” he replied. “I can’t say I’m happy about this. I would rather have seen you charged with a federal crime. But I can say I’m satisfied. And that will have to do.”
After the threesome had left, Purdy stood, clutching the packet with the ethics charges.
He wanted to say something clever to his receptionist, something bold and confident. But as he glanced over at her, she looked down at the papers on her desk, making herself look busy.
Purdy clicked his teeth together—and wondered how long he would have to wait till he could get himself a stiff drink.