The father-daughter duo stared intently out one of the Red Room’s floor-to-ceiling windows.
With the rest of the tour group focused elsewhere, Janie decided to make her way closer to the pair. “I’m sorry.” She sent the man a friendly smile. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Who is it you’re hoping to see?”
“The president!” The little girl jumped up and down excitedly. “Daddy says he’s supposed to get on that helicopter and fly away soon.” She pointed to something through the window.
Looking to see what the girl was talking about, Janie’s breath caught when she saw Marine One on the South Lawn. Technically, it wasn’t considered to be Marine One until the president himself was on board, but still.
“Isn’t that cool?”
“Very cool.” Janie gave the little girl a confirming nod. “So you think the president will be coming out soon?”
“That’s what my daddy says.”
The man turned his phone around so Janie could see its screen. “The White House released the president’s official schedule for today,” he shared. “According to this, he’s supposed to fly from here to Andrews AirForce Base in just a few minutes, and from there, he’ll take Air Force One on a scheduled flight to Georgia.
Butterflies of excitement fluttered in Janie’s stomach as she glanced out the window again. She took several pictures of the impressive government chopper before taking in the rest of the view.
A long stretch of perfectly green grass spanned the impressive grounds. Several yards straight ahead, a tall spurt of rolling water danced in the center of a circular fountain. A thick layer of small, red and white flowers lined its perimeter in a breathtaking way.
Almost immediately, she was awestruck by the sight of the Washington Monument standing tall in the distance.
I’m standing inside the White House looking at what will soon become Marine One with the Washington Monument in the background!
She’d been all over the country, but at heart, Janie was still a simple Missouri girl. So yeah, this day was turning out to be one of her all-time favorites to date.
Motion to her right pulled her focus to a small group of reporters setting up shop near the curved, paved roadway encircling the perfectly manicured back yard. A large Magnolia tree partially blocked her view, but she was still able to snap a few pictures of the journalists and photographers standing watch as they waited for the Commander in Chief to appear.
As she stood patiently for the moment to arrive, Janie studied the landscape and structures she could see. The Red Room was one level up from the ground, which allowed her to see the partially hidden walkway directly below.
She couldn’t make out much aside from the stone path leading to a door built into the back of a set of curved steps. She lifted her phone to take a picture just as two black-suited men who appeared to be Secret Service stepped into the frame.
Janie snapped a few shots, mostly because the midwestern girl still very much alive inside of her thought it was super cool. After all, it wasn’t every day that she was this close to the men and women who protected the leader of the free world.
As she continued to watch the pair, it was impossible not to notice the obvious tension between the two agents. Though recording while inside the White House was strictly prohibited, she couldn’t resist using her phone’s camera to zoom in closer and record the intriguing interaction.
Several more words were said between the two agents before one spun angrily around and disappeared through the partially hidden door. The other agent ran a frustrated hand over his clean-shaven jaw, and then turned and walked away.
Moments later, the reporters who’d gathered on the lawn quickly got into position as the president appeared. Janie started covertly recording again the second she spotted the most powerful man in the world. She didn’t stop until the President of the United States was inside Marine One and the helicopter’s stairs had been lifted back up and secured.
The long, metal blades began to whirl, and within minutes, Marine One was rising into the air. She watched as the massive chopper showcasing the president’s seal disappeared into the afternoon sky.
So cool.
Janie took several more pictures and a few long seconds to relish in the experience before abandoning the window and resuming the self-guided tour. By the time the tour had come to an end, she was absolutely famished. A quick check of her phone showed the shortest route back to her hotel. Even better, there was also a food truck claiming to serve the city’s most deliciously prepared gyros along the way.
Thanks to the oh-so-generous David Ellis—or rather, his expense account at the Post—Janie had been given a room at The Monument Hotel. Located a few blocks north of the White House, and not too far from the Post, it was far pricier a place than what Janie was used to. Which in her mind meant Ellis was serious in his efforts to obtain her employment.
A cool breeze lifted the ends of Janie’s hair as she strolled casually along the sidewalk. As she walked, she carefully scanned her surroundings, trying to imagine what it would be like to live here.
According to the most recent census, St. Louis proper currently had just over two-hundred thousand people. Growing up, and even as an adult at times, the place felt like it stretched on forever.
D.C.’s population was triple that of her hometown, so there would definitely be a period of adjustment.
And? It wouldn’t be anything you couldn’t handle.
Janie took the last bite of her seasoned beef and lamb gyro, quickly using her napkin to wipe the tzatziki sauce that had started dripping down her chin. Seconds later, hundreds of bubbles exploded along her tongue as she took a healthy swig of her diet soda. Bythe time she’d reached the hotel’s entrance, Janie’s belly was full, and she was ready to change clothes and chill.
When she got up to her tenth-floor room, she kicked off the nude heels she’d bought specifically for the interview. Next came the navy blue jacket and suit pants, followed by the cream-colored, cowl necked, sleeveless blouse she’d had on underneath.