His Fall From Power

by Fawkes, Tasha

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “If I’d let Sherry back in and married her, they would have had access to my entire political career.”

  “That could still be their plan. You intend to marry Ms. Hemsey.”

  Furious that anyone was even thinking it, I shook my head. “Blythe wouldn’t do that to me, and even if she did, I’ll be lucky if I finish out my term. No one is going to reelect me.”

  “Really?” Klaus pulled out his phone and slid it over to me. “I got an email from a reporter today. Read it.”

  Positive that I wasn’t going to like what it said, I grabbed his phone and stared at the screen. Klaus already had the email pulled up and ready for me. They’d already gotten a tip saying that my father was desperate to get me under his thumb. It was only because I refused that he felt forced to kill Sherry. They wanted more information.

  I swallowed hard. “They’re going to paint him as a killer and me as the heroic son who resisted. Jesus Christ, they’re clearing my name.”

  “If your father is tried for Sherry’s murder, you’ll be a household name. They’re setting up all the pieces, and if you play, you’ll probably be president within ten years. If Blythe doesn’t play…”

  I dropped the phone like it had burned me. “They’ll kill her too.”

  Twenty

  Blythe

  From across the small office, Carl glared at me. Rachel had the day off, so there was no one to distract him from his anger. It was hard to get anything done with the resentment wafting off him. Finally, I pushed back my chair and crossed my arms. “I had to go, and you would have tried to stop me.”

  “Why would I have stopped you? You were meeting someone about your charity,” he snarled.

  “In my defense, I did talk to him about Humane Miami, and I think he’s going to volunteer at the arts center. Come on, Carl. You work for Jack. You would have told him everything.”

  “You put yourself in danger, and now Jack is going to know anyway.”

  He probably already knew. I glanced at my phone and was uneasy by how quiet it had been this evening. I was working late because he said that he was working late, but this morning, I’d given everything to Klaus. I wasn’t going to break my promise to Jack, and I knew Carl wasn’t going to let me pursue it. By now, Jack probably already knew.

  I expected him to call and yell at me. It was more worrisome that he wasn’t.

  “I promised to behave, and I’m going to keep my promise. You can quit glaring at me now.” I tried to smile charmingly at him and win him over. It was one thing to have a bodyguard always following you. It was something entirely different when the bodyguard following you hated your guts.

  “You’re not taking this seriously,” he growled.

  I was about to answer him when the phone rang. Holding up a finger, I answered, grateful for the interruption. “Humane Miami. This is Blythe Hemsey speaking. How can I help you?”

  “Blythe, it’s Hirsh. I need to see you now,” he demanded urgently.

  My heart began to race. “Okay, calm down. What’s going on?”

  “I can’t tell you over the phone. Meet me at my office. Now. Bring that oaf of a bodyguard with you.” He abruptly hung up on me, and I stared at the phone.

  Instantly, the oaf was on his feet. “What?” Carl growled. “What is it?”

  “That was Hirsh. Something’s happened. He said that he needs to see me. He sounded scared.” Slowly, I replaced the phone on the receiver. “He wants us to meet him at his office.”

  Carl put his hand on his gun. “You’re not going.”

  I snorted. “Would you relax? He knows you’re coming with me. He requested it, so I’m not going alone, and unless you’re planning on shooting me to stop me, you need to take your hand off that thing.”

  “Sorry.” He released his hold. “Blythe, this is not a good idea. We should call Jack.”

  “Then you can call Jack while we’re on the way. I’m not waiting for his permission. I’m going. Hirsh’s building is ridiculously secure. What do you think is going to happen?”

  “What if he’s the killer?”

  I rolled my eyes at the thought of Hirsh doing anything that might get him dirty. “Then don’t let him kill me.”

  Carl must have known that he couldn’t stop me, but he insisted on driving. On the way, he tried to call Jack, but he couldn’t get an answer.

  “He’s probably in a meeting,” I said, keeping my voice light. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll be just as angry when he gets your message as he would be if you told him directly. I expect lots of yelling in the future.”

  He shot me a brief look as he drove. “Then why are you doing this?”

  “Hirsh could have information that might help Jack. I can’t risk him changing his mind. At his core, Hirsh is a coward.”

  It was dark when Carl pulled up to Hirsh’s building. Hirsh had already notified the gate that we were coming because they let us into the parking garage. Offices had been closed for a couple of hours, but there were still a few cars left in the garage. Hard workers trying to impress their bosses, no doubt.

  “I don’t like this,” Carl muttered as he pulled into one of the empty slots.

  Maybe it was the way the lights were flickering overhead, but I was getting uneasy too. Obviously, I watched too many horror movies.

  After parking, Carl went into full-on bodyguard mode, scanning the area with an intensity that made my nerves jump even more. “You wait here until I come around and get you. We’re going straight to the elevator, and I want you in front of me. Do you understand?”

  My mouth dry, I nodded. When Carl got out and shut the door behind him, the car rocked and I quickly undid my seat belt. My hands were trembling. He was seriously concerned that something might happen. It was ridiculous that I was letting him get to me. We were just coming for information. Nothing bad was going to happen.

  Carl opened my door and grabbed my arm. I let him pull me out of the car. His gun was already in his hand, and I stared at it. “Do you need to have that out?”

  “Yes.”

  “Right.” Glancing around us, I counted seven other cars on the level with us, but there were no guards or people walking to and from their cars. We looked well and truly alone. No one was there to hurt us.

  My heels echoed with each step as I hurried to the elevators and pushed the button. Carl was with me every step of the way. His hand was still wrapped around my arm.

  When the doors opened, the elevator car wasn’t empty. Without a word, Carl pulled me behind him and leveled his gun at Hirsh as the man stumbled out. He was pale and sweaty. Damn it, had he been drinking again?

  “Hirsh, what are you doing?” I asked as I peered around him. “You said for us to meet you in the office. Did you change your…”

  With a look of astonishment on his pale features, Hirsh pulled his hands away from his stomach. Instantly, I saw the blood blooming on his shirt. “Hirsh!” With a scream, I darted around Carl and raced to the injured man.

  “Blythe!” Carl swore.

  Stripping off my t-shirt, I held it to the wound. I was glad I wore a tank top underneath. “Hirsh, what happened? Who did this to you?”

  “I’m sorry,” he moaned as he touched my face and stared at me with those blank eyes.

  “Blythe, get in the car, now!” Carl tried to pull me away.

  “No!” Jerking away from him, I fell back down on the concrete. “He knows something, Carl. Hirsh, you have to tell me what you were going to say. Talk to me. Who did this? Who killed Sherry?”

  “I’m sorry,” Hirsh whispered again. “I’m sorry that I ever met you.”

  His eyes glazed over, and Carl was able to easily pull me back up again. In shock, I stared at the dead man. His words seared through me, and my mouth fell open. “He knows something,” I said helplessly. “Carl, he knows something.”

  “He’s dead, Blythe. He can’t tell you anything now. I’m sorry.”

  I flinched at the
words, and Carl muttered something under his breath as he carried me to the car and folded me inside. Standing next to me with his gun drawn, he pulled out his phone and called the police.

  I’m sorry that I ever met you.

  Another dead body.

  I’m sorry that I ever met you.

  Another murder.

  I’m sorry that I ever met you.

  Terrified, I turned my head and stared at him. Blood had pooled beneath his body, and even though I couldn’t see his face, I could still remember his eyes as they stared at me so dully.

  What had I done?

  Twenty-One

  Blythe

  They were still asking me questions, but I couldn’t quite understand them. I stared at the wall and tried to process what I’d just seen. Hirsh was dead. Right? There was so much blood, and he’d stopped breathing. Those were dead eyes. Eyes of a dead man. Eyes that still managed to stare at me so accusingly.

  The door opened suddenly, and I jerked in my seat. It was enough to pull me back into the present. I wasn’t in the parking garage anymore. I was at the police station.

  Carl. Where was Carl? He had been right there with me and then he wasn’t. They took him away. They took him away and now there was no one to protect me.

  “You wouldn’t be asking her questions without representation, would you?”

  I blinked and stared at the man. Did I know him?

  “Mr. Wardell.” Detectives Winkler and Garcia exchanged an annoyed look. “Interesting how you’re racing to the side of the congressman’s girlfriend.”

  “She is my client,” he said calmly as he sat down and smiled kindly at me. “Klaus Wardell. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. Hemsey.”

  He didn’t look like the man I’d spoken to on the phone. His stern demeanor and severe face didn’t quite meet the kindness in his voice. “You’re my lawyer.” I blinked and whipped my head around. “Do I need a lawyer? Where is Carl? He was right there with me. Where did you take him?”

  “Ms. Hemsey, we’ve already explained this to you. You’re not under arrest. We just need you to talk to us.” Garcia cleared his throat as he looked at Klaus. “She was in shock at the crime scene. We thought if we brought her somewhere else, she might feel more comfortable.”

  “But I did kill him,” I whispered.

  “That is not an admission of guilt,” Klaus injected quickly. “My client is still in shock.”

  Winkler glared at him. “We know. Ms. Hemsey, we know that you didn’t shoot him. We have footage of you and your bodyguard entering the parking garage. What we would like to know is what you were doing there.”

  Wrapping my arms around my body, I started rocking back and forth in the chair. I did kill Hirsh. He was dead because of me. I was starting to grow cold.

  “Blythe.” Klaus touched my hand. “Why don’t you tell the detective why you were there, and then I’ll take you to see Jack.”

  “It’s not safe,” I murmured.

  Winkler straightened. “You don’t feel safe with Congressman Drayson?”

  “It’s not safe for him to be with me.” I stood abruptly and stared at them. “I don’t know why Hirsh wanted to see me. He called me. He asked me to meet with him and requested that I bring Carl. Well, it didn’t really feel like a request. Hirsh was scared. He died because of me.”

  “You and Hirsh aren’t on good terms. Why would you meet with him?”

  I looked at Klaus, who nodded. “Hirsh approached me a few days ago. He felt bad about what happened. I guess he thought he could make up for it.”

  “Make up for what?” Winkler asked.

  I glared at him. “For trying to prostitute me out to his friend. Is that really the issue right now?” He didn’t say anything, and I started to pace. The more I moved, the less cold I felt. “He gave me some information on Sherry’s ex-boyfriend. Information that had been dug up by a private investigator. I thought that he had more information for me. Information that could prove what the two of you don’t seem to get.”

  Winkler and Garcia both stood. “Thank you, Ms. Hemsey. Get some rest. If we have any more questions for you, we’ll call.”

  Klaus agreed to drive me home, but it didn’t surprise me when he drove me to Jack’s penthouse instead. “Jack,” I whispered.

  “He’s still at the office, but he’ll be home soon. He wants you here.”

  “What if I don’t want to be here?”

  “Do you?”

  Yes. More than anything, I wanted to be with Jack, but it wasn’t safe. Didn’t Klaus realize that? Hirsh was dead because of me.

  Klaus all but pushed me into the elevator. Before the doors close, Klaus made me promise not to talk to the detectives without him. After stepping back, he sent me up alone. It was a little bit of a relief. Klaus was nice, but I wanted to be alone right now.

  When the doors opened, I stepped out. There was movement by the window, and I froze.

  So much for being alone.

  “You’re not Jack,” an older woman said with a nervous smile. “You’re Blythe, aren’t you? I saw a few articles about you and your charity. Humane Miami, isn’t it? I’m Donna. I’m Jack’s mother.”

  She walked over to me and held out her hand. When I slowly stretched out mine to shake it, she gasped. “Is that blood?”

  “Blood?” I looked down at my hands. “I’m sorry. I thought I washed it off.” Feeling like a zombie, I moved slowly toward the sink.

  Donna grabbed my elbow and stopped me. “Blythe? My dear, are you hurt? Should I call for a doctor or Jack?”

  “I’m not hurt.” Slowly turning, I stared at her. “Why are you here?”

  “Jack wanted to see me. He invited me over for dinner, but then he called and canceled. I was already here, so I thought I’d just stay and see him.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t mean here tonight. I mean here in the city. What are you doing with Jack?”

  Her face hardened just a little. “I don’t believe that’s any of your concern.”

  “I see.” Pulling away from her, I walked back to the sink to wash my hands. The police took my clothes since they were covered in blood, and I was dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt with the Miami police logo on it. I’d scrubbed viciously at my hands earlier, but I’d forgotten about my arms.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you,” Donna said quietly.

  “I’m sure you didn’t.” Feeling calmer, I scrubbed at my arms. “But if you had good intentions, then you would have simply answered the question. You’re here for his reelection. You had news to share with him.” I looked up and glared at her. “You’re here for his birthday. But you’re not. You haven’t come by for any of those things in a long time.”

  “No. I have not,” Donna admitted. “But things change.”

  “They do. You’re here to hurt him.” I stared at my hands. “Of course, there’s always a chance that I’m going to get him killed first.”

  There was a moment of shocked silence before Donna slowly backed away. “I should go.”

  I barely even noticed when she left. I was too focused on trying to wash my hands. They were growing numb under the freezing water, but hot water hadn’t helped. Maybe cold water would.

  “Blythe. Jesus Christ.” Someone jerked me away from the sink and clasped my hands. Looking up, I saw Jack looking at me in fear and concern.

  “When did you get here?” I whispered. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Yes, because you were obsessively washing your hands and arms. What are you doing?”

  “Blood. Hirsh’s blood…”

  “Damn it, I should have been here. I wanted to talk to Carl first. You shouldn’t have been alone.”

  “I wasn’t. You shouldn’t hold me. I don’t want to get blood on you.”

  Jack wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. “There’s no blood on you,” he murmured as he kissed my head. “No blood, sweetheart.”

  No blood. “Hirsh’s blood. Jack, I got him kille
d. You need to get away from me. I have to go.”

  Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t escape. Jack’s hold only tightened on me. “You’re not going anywhere, Blythe. You are not responsible for what happened to Hirsh, and I am not going to let you feel guilt over that cockroach. Now, come on, baby. Come lie down with me.”

  In the quiet of his bedroom, he stripped me down to my underwear and picked me up to lower me to the mattress. A few seconds later, he slipped in next to me and drew me close. Feeling safe in his embrace, I finally broke down and wept. I’d never experience death before. Not even a funeral of an older family member. This had been raw and violent and terrifying.

  “Hirsh had done some terrible things in his life, but he didn’t deserve to die like that.”

  Jack combed his fingers through my hair and held me until I was finally done crying. Drained and exhausted, I lifted my head and looked at him. I knew I looked like a wreck, but he just gazed at me with love in his eyes. “It’s not your fault, Blythe. You’re just getting caught in the crossfire.”

  “I want to believe that, but it’s not easy.” Pushing myself up on my elbows, I curved my hands around his face. “How is Carl?”

  “Unhappy because you’re hurting. He’s rather attached to you. Blythe, you said that you weren’t alone when you got here.”

  “Your mother.” I groaned. “I don’t think she likes me very much.”

  “Donna was here?” Frowning, he grabbed my wrist. “Why? I canceled my plans with her.”

  “She said she still wanted to see you. I think I might have accused her of trying to hurt you.” I gave him a weak smile. “All in all, I’d say that I’m really winning over your parents.”