Hurrying past the positions for all the major networks—NBC, CBS, ABC—she noted that none of the other networks were lit up and ready for live shots. A few reporters were milling around the pavement talking on their cell phones, but all seemed quiet. She smiled, warmed by the knowledge that the others didn’t have a jump on her story.

She arrived at the ATN position to find Dasha behind a camera setting the shot and Matt pacing in front of it on the phone.

“I’m on with the desk,” Matt said, covering the mouthpiece. “They have a Phoenix reporter headed to Huntington, but it’s going to take another forty-five minutes to get a truck up and live from there. They don’t want to wait. Control room wants you now.”

Ignoring Matt, Natalie smiled at Dasha and gestured to the White House. “Pretty cool, huh?”

“Yah.” Dasha nodded briskly. “Watch out, Greasy.”

Smiling, Natalie shooed Matt out of the way and took a seat on a black metal utility box, then grabbed her makeup bag to give herself a touch-up.

“Hello, did you not hear me?” Matt was looking down at her. “They want us ASAP.”

While applying translucent powder to her T-zone, Natalie shook her head at Matt. “Don’t be crazy. We can’t go live until the Phoenix reporter confirms this on site.”

“Wrong. They expect us up after the next break.”

“We can’t go live yet. All I have is a guy not denying she’s there.” She shook her head. “That’s not confirmation. We need a second source.”

“We do have a second source,” Matt said in a controlled tone. “Photos of Anthony going into the center. What else do we need, God spelling it out in skywriting?”

She made her eyes big, “That would help.”

Matt pushed her mirror out of her face. “Do you think Ryan waits for a second source? Do you think he stops the breaking news train to cross every T and dot every I?”

“No, but I also wouldn’t swallow horse semen for a sweeps stunt,” she said, wrenching the mirror back into her control.

Matt narrowed his eyes. “Is that really what this is about, journalistic integrity? Or are you maybe letting your feelings about your dad’s alcoholism cloud your judgment? Maybe you’re hesitant to out FLOTUS as an alky because it hits close to home?”

How did he always read her like that? Natalie shot him angry eyes. “That’s nasty.”

“But true?” he asked. “Someone is going to report this. If it’s not you, I guarantee you it’ll be Ryan. Do you think he’ll even hesitate? And once he’s on the story, do you think he’ll be at all kind about the First Lady being a drunk?”