Though each interview was only ten minutes, it took hours for the grueling process to be over. The time for the initial hair and make-up, ten minutes to warm up with the host, the actual interview, and another ten minutes to be debriefed for the next host. In each interview, she answered every question with the party line, though the truth was never far from her lips. Even so, she heeded Connor’s words. She did not say a word about Mason’s hidden agenda. Not for her sake, so much as for Connor. She had dragged him into this nightmare and now in her mind, she had the same responsibility to protect him as he had to protect her. But somehow they had to alert the nation. They had to get the word out. And so far their anonymous attempts had failed miserably.
During the hours that passed, she repeatedly snatched glances at Connor, as he stood vigilant at the door of the broadcast suite. He occasionally nodded back to her, but mostly he was eyes forward. If his mind was preoccupied with their dilemma, his face did not show it. Once she had approached him and whispered a question. He shook his head discreetly, but did not answer her. When the final interview was complete, she was exhausted. In silence, Connor escorted her back to her suite. Once inside, he checked it, and finding it empty, he finally relaxed a bit. She changed clothes, and joined him in the living area.
“Any ideas?” She asked.
“Nothing concrete.” He replied as he sat with her.
“We’ve got to do something.”
“I know.”
“The final debate is tomorrow. And the election-”
“I know. It’s just eight days away.”
“We can’t let him get elected, Connor. You know that.”
“I do, but I also have to protect you.”
“What if we leave? Leave here and go somewhere safe. Somewhere that nobody can find us.”
“I’ve thought of that.”
“And? What are we waiting for? Let’s do it. And then I can contact the media directly, and tell them what’s happening.”
“It would be your death warrant, Grace.”
“But if they can’t find me...”
“They would.”
“How?”
“Eventually they would. Look, Grace, there is no guarantee that any of the media outlets would publish your direct message or anything about Mr. Alexander’s intent. So far we’ve been led to believe that they just think it’s all a hoax. What if that’s not it. What if they are already under his control?”
“Don’t be crazy.”
“You think that’s crazy?”
“He’s not President yet, Connor. There is no way he has that kind of control yet.”
“What about the work at the air bases. It’s already started. He’s not alone in this, Grace, and we have no idea how many in authority are already involved. The only thing we do know is that we can’t trust anyone.”
“I see your point. I don’t know, Connor, I don’t know what to do. But we have to do something. We can’t just let this happen.”
“I agree.” He paused for a moment. “Grace?”
“Yes, Connor.”
“I may have an idea.”
“Go ahead.”
“What if I released the data?”
“You?”
“Sure. I’m a part of Mr. Alexander’s overall detail. That gives me access to things that other agents normally would not have. It also would give me validity with the media. If I release his plans, I think they would take it seriously.”
“But what about your boss? Didn’t he tell you to stay out of it?”
“True. I would be dismissed. And they would assign another agent for your detail right away.”
“No.”
“It would be okay.”
“No.”
“Look, Grace, if they don’t know that you know, and if the information does not come from you...you should be safe.”
“Should be, and are, are two completely different things. Besides, if they believe you, my secret service protection is likely to be canceled right away. Then where does that leave me.”
“Okay I agree. It’s not optimal, but like you said, we’ve got to do something.”
“I know, I know.”
“Too bad we can’t just take him out.”
“What?”
“You know. Take him out. Make him disappear, or incapacitate him some way. At least until the election is over.”
“If they can’t vote for him...” She began.
“He can’t win.”
“But how? How would we do something like this?”
“Well, we can’t kill him, that’s for sure.” Connor said gravely.
“Right.”
“We can prove he is involved in this conspiracy, but we can’t prove that he has actually done anything personally.”
“Maybe we could drug him. Put him in the hospital until the election is over.” She suggested.
“Won’t work. He would still be on the ballot, even in the hospital.”
“What if he went missing?”
“Missing? What do you mean?”
“Missing, like kidnapped. At least then we might be able to get the media outlets to look at his agenda.”
“I think the operative word there is, might.” He shook his head. “If they won’t publish it now, they likely won’t publish it if he’s missing. Especially if it’s being suppressed by the government already. Beside, even if he’s missing-”
“He’s still on the ballot.”
“Right.”
“What if he withdraws from the race?”
“Withdraws? Hmm. That would work, but there’s no chance he’s going to do that.”
“But what if I confront him? With the information we have? And threaten to release it?” She pleaded.
“But you already released it.”
“He doesn’t know that. And he won’t know that I’m trying to keep the release anonymous. I’ll just tell him that I’m going public right away.”
“And what will you do when he stops you.”
“How?”
“Grace, stop and think about what you’re talking about. You’re going to walk right up to the tiger, pull its tail, and then stand there and watch what happens. How do you think he would react?”
“Not good. Not good at all.”
“And if he knows you know, how long before you disappear. Election or no election.”
“You’ve got a point there. I don’t know, Connor. I don’t have a clue about what to do, but we’ve got to do something.”
“We do.”
Chapter 28
VirtuaScape Page 27