***
“Senator Edwards,” I said as I shook hands with the young man.
“Matthew Storm, how the heck are you?”
Joel Edwards was the picture of a political upbringing. His family had been in politics much longer than mine, except they had kept to the small town world and none of them moved into Washington politics. Joel was the first of his family to make the big leap and I felt the weight of his family reputation on him even as we spoke. He was a proper gentleman in everything he did and kept a smile on his face throughout our conversation.
“I’m doing well, thanks Joel. How’s your season going? Anyone giving you any trouble?” I asked.
“No, everyone has been extremely nice. I really can’t complain at all. I only wish my father had gotten the chance to experience Washington for himself, I think he really would have enjoyed it.”
“Listen Joel, you know I’m not a bullshiter. I’ve got a proposition for you that I think can be mutually beneficial.”
There was no need to beat around the bush. I needed to gain his trust and I wasn’t going to do that by pussy-footing around what was going on. I had to be straight with him. One thing I had learned in my time on Capitol Hill was that a certain sense of honesty and trust was the best way to get things done. Of course you could never be completely honest, but that was a whole different lesson.
His ears perked up and I noticed Joel Edwards seemed pretty damn interested in what I had to say.
“Sure, what’s going on?”
“I’d like to help you get onto the Senate Arms Committee.”
Joel looked at me with obvious suspicion. It wasn’t a committee that a new guy typically went for, yet it was a committee that we all wanted to be on. I saw the stars in Joel’s eyes at even the idea of getting onto such a prestige’s committee during his first term of service.
“That sounds nice, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work that way. I can’t just get onto that committee, you know that. What do you really want?”
“Oh, I know you can’t just get on. But I think if we work together we could get you on the committee.”
“I don’t mean to be rude Matthew, but what’s in it for you?”
It was a logical question and one I knew Joel was going to ask me. If I wanted to be on the committee, why didn’t I just get on it myself? Or why would it be helpful for me to have Joel on the committee? I was prepared to answer any questions he had.
“Senator Masson hates me, there is just no way I’m ever getting on that committee while he’s there. But I genuinely think we need some young blood on the committee. The old way of thinking about things just isn’t working anymore.”
“So let me get this straight. You can’t get on the committee so you want me on there so I can feed you information? No, thank you. I didn’t come to Washington to be anyone’s puppet.”
“Joel, you’re reading too much into this. You won’t owe me anything. I simply want to get things done here in Washington and I’m tired of the old blood. Don’t you think you would have a lot to offer the Arms Committee?”
Of course Joel was going to owe me something. He was going to owe me anything and everything I asked of him. But I wouldn’t need to strong arm him into giving me what I wanted. I planned to kill him with kindness and friendship, then he would willingly give me the information I needed without a second thought.
There was something about friendship that could make a man give in to almost any request of his friend. I knew that being Joel’s friend was going to be far more powerful than trying to maneuver him into some sort of deal for getting him onto the committee.
“Matthew, I’d love to get on that committee and I’d welcome your help in that. But I just don’t see it happening. Those guys don’t take too kindly to having young Senators in their groups.”
“Let me handle the specifics. I just wanted to make sure it was something you were interested in before I moved forward.”
“Yes. I’d be interested in getting on the Senate Arms Committee.”
“Great. It was nice talking with you Joel. I’ll be in touch,” I said as I left his office.
I didn’t stick around to have further conversation. I didn’t ask him how his family was or girlfriend, etc. I didn’t care about all of that; all I cared about was getting him onto the committee so I could move forward with my plan.
The first step of my plan was complete. But the next step was going to require some help from Kayla and her special skills. I had confidence in her though and I knew with her on my side I had the best opportunity to make my future dreams come true.