The Tree of Knowledge by Daniel Miller (room on the broom read aloud .txt) 📕

“One of the things I’m most proud of, Scott, is our security here at Fix Industries. As our nation’s leading security contractor, we are keenly aware of the trust that our citizens put in us. They trust us to build the defense systems that will protect them, but to also ensure that we keep the information about those systems classified. In the current environment, where hackers from all over the world are breaking into supposedly impenetrable systems, I want to make sure that we used not only standard methods, like encrypted computer systems, twenty-four-hour surveillance, etcetera, but also certain nontraditional methods that would only be able to be overcome by the high-caliber individuals that currently work with Fix Industries.”

“Nontraditional methods? Could you enlighten us?” Pelley questioned.

“I knew you weren’t going to let me get away with that one. Let’s put it this way: I’d tell you, but I’d have to kill you.”

The two shared an awkward laugh, and Ying guffawed while watching.

The door to Cristina Culebra’s office opened, and the pair continued walking as Pelley narrated. “Culebra has used the enormous wealth generated by her company to run a highly unorthodox and successful campaign. She’s by and large bypassed traditional media outlets and used her funds to connect directly with voters, often presenting nontraditional and—some say—radical ideas.”

The camera cut back to the interview. “You have said that on your first day in office you will sign an executive order that permits California residents not to pay federal taxes and will eliminate California’s income tax. The federal government has said that you do not have the authority to do that.”

Again, Cristina smiled, this time touching the interviewer on the arm. “These are great questions, Scott. Frankly, I just disagree with the federal government’s interpretation. Currently, for every dollar that Californians pay to the federal government in taxes, they receive seventy-eight cents in federal spending. Now, imagine if I went to the bank and asked them to hold ten dollars for a year, and when I went back a year later, they returned seven dollars and eighty cents. The bank would be prosecuted for fraud or embezzlement. That is what the federal government is currently doing to the citizens of California, except they are doing it to the tune of two hundred and fifty billion dollars every year. To me, this is a scandal when our state is on the verge of bankruptcy.”

Albert practically popped out of his seat. “She’s so right on this. I read that we in New Jersey only get sixty-one cents back for every dollar.”

The interviewer continued as though he could hear what Albert was saying. “Yes, but folks in the federal government would say that the government provides for a lot of things like defense that benefit everyone.”

Cristina leaned back in her chair with a confident smirk. “That’s true, Scott, but currently our federal government spends more on defense than all of our enemies combined. That is just wasteful. No offense to the folks in the federal government, but my company alone has enough firepower to handle any of our enemies, especially when you consider the two hundred thousand Californians serving in the military and our own Red Army, which at last count was at one million soldiers. I and the citizens of my state want to send a message to the federal government: we’ll keep the two hundred and fifty billion and defend ourselves.”

“But isn’t what you’re saying treasonous, Ms. Culebra? Isn’t that what the folks in the South said before they seceded from the Union before the Civil War?”

“Scott, that’s just silly. I and the people of California love the United States. We intend to follow the laws of the United States. We just want our money spent more wisely. If the federal government disagrees, we’ll let the appropriate courts decide that. But until then, I’m going to make sure we get to work solving problems. One more thing I’d add is that politicians always say that our problems are hard and it will take a long time to solve them. I disagree with them. I think our problems are pretty easy to solve; it’s just that the system we have in place makes it impossible. In my time as CEO of Fix Industries, I’ve seen problems ten times more complicated than what the state of California faces, but I was able to solve them in a matter of months because I didn’t have to deal with a corrupt legislature. All I’m asking is for the chance to do the same for the people of California.”

With that, the clip ended.

Albert sat back in his chair, nodding. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but she’s incredible. I would vote for her tomorrow if I could.”

“I know, that’s what I’ve been telling you all along,” said Ying, pulling her chair up to Albert and grabbing him by the hands. “I’ve never been interested in politics, but every time I see her speak, I want to drop what I’m doing and go be a part of it. It’s so exciting!”

Albert smiled at Ying. As she jostled up and down in her chair, some of her shiny black hair had escaped her ponytail and fallen in her face. He carefully put his hand on her face and brushed the hair away, but then quickly pulled it back down to his lap.

Ying broke the awkward silence. “You don’t think there’s any way she knows about what Eva’s doing, do you?”

Albert paused and took a long look into Ying’s hopeful eyes. “My head says no, but my heart says yes.”

Chapter 22

The following day, three hundred miles away, Detective Weatherspoon’s cell phone was ringing. The bullish detective had just returned to the station from another disappointing interview with one of Puddles’s clueless colleagues and was getting ready to dive into his meatball sub lunch when the shrill ringing began. Groaning and licking the sauce from his hands, he pulled the small phone from its holster.

“This