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Chapter 25
It was really hard not to pick up a phone and call Brian. It seemed almost routine to fall asleep with the fresh remembrance of his voice and the touch of his lips on my mind when I slept.
They were there and unless he called to yell at me they'd be all I'd have.
The White House's Oval Office
"Look Mr. President, do you like forward people?"
"Yes, it takes less time to deal with forward people than people who beat around the bush."
"Good, I'm a very forward person. I have some very forward questions and I want some very forward answers."
"Can I plead the fifth on some of these matters?" He smiled, probably thinking he made some funny joke.
"Maybe." I was aggravated and was in no mood to deal with a peachy President. "Look I want to know if a few things are true or false. I'll give you a scenario and you say…true or false."
"Sounds good."
"You cut funding for the Watchers and gave it back three times."
"True."
"You cut it because they were bothering the celebrities."
"False."
"You cut it because they got too close to your love affair with your secretary."
He glared at me for a moment. "True."
"You gave them weapons and more money to shut them up."
"True." He was be coming uncomfortable. I was going to have to speed up my questions or change the approach.
"You drink?"
He smiled. "Yes."
"Any brandy?"
"Sure." He got up and walked to a small bar hidden beneath a globe. I sat down and pondered on my next questions.
"How close?"
He was silent. For a moment I was sure I'd have to ask again.
"They have proof. Let's say that."
"Not any more."
He turned and looked at me with great shock. Not attempting to cover over it he gulped his brandy glass and handed my mine. "Explain."
"I have the tapes, the pictures," I didn't have to forced a shutter, "The videos. All of it is yours for one low fee."
"You're bribing the President of the United States?"
"I prefer blackmail. It's a term I know well." I sipped my brandy; it calmed my nerve form clenched too tight to mellow jut enough to calm the now jittery President.
"You're a gusty girl. I could have you arrested for that. We have this entire conversation on tape."
I shook my head. "Not really."
"What?"
"I froze the cameras and scrambled the recorders. They think were just a bunch of giddy adults."
He studied me for a moment. Possibly questioning if I'm pulling a bluff. "You worked for them didn't you."
"Technically I still do."
"You guys are getting more cocky all the time. Aren't you suppose to hide from me?"
"Don't flatter yourself Mr. President. You're not my problem. In fact I don't know whose problem you are. I have my own. "
"So what do you want?"
"I want you to testify against me at my trial."
"What? Against you?"
"I want the truth on a silver platter from the President. No one will question it. I want the Watchers out…for good and you're just the man to put them in jail for a real long time."
He sat back and questioned me with his eyes. I had him.
At the CNN TV studio
I rolled my eyes as my boss approached the table where make up was being touched up and my hair fixed.
"Hunter where have you been? I've been trying to get a hold of you all day! Why haven't you been answering your phone?"
"I chucked it on the High way. You might be able to salvage some of it." I stood up as a man motioned two minuets with his fingers.
My boss stood their jaw dropped as I passed him, notebook in hand.
I sat at a large desk by myself. A lanky man in a Polo shirt and faded jeans and dark green cap came up and helped me put on a microphone. "Break a leg babe."
I looked over at Jake. "Jake!" I whispered and looked around. "Why didn't you do what I said?"
"I don't always listen. I'm locking the door behind me. I got the door open in three minutes it will take them ten." He paused to grin. "If I didn't weld the locks. The viewing window was changed to built proof after the last rampage so you're good to go. I fogged up the cameraman's earpiece. He won't stop recording for anything." He looked at me for a moment. "You're going straight to jail after this, you realize this?"
"Only for a few days. They can't keep me for speaking my mind…no matter how hard they try."
"You'll only have months after that…maybe weeks."
"I don't care. Go!" I shoved him to the side and he motioned the others out and nodded to me as he shut the door behind him.
The cameraman nodded to me and started counting down with his fingers. Three…two…one…
~~
He watched as Maranda was getting her microphone placed on. She seemed to know him and was urging him to leave with eyes that shot daggers at him daily.
She likes him, he thought. No, she cares for him. She loves Mr. Littrell.
Being the devious man he is he picked up the phone and dialed the out of town digits.
"Hi, can I speak to your superior. Yes tell him I know two ways to get Maranda to play our game." He grinned devilishly.
Brian
"Yo Brian you want to see if there's an outdoor court around here?" Nick passed the ball back and forth in his hands.
"I can't." I stared at the CNN TV station that was at a commercial. Next Veronica would be on.
"You can't play basketball?" Nick walked around in the hotel room to where he faced the TV. "What are you watching…Baywatch?"
"CNN."
"CNN? You don't want to play basketball to watch CNN? I like knowing about the world and all, but it can't possible be better than getting out of this stuffy hotel and getting some fresh air. We have a concert in three hours."
"I know. I'm just really interested in this. I'll kick your butt some other time." I looked up and smiled from the floor.
"You wish. You're on, 20 buck says your butt is mine" Nick held his hand out to shake.
"You're on."
With that Nick left suspecting nothing of me watching Veronica. I suppose I could have told him, but after what she said this was going to hard enough with out 4 other sets of eyes watching for my reaction. I was curious as it was.
I sighed and took out the envelope from my pocket. I kept it with me now. At the risk of sounding stupid I even tacked it above my bed. Though it's just paper and words she said she gave very few her address only one other to be exact. I felt very special for some reason. She said she was a liar so it also made me wonder if that was too. But it wasn't. I kept leaving the possibility open but my heart slammed it shut everytime.
Somehow I knew she was telling me the truth about this. Other things I now questioned, her family, where she lives, what she does. She's already said she's not who I think she is and she doesn't do what I think she does. She already said she don't fix computers that it was just a trick she picked up. I think everything she said last night was true, but how much of what she's told me before been a lie? Everything? Some things? The most important things? Like if she really cares, if she really like my spaghetti, if she really liked my company.
Those things mattered in a relationship. Though she made it very clear she thinks we'll have none after this. I hope we do. She's a special girl and see us being together for a long time if not forever.
I sighed and shook my head. I was getting a head of my self. She might have been making too much of it all and she might not. I rally like her, but if she's not trust worthy…that's a major part of a relationship a major part!
Just then the CNN intro. music started to play and Veronica came on the screen. She looked more beautiful than before she left…if that's possible. But everything seems possible with her.
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