His look of recognition, prompted a slow, knowing sneer upon the stranger’s face.
Bryan turned to Connor and whispered loudly.
“To our left. See the short, rounded guy with his hair in a ponytail and the thick glasses.?”
“You mean the one heading for the door,” Connor nodded.
Bryan turned his head quickly to see, and damn sure, the guy was bolting for the door. Bryan waved for the attention of a Capitol Police Officer standing nearby, and the officer quickly neared.
“The guy, heading for the door. I’m damn sure he’s the one, who attacked one of my staff members a few weeks ago.”
The Officer didn’t waste a moment, and bolted off the dais in pursuit.
Bryan wanted to take the attention of what was happening. He loudly cleared his throat and rose his arms to gain the attention of the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please.” He spoke loudly into the microphone before him.
Silence was almost immediate, and Bryan proceeded in a calm and confident voice.
“Thank you all for coming here today, whether it be in support, or opposition to my cause. It is with a heavy heart, that first, I must share a call I just received from Gov. Michaelson just moments ago. Sadly, his son, Warren, has passed away.”
A deafening uproar filled the air, as the attendees expressed their sorrow, and calls for revenge.
Bryan slapped the gavel upon it’s block before him, beseeching their attention.
“Please … please … a moment. No,” he shook his head and waved his hand, as reporters vied for his attention. “No questions, yet please. I ask that we pause for a moment, in silent prayer, for the soul of Trooper Warren Michaelson and his grieving family.”
Respectfully, the noise slowly decreased, as heads bowed in silence for the brief, moment requested.
Bryan raised his eyes to gaze over the crowd before him, and again he noticed the individual from before, this time standing all the way towards the back of the room. The hair at the back of his neck prickled, as the man leered back at him with such derision, he expected him to pull out a gun. As Bryan looked about for another Officer, the stranger turned and bolted from the room.
He decided to carry on, but continued his vigilance, as his eyes continually scanned the entire room.
“As you all know; I am sponsoring the death penalty bill.”
Bedlam broke out once again, overriding the small religious group, who were expressing their opposition.
“Yes, I know many of you disagree. However, the public outcry has been expeditious in support. It is not my colleagues I represent here. It is not the judges, the mayors of our cities, the leaders of our town boards I listen to. It is you, the people of my district, the parents of fallen victims, the families of our public servants gunned down by these senseless killers I listen to and represent, and you in this room, who cry out for justice today.”
He gave the people in the room a moment to react, before he continued.
“Because of the seriousness of this legislation, I beseech the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the Senate and Assembly. I cannot emphasize how important it is, that you, the blue-collar worker, the professional, and the laborer reach out to your representatives and express your support. Most of you have felt your concerns are never heard. That may be true on a small scale, but if a mass majority of voices are spoken, they must listen. Three-fourths of this State’s population want this legislation law.
Why do my colleagues vote it down, you ask, year after year? Tell them to do their job. Tell them to represent your vote and your voice. Our aunts and uncles, our sisters and brothers, our parents and grandparents, our sons and daughters are being victimized. They are being brutally, viciously, and senselessly murdered. It needs to stop, and I need your help. I can’t do it alone. Make your support known today! We can do it this year … this legislative session,” he pointed at them emphatically.
“We need to let the criminal element out there know, that killing someone will not go unpunished. We need to take back control and put the word out on the streets, that our justice system is no longer soft on murder, the days of a cot for life and three square meals a day are over. The free ride for life ends here and ends now.
Thank you all for coming here today and actively being a part of this State’s legislative process.”
Reporters bustled closer to the podium, trying to draw attention to their questioning.
“Senator Gallagher, please,” Ross Chandler for WSAC News. “You must feel a little jubilant, knowing your bill will become a law after all these years?”
Bryan replied immediately. “You must know something, I don’t, Ross.”
“Ah, come on Senator,” the reporter pushed. “The Governor’s son has just been snuffed by a convicted killer. It’s like money in the bank for you.”
Bryan’s tone was irritated.
“Okay, that was heartless and rather crass to presume the Governor will change his stand, because he just lost his son.”
Questions flew at him from all directions.
“Senator, who were your colleagues, who misrepresented their voters? Do you think Luther Corbat will be executed now? Is the bill still in committee?”
Bryan raised his hands to stay further questioning.
“The bill is on the Codes agenda for a vote as we speak. As far as my colleagues are concerned, their votes are public record. Those in support, stand behind me now,” he nodded over his shoulder. “If it goes to the floor, you’ll be on that voting list like bees to honey.”
Laughter broke out amongst them, as assurance, he was right.
Yancy Hamilton News 10 rose her hand.
“Yes, Yancy,” Bryan acknowledged.
“Senator, do you plan to meet with the Governor to discuss, or perhaps negotiate, what to do with the Luther Corbat’s out there?”
“My priority,” he answered, “is to express my deepest condolences in person. I don’t plan to bring up the subject. Now, if you all will excuse me, I have a lot of work to do. Again, thank you all for coming.”
Bryan turned toward Jessica and lightly encircled her waist with his arm, and with Connor by his other side, they exited the public hearing room together.
They halted just outside the door, in a small anti-room.
Connor was the first to speak, with a pleased look upon his face.
“That went well, don’t you think?”
Bryan nodded and replied.
“I’m happy with the membership, who showed. It wasn’t the majority though. We’ll have to wait and see, if the public puts the pressure on.”
“Well, you know you’ll be the headline news tonight, and I think the numbers will surprise you.”
Bryan shrugged. “Time will tell. Look, I can’t thank the two of you enough. We’ve put in a lot of long hours over the last few weeks. I’m confident we’ve got the majority vote to get it out of committee. I’d like the two of you to join me tonight for dinner. Connor, how about Abigail? Do you think she can get a sitter on such short notice?
Connor pulled his cell from his breast jacket pocket. “I’ll give her a call now,” he replied, and walked away to make the call.
Bryan looked at Jessica and pulled her to the side.
“Why don’t you head on up. I need to talk to the Sergeant over there, “he nodded in the direction of the officer standing a few feet away.
“Anything serious,” she asked in a concern filled tone.
“Nothing for you to be worried about,” he replied.
Connor returned. “Abigail can join us. I told her I would give her the details later.”
“Great,” Bryan answered. “You two head back. I’ll catch up with you shortly.”
Jessica looked at him, as though she surmised something else was up, but hesitated only briefly and turned to walk with Connor.
Bryan directed his attention to the Sergeant and closed the distance between them.
“Sena
tor, what can I do for you? You’ve got that look on your face, that something isn’t quite right.”
He knew Sergeant Taft a long time. Mac was on foot patrol for the city for almost five years, before he switched over to the Capitol Police. He rose in the ranks quickly then.
“It’s not, Mac. That man I sent one of your officers after, I’m certain was the same guy, who accosted Jessica on my staff.”
The Sergeant’s look wasn’t a happy one either. “You’re dead certain.”
“Enough for a line up. I think, if we pull the tape from the camera in there that was directed at the dais, we’ll find that the guy standing less than two feet away from us on my left, was the bastard that attacked Jessica outside my office.”
“I’ll go pull it right away, run them side-to-side and see if you’re right. Give me a few hours to get back to you.”
Bryan reached out his hand to acknowledge his offer. “Thanks, Mac. I’ll be around only until about 5:30, and then I’ll be out for the evening. After that, you have my cell.”
“Will do, Senator. I’ll take care of this myself.”
“Thanks, Mac.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Now, Bryan had cause for concern. He looked at the coffee cup, that had been sitting on his desk, since five o’clock that morning. Its contents were cold from being ignored. He didn’t need it to stay awake. Sleep had been evading him for quite some time now. Last night was no
accept ion. He, just, couldn’t fall to sleep for shit. He tossed and turned for nearly four hours, until finally he gave up, when the digital time on his bedside clock read 4:15 a.m.
He should have fallen right to sleep too. He had two glasses of wine at dinner, a delicious meal, and relaxing conversation. Abigail and Jessica hit it off, as though they had known each other forever. He kept checking his phone for a text or voice message from Mac. He never heard back from him, until well after ten o’clock last night.
The news Mac shared, hadn’t been good. He confirmed, just what Bryan had suspected all along. The man, who accosted Jessica her first day on the job, was the same guy at yesterday’s press conference.
At least, he knew what he was dealing with. There was no doubt left in his mind, that this was a personal vendetta. It had everything to do with his sponsorship of the death penalty bill, some close friend/family member sitting on death row, or both.
He knew this guy was planning something ... watching them. The question was, was he the target, or would this bastard go after Jessica again? He knew in his heart it would be the latter. He’d bet his seat in the Senate on it. He wasn’t a shrink, but his professional experience told him, that this guy was a psychopath. He got a thrill out of being covert and scheming out his next attack.
Bryan’s sponsorship of the death penalty bill somehow tripped something in this guy, to the point he was compelled to fight back, to lash out on behalf of someone close to him. He targeted Jessica out of sheer, unbridled cruelty, for the enjoyment of creating fear and making her suffer.
The public knew by now, that his engagement had been severed with Angela. The sicko knew by now, that Jessica was never his fiancé. But, being a member of his staff, placed a target on her back, and this guy saw her standing beside him at the press conference yesterday.
Bryan knew, he had to do everything in his power to protect her. Even though he knew her barely two months, she had stolen his heart. He would die, if any harm came to her. He also knew, he had to let Florence know as well. She was in jeopardy too, since Jessica was living under her roof. He wouldn’t be surprised, if this madman had been following Jessica all along.
He had also heard from Dante. There wasn’t any banter out on the streets about this guy either. Not one word, even after, Bryan told Dante he’d pay five-hundred dollars to anyone with sound information.
Clearly, this guy never had dealings of any kind with those thugs … again, a validation he was a loner.
The screen shot pulled from the security tapes of the press meeting didn’t match anything in the system, frustrating the piss out of him, even more. It would have made finding him, so much easier.
It was time to call in reinforcements, and Bryan picked up his cell to call his old partner of almost five years, Ayden Tyler.
“Shit, man. You know what time it is?” Ayden answered groggily on the second ring.
“Sorry to wake you, bud. It’s real important.”
Bryan could hear the rustle of covers and the click of a table lamp go on in the background.
“Spill.”
“I’ve got a psycho on my tail, who made a move on one of my staff. I need your help finding this bastard.”
He heard the click of a lighter and Ayden taking a drag on the other end.
“What do you know so far?”
“Well, first, I was wondering, if you could stop by my office … any time after two I’m open. We can talk then.”
“You got time now? All I gotta do is zip up my fly.”
Bryan chuckled. He missed Ayden’s wit. It kept the sanity real, when things got rough out on the streets. “I’m free until ten. The coffee is fresh and hot.”
“On my way.”
“Thanks, man.”
Bryan called down to the front desk to let the officers on duty know Ayden was on his way in and would be carrying.
---
Ayden was sitting comfortably in front of Bryan with his feet propped up on his desk, sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee less than twenty minutes after they first talked.
“This is bonkers, Bry. I still can’t wrap my mind around you being a Senator.” He admitted openly, as his eyes did a quick loop around the office.
“Neither can I. I miss working the streets and interrogating perps with you.”
“Your snitch … Dante, you believe him?”
Bryan took a sip of his fresh brew and nodded.
“I do. This guys a loner. I just know it.”
“You said the Trooper’s took this over. They come up with anything.”
“Haven’t heard a thing. I need to dig, Ayden. I can’t sit around like this waiting for him to make his next move.”
“So, what’s ours?”
“Court tapes,” Bryan offered. “Do you still know that pretty court clerk? I’ve got a feeling this guy was in the courtroom, during the Corbat trial. None of this shit happened, until he was found guilty. I need us to get our hands on the security tapes during that entire trial. I know, as sure as we’re sitting here, that prick, who attacked Jessica, was there too.”
“If he was; we’ve a good chance figuring out what the connection between him and Corbat is. And, it just so happens, Samantha still works there. I’ll stop by for a visit, as soon as the doors open.”
Bryan stood and walked around his desk, his hand extended in thanks.
Ayden placed his empty coffee cup on Bryan’s desk, clasped Bryan’s hand, and they drew each other in for a ‘man hug.’
“We’ll get this guy, Bry. Don’t you worry.”
“I’m counting on it.” He replied.
---
Just as Jessica opened the front office door, Ayden was exiting Bryan’s office, with Bryan
following close behind. She jumped with a start, never expecting anyone to be at the office
before her, especially at this hour. She noticed the dark circles under Bryan’s eyes
immediately and knew something had to be up. The badge clipped on the belt buckle of the
handsome gentleman standing before her, quickly caught her attention as well.
“My lord, you’re in early.” She directed her remark to Bryan. “Pressing business?”
Bryan was quick to answer.
“Jessica this is a real close buddy of mine and former partner for nearly five years, Det. Ayden Tyler. Ayden, this is my Dir. Of Communications, Jessica Wilton.”
Jessica knew there was something amiss. She could tell by the look on Bryan’s face … like a little boy caught with his hand in the
cookie jar. She clasped a hold of the Detective’s extended hand.
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Ms. Wilton.” He offered and released her hand, nodding respectfully. He quickly stepped to the side and nodded at Bryan. “See you soon, Bry. It’s time for another steak dinner. My treat this time, remember.”
“I never forget, when it’s your turn to pay.”
Both men chuckled and the Detective was quickly gone.
She couldn’t hide the concern in her voice.
“You look downright exhausted. Have you been here all night?”
He shook his head.
“Slept, no. Here since just before 5.”
She took off her leather coat and hung it in the front closet.
“You want to tell me what’s bothering you? It’s about that madman, isn’t it?”
“What makes you think that?”
“Haven’t you learned yet, that women are supremely intuitive?”
His dimple was so pronounced, she just wanted to plant her lips right there, on that same exact spot. She knew he was keeping that incident under wraps, because he didn’t want to scare and upset her. It irked her a little. She wasn’t that scared little girl anymore. She knew how to shoot a gun and defend herself.
He changed the subject right away.
“I needed some quiet time, that’s all. Ayden and I have been trying to connect for weeks, and this was kind of on the fly and worked for both of us. Yes, we talked a little bit about what happened. I still need you to be careful and not go off alone around here, until this guy is caught.”
She followed him into his office and occupied the chair Ayden had been in earlier. She noticed his coffee cup on Bryan’s desk, stood up, and placed it on the credenza where the Keurig was. She looked over her shoulder and asked, “Care for another cup?”
Bryan shook his head no and she went through the rudiments of fixing herself one.
“Since we’re both here early, want to go over what’s on the calendar for today?”
A Pawn for Malice Page 12