Judd nodded—to what, exactly, he wasn’t sure.
“We’ll let Melanie Eisenberg run the front channel.” Parker flicked his hand dismissively. “Let WHA be visible. Let her handle the press and the interagency. Let Mel run the show. She’ll insist on that anyway.” Parker placed both hands on Judd’s desk and leaned in. “You told me I need a backchannel. Well, that’s you.”
“Me?”
“I need S/CRU to be my backchannel. This will be delicate. I need someone I can trust. Someone discreet. Someone to operate in the shadows.”
“Thank you, sir. But what are we talking about?”
“The AMCITs, of course.” Parker stood up straight. “I need you to come up with a way to get them back. You’ll be helping me. You’ll be helping the Secretary. And you’ll be helping to prove S/CRU. It’s a win-win-win, Ryker. Are you in?”
“Yes, sir, of course.”
“Good. Figure out what the hell those bastards are up to. Why now? What are they getting out of this? What are they thinking?”
“Who, sir?”
“The Cubans, Ryker! Who the hell else could I mean?”
Judd nodded.
“And, Ryker, you have to figure out how we’re going to get the AMCITs back without giving anything away. Who do we even talk to? I want some creative ideas! No more oldthink!” Parker turned to leave.
“I’m in, Mr. Parker. I’m in one hundred percent,” Judd said. “But I’ve been on lockdown all morning with this memo. What citizens are you talking about?”
Parker didn’t turn around as he walked out of Judd’s office. From the outer lobby, he called out, “Turn on your TV.”
19.
MIAMI, FLORIDA
THURSDAY, 10:02 A.M.
The television camera zoomed in on the chairwoman’s face as she approached the podium. A bouquet of microphones clustered at the front. A large American flag hung in the background, perfectly positioned by her press secretary to frame the screenshot.
Brenda Adelman-Zamora wore her most serious business pantsuit and an even sterner expression. Her personal makeup artist had used extra eyeliner that morning, adding subtle black lines to suggest intense ferocity.
The congresswoman stared into the camera for a moment, ensuring that all the networks had time to catch her opening statement. Satisfied the assembled media was ready, she inhaled deeply.
“I have called this press conference on short notice to express my deep outrage at the actions of the Cuban government. Last night, the Cuban navy illegally detained four innocent American citizens. My office has learned that these four men were on a fishing trip. These men are husbands. These men are fathers. Their young daughters play on the same soccer team in the great state of Maryland, just a few miles from where we stand this morning. One of the detained Americans is the coach. A hardworking businessman and a girls’ soccer coach. These soccer dads were together on a fishing trip out of the Florida Keys, enjoying the bounty of my own beautiful state, when they were illegally captured by the communist regime.”
Adelman-Zamora took another deep breath and hung her head in grief. “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these innocent men. These fathers have been torn from their wives and children. These men and their families are suffering needlessly from the actions of a ruthless dictatorship.”
She lifted her chin. “We have not yet had any official statement from Cuba, but they have shamelessly released a video clip to their state-controlled media of the men in detention. Contrary to what the Cuban propaganda machine is reporting, there is no evidence whatsoever that these Americans were engaged in anything other than recreation. There is no evidence whatsoever that these Americans strayed into Cuban waters. My office has now confirmed that their last communication sent to the U.S. Coast Guard came from a location well within international waters. It is thus clear that any claims by the scurrilous regime in Havana that these men penetrated Cuban waters are patently false. There is no excuse for this gross violation of international law.”
Then she gripped the lectern with both hands and looked directly into the camera. “I am calling on the regime in Havana to immediately and unconditionally release these innocent men. Anything less is unacceptable.”
She shook her head in disbelief, her hair remaining firmly in place. “This is further evidence of the immoral brutality of the Cuban regime. This act of barbarism is evidence that despite recent steps taken by the United States to extend the hand of friendship, the Cuban regime has nothing but disdain for basic human rights. It is evidence of their utter disregard for international norms. The United States must never waver in the face of tyranny.”
She paused for a moment and pursed her lips.