Page 6 of False Flag

“Keep it,” Morgan said. “After two babies, it’ll never fit me again.”

“I’ll buy it⁠—”

She waved a hand. “I mean it. It doesn’t fit, and you look fabulous in it.”

“Seriously,” Kira said. “I’m rethinking my sexuality just looking at you.”

Staci laughed. Her apprehension around Kira had been unfounded. She could see now how much she’d mistaken shyness for aloofness in their previous interactions. But once they’d removed themselves to Morgan’s bedroom to play dress up, Kira’s reserve had faded.

“This is a hair-up kind of dress for sure,” Kira added. “I could twist the sides, then pin it in a French knot.”

“You know how to do that?”

She smiled. “My mom taught me. Your hair is long enough to make a really pretty knot.”

Staci settled in a chair, and Kira went to work. Diana, Freya, and Morgan sat on the king-sized bed and sipped wine as they chatted.

This was Staci’s teenage fantasy of what adulthood would be like. Being part of the in crowd with a group of women friends. Until Morgan, she’d never really had that.

Of course, instead of talking about boys and relationships, they were talking about con men and the politics of disinformation, which was seriously so much better than her teenage self could have imagined.

“I don’t have advice as far as Campbell is concerned,” Kira said, “but Diana and I can confirm that being hounded by zealots who worship wealth or power is no joke.”

“Seriously,” Diana said. “I will never understand the adulation that makes some men so eager to be bullies for brainless billionaires.”

Both women had faced public harassment in the months following the arrests of two American oligarchs who supported terrorism against the US and were now convicted traitors.

“Keep in mind, Staci,” Kira said. “The men who targeted us might have had more money, but they didn’t have a tenth of the following Campbell has.”

The room was silent as her words sank in. Staci closed her eyes.

Can I really do this?

It was Freya who broke the silence. “I don’t like that Hank Daniels is openly embracing Campbell. He’s a shrewd operator, which served him well as CIA director, but even better as a politician. It’s telling that he’s actively associating with pseudoarchaeology.”

“But what is it telling us?” Morgan asked.

“He wants the votes Campbell can bring him.”

“Isn’t it a bit early for Daniels to be laying groundwork for a presidential run?” Staci asked. “Crawford needs to win this election before Daniels can aim for the top of the ticket.”

Freya cleared her throat. “There are hints that Crawford might step down.”

“You have intel?” Morgan asked. “Because I haven’t heard anything.”

She shook her head. “No. I’m seeing hints. A few months ago, I think he was exploring options for dropping Daniels—there was no reason for him to make that move. Daniels is popular.”

“Crawford doesn’t actually like Daniels, though, does he?” Diana said.

“Loathes him. And Daniels is pissed that he’s been relegated to doing nothing after we had several administrations that actually gave the VP a role in policy.”

“But you don’t think Crawford is looking to dump Daniels now?”

“No. Crawford realized it was too late. His numbers are good. Primaries were over before they started. But something is up with him. Could be health. Or his wife’s health. Whatever is going on, I think Daniels is trying to shore up support. The general election is going to be as divided as the last one.” She fixed her gaze on Staci. “You being on the inside could be a game-changer for gathering intel on the VP and his plans.”

Diana cocked her head. “You think Daniels is certain Campbell can deliver votes?”

“Campbell can absolutely deliver votes,” Freya said. “I’ve been watching his numbers. He knows how to work an algorithm to drown out the other voices. But even more important, his followers—once they’re roped in past the superficial level—don’t question his word. He makes them feel good. Special. His simple message is directed at his white listeners, even though he doesn’t talk about race: they’ve been lied to for decades, centuries, even. These people weren’t voters before. They sat out of politics because they figured it was rigged—just like history, according to Gerard Campbell. But now here’s a guy who says this or that politician will restore truth to history, and that truth will lead to legislation that restores the proper order of things.