Hollywood Scream Play Read Online Free PDF Page B

concern about my independent status. The truth of the matter is that, while under deep cover, I infiltrated one of the most notorious terrorist organizations— and brought it to its knees .”
    A gasp is heard through the room—
    —Only to be drowned out by my exclamation, “Bullshit! Yo Carl, stop me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it you who tried to set off a nanobomb in a stadium filled with people? And weren’t you the lunatic who almost shot down POTUS with a heat-seeking missile?”
    Carl’s gaze in my direction is followed by two of the committee’s security detail, but I duck my head just in time.
    Madame Chairman slams down her gavel so many times that I’m surprised it hasn’t broken into splinters.
    Like all good comedians, Carl waits until the audience has calmed down before continuing. “There were many things I had to do to prove myself to the terrorist’s leaders, none of which I’m proud of. But the success of my mission speaks for itself— I alone eliminated all twelve of the leaders in the international terrorist organization known as the Quorum . My mission’s success has been well-documented in a report that was submitted to President Chiffray within an hour of his being sworn into office, by the outgoing intelligence director, in fact. After reading it, the president handed a copy to Madame Chairman, along with his nomination letter.”
    Senator Kuley glares at his colleague. “Is this true?”
    Vanna Ackerman gives him a slight nod.
    “Why wasn’t I, or the rest of the committee, privy to this so-called report?” Kuley roars at her.
    She hits her gavel on its block. “If the great senator from Missouri will get ahold of himself, I’ll very honestly and directly tell you that report’s sensitivity is such that the redaction process is still in progress. You see, Lieutenant Stone’s undercover status was compromised on numerous occasions by one of the community’s most trusted contractors, no less! It is a viper that our country has nursed to its bosom!” She is clasping her own 38DDs so hard that I’m surprised she can breathe at all.
    Obviously, so is Jack, because he snickers until he is choking.
    I’d think it were funny, too, if it hadn’t dawned on me that Carl is about to get away with murder. Make that numerous murders, and attempted murders—not to mention a few conspiracies to commit treason, attempted terrorist acts, and seven years of negligence in regard to child support payments.
    I’m about to say so, loud and proud, but Jack has slapped his hand over my mouth. In our relationship, keeping each other out of jail is the ultimate public display of affection, so I guess I can forgive him.
    “Mr. Vice Chairman, I’m sorry that you and the others weren’t aware of my endeavors prior to this hearing.” Carl’s loud sigh pointedly lays the blame at the feet of his predecessor. “And of course I welcome any further questions, after you do read it. That being said, let me assure you that my very first act as Director of Intelligence is to do a full audit of all contractors. As the Snowden and Grodin incidents have so glaringly exposed, many of those who are paid well to guard our greatest secrets are, in fact, our worst enemies.”
    I can’t keep quiet anymore. “Takes one to know one!” I shout at the top of my lungs.
    This time, Jack shoves me under the bench while the senate security guards ramp up their search for the heckler.
    In that position, I can barely breathe, but I can still hear Carl as he declares, “Keeping this Committee fully and currently informed is not only the law, it is this position’s solemn obligation. I say this not only as an intelligence-career professional, but as a citizen.” He pauses, as if his thoughts are weighted down with the gravity of his convictions. “Madame Chairman, Mr. Vice Chairman, and other committee members, if confirmed, I pledge, not only to follow the law, but to go a step further and increase the trust between