Todd lifted the bottle for more, but Sally pulled it away.

“This is serious shit, Todd. You’ve got to stay sober for it.”

Todd’s shoulders slumped. “Since when did we start playing second to other news outlets? I’ve seen nothing on the wires about this, but if I’m correct, people have a right to know.”

“And if you’re wrong, we’ll look like idiots and be crucified for inflaming the public.”

“If I’m right, inflaming the public will be exactly the thing we’re doing,” Todd countered. He reached into the main pocket of his backpack and withdrew his laptop. “I’ve already written up a first draft of the story.” He lifted the lid and passed it over to his boss.

Why Is Official Washington Fleeing for the Hills?

By Todd McElroy

HILLTOP, WV—Beginning just before midnight yesterday, a series of odd happenings unfolded at the Hilltop Manor Resort here in the mountains of West Virginia. According to well-placed sources in the century-old hotel, guests in the Antebellum Wing—one of five wings of the property—were rousted from their beds and relocated to the John Brown Wing, which until yesterday had been closed for renovation.

A short time later, beginning around 1 a.m., streams of cars began arriving at the hotel property. They entered not through the main portico, but through an area normally reserved for deliveries.

The Washington Underground has confirmed that one of the people to arrive under cover of darkness was House Speaker Penn Glendale, along with his chief of staff, Arlen Strasky. Other members of the House and Senate were also seen arriving.

As this reporter was communicating with sources on the ground at the Hilltop Manor, communications were cut off without warning and cell phone service to that entire corner of the community were knocked off-line.

For years, rumors have circulated that the Hilltop Manor Resort harbored a secret evacuation facility for official Washington. Those rumors remain unconfirmed, but at this writing, it seems obvious that House and Senate members are fleeing their homes in the DMV to take shelter elsewhere.

Why might that be?

We’ll keep pressing for answers.

When Sally got to the end, she looked at the screen for a long time, then rocked her eyes up to meet Todd’s. “The writing’s a little florid,” she said.

“That’s editing,” Todd replied. “What about the story itself?”

Sally made a wobbling motion with her hand. “I’m not sure there’s a story here as much as there is an intriguing premise. A question.”

“Can we put it out?” Todd asked. “Christ, something like this will go around the world like a comet.”

“All that means is the world will know instantly that we screwed this up.”

“You keep assuming that we’re wrong.”