The next morning, Leo held the first full team meeting in the trailer office.
Leo, Sarah, Frank, and the two new members, Karen Miller and Ethan Hawke, were all officially sitting together for the first time.
The atmosphere in the room was a bit delicate.
Frank leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, sizing up the two "city slickers from Washington."
Sarah, on the other hand, was rather excited. She took out her notebook and a digital recorder, like an eager student ready for class.
Karen Miller showed not the slightest bit of awkwardness about her attempt to poach Frank and Sarah at the victory party.
She was all business as she opened her laptop, acting as if the incident had never happened.
This was the mark of a political professional: no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests and goals.
Ethan Hawke seemed much more relaxed. He made himself a cup of instant coffee and smiled at everyone at the table.
