Page 1 of Shadows Relived
CHAPTER 1
MEAGHAN HARRINGTON STAREDAT her reflection in the mirror, giving her eyeliner one last careful stroke before setting the pencil down. She twisted her long red hair into a messy bun and secured it with a clip. Perfect for karaoke night and dancing on the stage as she bounced around shamelessly. She didn’t want to be fussing with her hair all evening. The night was about fun and letting go on a hump day.
She stared at herself once more, nodding as she pressed her lips into a thin line.You look hot, lady.
Her cell phone buzzed on the bathroom counter, causing her to jump a little, and a groan slipped out of her as she recognized the ringtone. Her father, Senator Roger Harrington. She glanced at the time on her phone, wondering what he could want with her at that time of the night. She never knew what to expect from her father and had actually distanced herself from him as soon as she was out of the house.
Sighing, she was half tempted to send it to voicemail,but she knew he would only keep calling her. Snatching the phone off the counter, she swiped the screen and pressed the phone to her ear. “Hi, Dad. What’s up?”
“What took you so long to answer the phone?”
“Excuse me? I answered it when I answered it.” She would not put up with his demanding tone. “I’m busy. Getting ready to head out, actually. Now, what do you need?”
“You can’t go out. Actually, I need you to pack a bag and get up here to me. You know what? Don’t even pack a bag. We’ll buy you whatever you need when you get here. Just get in the car and get your ass up here.”
She stared at her reflection, her brows pinched in confusion. “What? I’m not going to Washington, Dad. Why would I do that?” And why did he have such a panicked tone to his voice?
She heard him sigh and could picture him leaning back in his desk chair, one hand on his whiskey glass as he held the phone with his other. “I’ve received some threats. Credible threats. And I need to get you somewhere safe until all this blows over.”
Meaghan rolled her eyes. “Whoa, slow down. What kind of threat? From who? And why would you receiving a threat have anything to do with me? Don’t you have the secret service or private security or god knows who else guarding you?”
“It’s from some activist. They’re trying to get me to tank a bill related to that climate legislation I’ve been trying to get through the Senate.”
“And what does that have to do with me?” She tossed her lipstick on the counter and left the bathroom. “I havenothing to do with your political career. I left that life, remember?”
“Sweetie, you need to take this seriously. These activists are unhinged. I’m worried they could come after you to force my hand on this vote. I need to get you somewhere safe until they find these people.”
Meaghan snorted. “I think you’ve seen too many movies, Dad. Activists don’t go around killing politicians’ family members. You’re just trying to use this to get me back there where you’ve always wanted me. I’m not doing it. I’m perfectly fine right where I am.”
“Meaghan, this is serious!”
She rolled her eyes again as she moved to the center of her bedroom. “You’re being paranoid. Some wackos sent you a threat about a dumb bill, and now you think they’re going to track your only daughter down and what? Take me hostage or something? Get real, Dad. They have no intention of wasting their time on me.”
“I will not permit your safety to be compromised because of your stubbornness.” Her father’s voice took on that stern paternal tone she knew so well from her childhood, the one he used when he tried to bully her into doing what he wanted, regardless of her wishes. “You’re my daughter, and it’s my responsibility to protect you.”
Protect her? After all these years of prioritizing his political ambitions over his family? Meaghan felt her temper flare. How typical of her father to spiral into delusions of grandeur and martyr complexes instead of dealing with reality.
“Listen, I’m not getting dragged into your political drama, okay? I’m thirty-two years old. I’m quitecapable of protecting myself.” She fought to keep her voice level. “This is exactly why I got as far away from you as I could after college. I’m done letting your career control my life. If you’re really getting threats, hire some extra security for you and Mom. But don’t you dare try to uproot me based on some paranoid fantasy that I’m a target. I’m just a kindergarten teacher in St. Augustine about to hit karaoke night. Now, have a good night, Dad. I need to finish getting ready.”
There was a pause on the other end of the call, and Meaghan could practically see her father puffing out his cheeks in his fury. He didn’t stay at a loss for words long, however. “Well, I clearly can’t reason with you when you’re in this frame of mind. But mark my words, I will take whatever measures are required to ensure your safety in this matter. Even if you insist on being reckless about it.”
“Whatever you say, Dad.” She was done arguing with him. What did it matter, anyway? She was in St. Augustine, and he was in D.C. Or was he in Savannah? She couldn’t keep with his schedule these days. Not that she really wanted to. “Now, I really do need to go. Ronette will be here, and I still need to finish getting ready. Say hi to Mom for me.”
The sound of her front door opening caught her attention, and she turned to see her friend stroll into her apartment. “Bye, Dad. Gotta go.”
She hung up without waiting for a response and tossed her phone onto the bed. A moment later, her best friend Ronette poked her head into the bedroom, hand over her eyes. “You decent?”
“Sadly, yes.” Meaghan gave a dramatic sigh.
The blonde dropped her arm to her side. “You’re still not ready? What have you been doing?” She cocked a brow at Meaghan. “At this rate, all the decent songs will be taken by people who can’t sing them.”
“Oh, just hold your horses. I’m just about done.” She plopped down on her bed, reaching for the sneakers she had placed there earlier. “There will be plenty of songs left that only you have the guts to sing.”
Ronette laughed as she leaned back against the wall, her hands clasped behind her back. “I don’t know. Andy picks some fairly out there songs. I mean, Tom Dooley? Do people even still listen to that one?”
Meaghan laughed. “It’s never taken, though.” She finished tying her shoes and shoved herself off the bed. “Now I’m ready. Let’s hit it. You’re driving.”
“Suits me. And you really should learn to lock your door. One of these days, someone besides a loving blonde is going to walk in and rob you.”
