Chapter 300

We touched down on Morton Field at 0630. Even though it was a chilly 30 degrees cold, Marcy, Jenny, Ching Lee, Lorrie, Jason, Lisa, Jake, Mindy, Dad and Mom came out to the tarmac and met us at the bottom of the stairs as we exited the plane. It was a warm reception standing in the cold wind.

We quickly made our way into the warmth of the terminal building where everything was set up for the grand opening for the restaurant. The County commissioners, the dignitaries from the state aviation administration, the county EMS aviation, along with Eric and Frank and Amy along with the media and a large crowd were waiting for the ribbon cutting and breakfast.

After our quick hellos to the extended family, we six went into one of the meeting rooms for what we called a 15 minute debriefing. We just wanted time alone for a few minutes before we started our day. A few minutes before 7, we came out to start the festivities.

To get things started, I sent Lorrie and Marcy to do the honors with the manager of the restaurant. Lorrie and Marcy using the giant scissors cut the ribbon while the rest of us stood to the side and cheered them on.

The breakfast menu had all the sure favorites. There were eggs, bacon, sausage, sausage gravy, chipped beef and biscuits, hot cakes, waffles, fruits and cereals. There were huge coffee makers - both decaf and hi-test as Vicky called it.

I was sure that when the local construction and farmers found out they could get a full freshly cooked breakfast in the wee hours of the morning, this place was going to be busy.

We were going to get our breakfast on a tray and disappear into Carson's office to have a real business update. While we were waiting, Hanna Page walked over to ask for an interview. Marley Kendall was nowhere in sight; I wondered if she had finally gotten the promotion she had been seeking for so long.

I had a feeling what she was after; the State Department had released the back gate shoot-out camera footage from the Bogota embassy. Hanna was gunning for what the Sunday morning talk shows were missing this past week fill in the blanks from JBG. It was the interview that would make her day.

JBG had not issued a press release related to the Bogota embassy incident and had given no interviews. The talk show hosts were dismayed that no representative was made available for the Sunday news cycle. We had long ago made the policy decision that we would not participate in the Sunday morning talk show armchair mud-slinging for ratings. As for Hanna Page and Marley Kendall because they had gone out of their way for us, we would gladly return the favor.

Hanna had another exclusive. I answered her questions until our breakfast was delivered. Some of her questions were coming from her ear wick and I was sure from the national news desk as well and spun her own way. Then when she had killed the mike I asked, "What are you doing from 10:30 until later in the afternoon?"

"Why?" Hanna replied.

"There is another news conference and announcement about JBG in Rochester at noon. We are flying out at 10:30; there is a seat for you and your cameraman if you want it," I replied.

Hanna lit up like she had won the Pulitzer.

"Let me call my desk; I'll get back to you," she replied as she hurried away talking on her phone a mile a minute. Hanna still had several county commissioners to interview IF they were willing.

Duke Justice and Clarence Hallworthy were both in attendance. I would have loved to listen in on their interviews but I would have to listen to the edited version tonight from the DVR.

As we ate there were the general conversations about our trip and events in the gym. Marcy and Lorrie both said, "We have a lot of business to discuss at our meeting tonight." It did not surprise me one bit. After getting shot at again, I was expecting to see a ring mounted in the office floor with a log chain and ankle cuffs just long enough to make it to the bathroom if Jenny got her way.