The Longer The Fall, Aviva Gat [top 10 books to read txt] 📗

She believed there was room in her party for others of her belief and that if the party didn’t evolve with the times, they would become obsolete. In fact, during that speech she gave to The WISH List two years ago, she championed the slogan “It’s our party too,” calling other young female republicans to come forward to fight for their beliefs.

Madeline remembered how energized she had felt after that speech. Women on both sides of the political spectrum applauded her. Some republican women even admitted that she had inspired them to come forward. In the picture of her, walking into the Langham just hours after that speech, were two other people: the hotel doorman, easily recognizable from his black and red uniform; and a tall African American man wearing a short sleeved blue plaid shirt passing by on the sidewalk. In the picture, Madeline’s head was turned toward the doorman and the two of them held obvious eye contact.

After studying the picture for a few moments, Brandon looked up to Madeline. “Are they saying you slept with the doorman?” From his expression, Brandon obviously saw this as hilarious, absurd. For a moment, a glint of worry passed his face. Madeline thought she saw it, but any expression from him was gone before she could acknowledge it.

“I’m not sure exactly what they are alleging with this picture,” Madeline responded. She too saw the absurdity of this image, but she took everything seriously that could endanger her upcoming reelection campaign.

“So what is the plan?” Brandon asked. “Have you talked to Jane? Obviously we’re not paying anything to this lunatic.”

Madeline picked up her phone to call Jane and explain the situation. The blackmailer wanted the money before Madeline’s campaign launch event, which was exactly one month out. At that event, Madeline was to officially launch her reelection campaign for her second senate term. She had invited all her biggest donors, the leaders of her supporting political action committees, some congressional colleagues, state legislators and of course all the local and national media. She could only imagine what would happen should the conversation at that event turn from her campaign to an alleged cheating scandal. Whether or not the allegations were true wouldn’t matter. All that would matter was that someone suggested it and from there, all journalists would be scrounging for evidence. Her supporters would doubt the image of morality that she had worked so hard to build. Donors would wonder if their money would be better spent elsewhere. If Madeline wanted to be reelected, there was no way she could allow this allegation to be released. Not before her reelection launch. Not ever.

Thoughts continued to swirl in Madeline’s head after she hung up with Jane. Of course, Jane understood all the same things that Madeline did. That if these allegations came to light, truth took a back seat. People love scandal more than they love what’s right. Scandals never disappear; they ruin careers, whether or not they are based on truth. Jane had told Madeline and Brandon to stay put, not to speak to anyone else about the letter. The FBI would be on their way to their house soon to begin their investigation.

Madeline and Brandon sat quietly as they waited. Eventually Brandon stood up and brewed a new pot of coffee, making enough for the team of FBI agents that would arrive soon. When the aroma of coffee filled the air and the coffee machine sighed its signal that it had finished, Brandon poured two cups and brought them to the table. Moments later the doorbell rang and Brandon went to answer. He returned to the kitchen followed by Jane and three agents in dark suits carrying briefcases.

“Can you believe the nerve of this person?” Jane bellowed as she came in. “I mean, if you’re going to allege something, it should at least be believable!” Jane sat down at the kitchen table, as did the three FBI agents, two men and one woman, who all introduced themselves. Agent Murray, Agent Hart and Agent Jones were all part of the FBI’s special investigations team specializing in political blackmail. Apparently it was something all politicians deal with, usually multiple times, and they were California’s specialists in finding the blackmailer. They just recently closed a case for another California politician who was being blackmailed for allegedly taking bribes to support recent legislation. They couldn’t reveal the name of the politician, but it was someone very prominent that surely could have had their career toppled had this team not found the blackmailer. The agents said whether the allegations were true or not was not their concern. Of course, if they were true, as they often were, it usually made it easier to find the blackmailer because they would know who was privy to the information.

“Apparently being friendly and greeting a doorman is now cheating!” Brandon exclaimed back to Jane’s outburst as he retrieved coffee for all of their visitors.

“The first question we have is whether you have any enemies,” Agent Murray started. “Is there anyone who comes to mind who might hate you? Want to end your career? Want revenge on you?”

“Wow, well that would make quite a long list,” Jane yelled. “Madeline is a republican senator in California who supports abortion and gay rights! She has more enemies than she can count! Democrats hate her because she took a California senate seat that they usually can count on! Republicans hate her because she doesn’t just blindly vote for what they tell her to! Just last week Madeline voted against Senator Collins’ bill that added new chapters to the tax code. She was the only republican to vote against it! A few didn’t vote and that of course shows they were against it, but Madeline was the only one with guts! Senator Collins was really angry with Madeline. What did he say? It takes some nerve for a freshman senator to defy party