Parties in Congress Read Free Page A

back to Bijal’s computer screen. “And just what is the congresswoman up to?”
    Bijal clicked back to the schedule page. “Actually, this afternoon, it looks like she plans to speak at a dedication ceremony for a co-op for the homeless in Richmond.”
    “That’s perfect. I’ll get you a video camera, and you can film the whole liberal welfare-fest.”
    “Actually, that would be useful, since I haven’t been able to find any video clips of her. Didn’t she ever debate Buddy Campbell on television?”
    “No, Campbell was afraid of questions about his indiscretion, so he backed out at the last minute. That guy was an idiot.”
    “Being an idiot sounds like his best feature,” Bijal said, almost to herself.
    “Okay, so what time is this thing?”
    “Uh, two o’clock.”
    Donna glanced at her watch. “Then we need to hurry. Get online and map how to get there. I’ll have Dan, the office manager, bring you the A/V equipment and give you the rundown on how to operate it. Make sure both batteries are charged.”
    “Will do.”
    “Great. You can show us the footage in the morning.”
    “Sounds good,” Bijal said as Donna walked away with purpose. If she’d known how much driving was involved with this job, she might have mulled it over more before she accepted.
    She glanced back to Congresswoman O’Bannon’s Web page and examined the small picture in the upper right corner. A dumpy woman around the age of fifty stood in front of a group of younger people, probably the staff—the highly technical, motivated, grass-roots staff, the staff she was starting to envy.
    “Shit.”
    She pulled up Google Maps.

    *

    Bijal arrived at the event a little early and entered the building lobby relieved that she would have ample time to find the room the congresswoman’s event would be in and set up the video camera she was carrying under her arm. If only she felt more confident using it.
    As she glanced over to the building directory, she spied a tall, bespectacled woman, probably in her mid-thirties. Though she was dressed as a businesswoman in a blue pinstriped suit with a pencil skirt, something about her emanated a certain androgyny. Perhaps it was her muscular hands with close-cropped fingernails. Maybe it was the casual way she swept her shoulder-length hair out of her eyes, or her strong, firmly set jaw. Whatever the quality was, Bijal found herself appreciating things like the small shock of gray that contrasted so strikingly with the rest of the woman’s dark hair.
    For some unknown reason, the stranger’s head suddenly turned and she made eye contact with Bijal. They shared a polite smile, one that seemed to pleasantly linger. A discernible heat built in their gaze. Bijal found it unmistakable.
    Suddenly, a man bumped Bijal from behind and she was forced to turn around and apologize for standing idly in the lobby, blocking the main entrance. When she spun back around, she saw that the object of her affection was now waiting for the elevator.
    Bijal bypassed the directory and hustled over to catch the elevator, not caring what floor it was going to. “Nice suit,” she said, neither able to keep the flirtation out of her voice nor wanting to try.
    The woman surveyed her and, from so close, her green eyes were striking. “Thank you.”
    Bijal clung to the increasing signs that this attraction was mutual. The warmness in her expression encouraged her. “You fill it out very nicely,” she added boldly.
    Green eyes fixed on hers again. “Well, obviously that red-dot sale at J.C. Penney paid off for me.” The elevator doors opened and they both stepped inside. “What floor?”
    The woman’s husky voice was all the final circumstantial evidence Bijal needed. This woman was not only a lesbian, but she was clearly flirting back. “I’m not sure. What floor will give me the most time with you?”
    “I’m getting out at eleven,” she said with an alluring smile. “Do you think you’ll be able to maintain