Page 39 of A Pawn for Malice
The light fixtures hovering over the solidmahogany dais floor became ablaze in light as Sen. Gallagher’sentourage filtered in. The house broke out into pandemonium, asonlookers applauded and cheered. Chants echoed the air, clapsroared in unison, banners and signs waved and rose in excitedaccord.
Bryan’s pulse pounded like the hooves of racehorse closing in on the finish line, as his eyes scanned the facesof those in attendance. The members he addressed just the other daywere there in support. It was a packed house with standing roomonly.
Connor stood to his right, while Jessicastood to his left. Without thinking, Bryan reached out for herhand, and she did not hesitate to entwine her fingers with his.
He had spoken in front of larger crowdsbefore. This speech though, was going to be a pivotal one in hiscareer, because a national stage was being set by the networks infront of him. What New York decided, other states would more thanlikely follow.
Bryan gave himself a moment to let it allsink in, as he carefully looked at everyone in the room. He wantedthem to know he saw them, and acknowledged them with a nod. Some oftheir faces mirrored awe, excitement, tearful rejoice, and yes,those in opposition. Then, there was one, one, that made Bryanstop, take notice, and focus on him individually.
A hateful rage emanated from the man,standing to the left of his podium, not even two feet away. Therewas something about him, that seemed familiar. He was casually, butslovenly attired. His long hair looked greasy and tied back into atail. And then it dawned on him, as he poked Connor at his side,noticing the thickly, framed, black bifocal glasses.
His look of recognition, prompted a slow,knowing sneer upon the stranger’s face.
Bryan turned to Connor and whisperedloudly.
“To our left. See the short, rounded guy withhis 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, anddamn sure, the guy was bolting for the door. Bryan waved for theattention of a Capitol Police Officer standing nearby, and theofficer quickly neared.
“The guy, heading for the door. I’m damn surehe’s the one, who attacked one of my staff members a few weeksago.”
The Officer didn’t waste a moment, and boltedoff the dais in pursuit.
Bryan wanted to take the attention of whatwas happening. He loudly cleared his throat and rose his arms togain the attention of the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please.” He spokeloudly into the microphone before him.
Silence was almost immediate, and Bryanproceeded in a calm and confident voice.
“Thank you all for coming here today, whetherit be in support, or opposition to my cause. It is with a heavyheart, that first, I must share a call I just received from Gov.Michaelson just moments ago. Sadly, his son, Warren, has passedaway.”
A deafening uproar filled the air, as theattendees expressed their sorrow, and calls for revenge.
Bryan slapped the gavel upon it’s blockbefore him, beseeching their attention.
“Please … please … a moment. No,” he shookhis head and waved his hand, as reporters vied for his attention.“No questions, yet please. I ask that we pause for a moment, insilent prayer, for the soul of Trooper Warren Michaelson and hisgrieving family.”
Respectfully, the noise slowly decreased, asheads bowed in silence for the brief, moment requested.
Bryan raised his eyes to gaze over the crowdbefore him, and again he noticed the individual from before, thistime standing all the way towards the back of the room. The hair atthe back of his neck prickled, as the man leered back at him withsuch derision, he expected him to pull out a gun. As Bryan lookedabout for another Officer, the stranger turned and bolted from theroom.
He decided to carry on, but continued hisvigilance, as his eyes continually scanned the entire room.
“As you all know; I am sponsoring the deathpenalty bill.”
Bedlam broke out once again, overriding thesmall 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 mycolleagues I represent here. It is not the judges, the mayors ofour cities, the leaders of our town boards I listen to. It is you,the people of my district, the parents of fallen victims, thefamilies of our public servants gunned down by these senselesskillers I listen to and represent, and you in this room, who cryout for justice today.”
He gave the people in the room a moment toreact, before he continued.
“Because of the seriousness of thislegislation, I beseech the support of my colleagues on both sidesof the aisle in the Senate and Assembly. I cannot emphasize howimportant it is, that you, the blue-collar worker, theprofessional, and the laborer reach out to your representatives andexpress your support. Most of you have felt your concerns are neverheard. That may be true on a small scale, but if a mass majority ofvoices are spoken, they must listen. Three-fourths of this State’spopulation 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 representyour vote and your voice. Our aunts and uncles, our sisters andbrothers, our parents and grandparents, our sons and daughters arebeing victimized. They are being brutally, viciously, andsenselessly murdered. It needs to stop, and I need your help. Ican’t do it alone. Make your support known today! We can do it thisyear … this legislative session,” he pointed at thememphatically.
“We need to let the criminal element outthere know, that killing someone will not go unpunished. We need totake back control and put the word out on the streets, that ourjustice system is no longer soft on murder, the days of a cot forlife and three square meals a day are over. The free ride for lifeendshereand endsnow.
