“I’ll be there. Same location?”
“Yes. If you have questions, call my office.” She rattled off her phone number and hung up.
“Sinclair made sure the audio file from my conversation with Internado at Rudy’s got into the right hands.” Maverick clasped Carly’s hand and kissed it. “This day couldn’t get any better, wife of mine.”
She shot him a coy smile. “Oh, yes, it can, hubs. And it will. I haven’t given you your other birthday present yet.”
2 9
T H E F O R M A L A P O L O GY
M averick soldiered through the throng of onlookers and media with his head held high. Flanked by his wife, his brother, and his father, he entered the Dirksen Senate Building.
Like the previous hearings, the room was packed. Word traveled fast in the nation’s capital.
After Maverick was escorted to the table, he turned to his family, seated in the row behind him. “Thanks for being here with me.”
“I have a good feeling about this.” Carly kissed his cheek, then sat back down between Warren and Sinclair.
“I’m right here if you need your attorney,” his dad replied.
Maverick tossed him a nod.
“Thank you for this,” Maverick said to Sinclair.
“Anytime, brother. It’s what I do.”
The same young intern hurried over. “I hope three’s a charm, sir.” The staffer poured him a glass of water and flipped on the mic as the senators filed in and took their seats.
After calling the hearing to order, Senator Applegate addressed Maverick. “Good morning, Mr. Hott.”
“Morning, Senators.”
“Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice. The past week has been a difficult one for you and your family. We’d like to extend our sincerest sympathies to you, to your wife, and to anyone else affected by the events involving Senator Internado.”
“Thank you.”
“For the record, are you the Chief Executive Officer of ThunderStrike?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“The purpose of this hearing is to report on startling new information regarding ThunderStrike’s top-secret mission known as ‘The Twelve’. Glaring discrepancies between the original report and the one Senator Internado provided us were brought to my attention by an anonymous source. The subcommittee concurs that the senator falsified the report.”
Maverick nodded. Sounds about right.
“On behalf of us all, I offer you and your employees a sincere apology. For the record, ThunderStrike did nothing wrong or illegal during the mission in question. While you did choose to rescue the twelve American hostages in the most extreme and dangerous conditions, you operated within international laws and did not, as the Senator suggested, ‘go rogue’.”
After weeks of constant anxiety, the gnawing in Maverick’s guts finally stopped.
“Furthermore, Mr. Hott, we are lifting the freeze placed on your government-related missions and future contracts, effective immediately. The committee will see to it that all contracting officers are personally contacted and provided a formal correction. You and your team are true American heroes who risk your lives every day to ensure the safety and successful return of Americans everywhere.” She smiled. “I understand you served in the Navy.”
“I did, ma’am.”
“Thank you for your service, Mr. Hott. Congratulations on a successful mission. We wish you and your team the best in the future. Do you have any questions for us?”
“I want to thank you and your committee for uncovering the truth and clearing ThunderStrike of any wrongdoing. Our motto at ThunderStrike is ‘Above and Beyond’. We appreciate that your committee did the same.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hott. This hearing is adjourned.” She rapped her gavel.
