Page 35 of A Pawn for Malice
“Are you all fools? Come on! Have you no ideawhat the repercussions could be over this? Promises have been madeand …”
“Sit down, Shaughnessy,” Sen. Malcolm Scottshouted. He was Chairman of the Senate Ways & Means Committee.When he spoke, people listened. “We don’t need to hear that shit.Marty’s right, and you god damn well know it!” He was a robust manand his thick crop of greying, red hair matched his rising temper,as his cheeks flushed brightly. “Are we pissed? Yes. Why? Because,he made us see a side to ourselves, we don’t like.”
“Still,” Shaughnessy cut in, “how do we knowsupporting him is the right choice? Christ, man. A lot of thosepeople out there take our word as gospel. Do we have the moralobligation to vote yes, if our constituency say no. Referendums aregreat for some things, not this. We’re supposed to lead.”
Sen. Maxwell Harriman laughed loudly, shakinghis head and cut in.
“I don’t believe this. You really thinkyou’re some kind of a god, for Christ’s sake, don’t you?” Harrimancouldn’t sit still any longer. He was a nervous sort and known tocover the floor, when debating an issue. Now, was no exception, ashe rose. “Gallagher’s not asking the people to press for areferendum. He’s going to tell them to put the pressure on us. Ithas started already!” He raised his cell phone to make a point.“Check with your own offices. The phones in mine are ringing offthe frigging walls. Constituents are reacting on their own.”
More members stood, nodding their heads inagreement, many speaking out, some louder than others, wishing tobe heard.
Sen. Talbot cut through the bedlam with oneof those shrilling whistle calls a parent would give in the olddays, calling the kids home for the night. It worked as the roomwent silent and he got their attention.
“We were all elected by the people in ourdistricts to represent them and their concerns. Ask yourselves.Have you? Do you? I don’t know about the rest of you, but I will bethere tomorrow, doing the right thing. If you’re smart, you’ll dothe same.”
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ever since the shooting hit the air waves,every Senate office was inundated with phone calls fromconstituents, local leaders, and religious activists. The callersin support of justice being served, outweighed those in oppositionof the death penalty bill being passed. An “eye for an eye” wastheir cry. More than not, threatened not to support theirrepresentative’s reelection in less than four weeks, if they didnot abide to their wishes.
It wasn’t long before the media heard aboutthe leadership meeting. Quickly, they descended upon the Capitolwith camera crews in tow, chasing down as many leaders as theycould find for an interview.
Their attempts were futile, as members hidthemselves behind closed doors, until they absolutely needed tomake an appearance.
The public was going to see a side to Bryan,they never witnessed before. His speech could cause a tidal wavenot seen on the plaza in quite some time. His return from theconference meeting was a solemn one. He informed his entire staffthe moment he walked through the office, that he did not wish to bedisturbed for any reason whatsoever. He expected them to hold thepress at bay and relay he would hold all comments, until the pressmeeting the following morning.
No noise came from his inner sanctum. Theboard did not light up with outgoing calls being made, and thesilence, he knew, was probably unnerving to his staff. He couldn’tstave off the melancholy that hung over him like a heavy cloak. Hefelt terrible about what happened to Warren Michaelson, theofficers transporting Corbat, and the innocent woman, whose car themadman hijacked. The man was a demon, and there were many more likehim, who senselessly killed those innocent individuals, who got intheir way.
Bryan did not care, if he made enemies, orgot ostracized for his beliefs. He was ready to take on theleadership, even if it proved to be all by himself.
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This was the first time, that Jessicawitnessed such solemnness from Bryan. She let him be. If he neededher, he’d buzz.
Everyone went about the operations of theoffice. Time flew rather quickly, as the staff stayed on top of themonster unleashed earlier. As soon as one call was extinguished,ten took its place. The concern ringing true throughout Bryan’s owndistrict was overwhelming. His constituents were behind him. Itwould give him great pleasure in knowing that.
“I think we ought to call it quits, Jessica,what do you say,” Connor suggested, as he stepped into her office.“Seems the more we answer, the more keep calling. I’m goinghorse.”
Jessica chuckled lightly. “Me too, and I’msure the staff agrees. It’s hopeless trying to keep up.”
“You want me to tell them to shut down at5:30?”
“Let Claire know first and she can tell them.It’s hopeless at this point. Ask her to call the switch board totake over.”
Connor nodded. “I’ll be right back,” hereplied and exited her office.
Jessica knew that tomorrow was going to bemore chaotic than today even was. There would be no getting awayfrom the press. All the major affiliates would be calling forpersonal interviews. It was all part of the game. The crazies wouldbe coming out of the woodwork as well.
Connor returned, and plopped into one of thevisitor’s chairs.
“Do you think we should check on Bryan andsee if he’s alright?” She asked.
Connor shrugged, looking a littlebewildered.
“I was gonna ask you the same thing. I’venever seen him like this before. I imagine he’s preparing fortomorrow. I kind of expected him to call on us to help.”
“Well, maybe he’s confident about what he’sgoing to say. Look, why don’t you go? I’ll stick around a whilelonger and poke my head in. Go home and have dinner with your wifeand kids. I’ll call you one way or the other, after I check on him.Okay?”
