"So what is the next step, Mr. Creed?"
Graydon toyed idly with the papers that held the hidden message reporting the success of the attacks on the Pryde and McCoy families, and the disastrous results of the attack on the Drake family.
He ground his teeth together and angrily crumpled the papers into a ball. With a negligent flip, he tossed it into the metal garbage can next to his desk and turned to face his second in command.
"Where is the footage we have of the Drake fiasco?"
"It was delivered today by what's left of our division there, Sir. It's in the safe now"
Graydon rubbed his face thoughtfully. "Find out if any of our sympathizers is any good with doctoring pictures or video, and send it to them. If we can make it look like those mutants were attacking the cops, that would go far in helping us to remove that mutant lover in the White House."
The man nodded with a faint smirk. "Yes sir. Shall I send word to continue the raids on the mutants' families?"
Creed sat back, disgruntled. "No. They've all gone underground somewhere. There's no point in destroying empty real estate." He leaned forward again, thoughtful. "But, let's see what we can do to put our own people into those homes instead. Where there's one rat, there's sure to be another. This could be the best way to drive them out of our neighborhoods."
"Very good sir," He said with a curt nod. "Our contact in Worthing Labs sent in a report that you might find interesting." He pulled a piece of paper with the Worthing Labs logo on it out of a stack of paperwork he was holding and handed it over to Graydon.
Creed scanned the paper briefly and gave his cohort a withering look. "I don't have time to read the whole thing. Summarize."
Dr. Emmerich has apparently found a virus that seeks out and attacks the Mutant gene. She believes that she can create something that will make Mutants very sick, but leave normal humans alone."
Graydon looked at the report with dark interest. "Well," he murmured. "Well, well, well…" He handed the report back to his assistant. "Get rid of that, but keep her name handy. I'd like to keep tabs on that particular scientist."
"Yes sir," the mousy little man said with another nod. "And lastly, the rumors of your presidential run have been discreetly leaked to various news groups, and as per your orders, we have refused to give any direct answer to requests for verification. As of now, the press is positively drooling with anticipation over your upcoming press conference."
Graydon smirked with satisfaction. "Is my speech ready?"
He turned and the little man held out a series of note cards. He took the proffered speech and scanned through it quickly. "Good…good. Though here, I think it needs to sound a little more regretful. The world needs to really believe that I had nothing to do with the attacks, and this needs to be a little more…condemning of the perpetrators. 'Violence is not the answer,' and all that."
With an emotionless expression, the man turned away.