Chapter Five
Politics is a zero sum game. That's a rule Alex has come to learn in his few years of working behind the scenes. From his body man days to now being a close confidant and lead assistant of Senator McKenzie, this truth had been borne out time and time again. There can't be two winners.
Staring at his boss and the woman in platinum blond hair, whose face he recognized instantly, he was confronted with the dreaded mental calculation of how he would ensure his team comes out a winner. The daughter’s close friend is lying unconscious in the hospital. If word leaked out that the Senator was spending the night with none other than the biggest icon of broadcast television, how would the public receive the news? How would a famous diva be drawn to a man of advanced age? How could he risk his career and the promise of the Oval Office and history?
Did it mean that he stopped paying attention? It was his job to know everything about his boss, and somehow this had slipped through the cracks. Whatever damage was going to come out of the situation, he concluded it had to be the power and the charisma of the Senator. Irresistibly charming. Still, though. Doesn't he have enough?
What made the whole situation worse for him was he had admired Nancy Smith. A serious woman, who has hosted the same morning show for more than ten years, beating her competition in all rating categories. Alex now remembered the Senator had been a repeat guest on the show talking about all manners of politics and life. On one of those occasions, Caroline was also in the studio, and they had all been invited to a backstage VIP area where they were warmly received.
There was no doubt in Alex's mind that she remembered him. The way she looked and smiled at him. And now he was going to have to deal with the naked image of Nancy Smith every time he watches the morning show going forward. He couldn't believe his mind was distracted by such useless considerations when there was a family emergency.
"Is she alright?" The Senator asked tracking Alex's eyes back to him.
"I'm afraid it's serious, sir. We need to go to the hospital right away. I have a car waiting outside." Alex said. Returning his focus to the important matter at hand. He trusted Nancy Smith would be discrete about the affair for her own good. Never married. Never seriously dated. Alex could hear her voice saying those words so many times on the show.
The Senator went inside and closed the door. A couple of minutes of awkward silence ensued. The guard had a wry expression on his face as if to say I told you so. Alex tapped his feet on the floor. What he heard from the security head had been troubling. The riotous party apparently organized by Caroline and a few close friends. Kept as a secret from everyone. And the prognosis didn’t look good for Alyson Crawford’s health. Alex worried what the backlash may be against Caroline. The Senator’s precious daughter was up to no good, and he had no idea. Neither did the Senator.
They ran into the waiting black SUV and sped to the hospital. They were too late. They were welcomed by the distraught Crawfords with the terrible news that Alyson had passed away. Something had gone terribly wrong.
“I’m so sorry, Seth! I came as soon as I heard,” the Senator said to the father, who looked like a shell of himself.
“I first heard unconscious and interpreted it as another epileptic shock. It was the curse of my family, Brandon. And being unconscious wasn't a new phenomenon my daughter has had to deal with. I thought it was another false alarm. Not this, Brandon. Not to see her battered and abused body. My little girl was destroyed, Brandon. They killed my baby girl!” Seth Crawford wept uncontrollably. He was no more than five years older than Brandon.
The Senator wept silently while his body shook violently with the tremors of tragedy. Alex couldn't process what had happened. He had gotten the full detail of the injuries Alyson had suffered. It all seemed unreal to him. Weakening his ability to stand up. He had leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor.
While Seth and Brandon stood by the bedside carrying the lifeless body of Alyson, a doctor walked in and started walking in a calm and deliberate voice.
“Autopsy will be conducted in short order. She was barely holding on when she arrived. We suspect there was a seizure, and the exact cause maybe overdose intoxication and asphyxiation. We will be sure to update you. Does she have a history of seizure?” The emergency doctor said. A young lady wearing hijjab. She spoke with an impeccable Southern accent.
Seth continued to weep. Brandon held him firmly and tried to sooth him. It felt like he had lost his own daughter. He wept alongside his friend, unable to imagine what he would do if he found his daughter in the same situation.
“Yes, epilepsy,” Seth answered, choking on the words as he continued to weep uncontrollably.
“It is likely possible she wasn’t able to recover from the seizure due to her highly inebriated state. The signs of bruising seem to indicate there was physical contact with another individual. Likely more than one. She was in a real bad condition. I am so sorry for the loss.” The doctor said before leaving them behind alone.
Alyson’s mother, Linda Crawford, was rendered speechless. Blaming the father for not adequately protecting their daughter. It was as if all the indignities of her life had reached a crescendo. Alyson had been the consolation for her. The glue that held the family together. Such a lovely girl, who reminded of her of her own youth. She couldn’t wait to see her graduate from college and start a new life. Praying every day she would have a better life companion that her own life experience has shown her. Every bruise on Alyson’s body felt as if she had been attacked directly. Her body shivered with the knowledge of running out of reasons to exist. Except now the rage she felt for the suffering of Alyson.
“How could you let this happen to her?” Linda screamed at Seth, ignoring the Senator who stood by the side.
“She must have escaped the protective detail,” Seth said calmly. The briefing from the security head had confirmed that her guards lost touch with her before midnight. And that they had been searching all over for her not having any means of tracking her. Alyson had apparently turned off her phone.
Alex watched this play out with horror. Caroline was also missing last night, which meant she might have had something to do with what happened.
“My daughter doesn’t do that. She is a good girl and doesn’t decide to disappear from the face of the map. She had never done that before.” Linda said, still furious and crying.
“I will find out who did this to her,” Seth promised.
“Linda, I will do all that I can to get justice for Alyson. The police have a suspect in custody. I will make it my priority to get to the bottom of this,” the Senator added. He felt as enraged as the parents about the tragedy.
The security head had alerted the Senator and Alex about an arrest being made on the case on their way to the hospital. Andre Palermo. The son of a renowned Boston family, which is suspected to have connections with the mafia. Not as powerful as the old days, but still revered and respected in the community.
“Are we sure they have the right guy?” Seth asked Brandon. They had left Linda to be with her dead daughter before her body was to be taken for autopsy and medical examination.
“From what I hear, they have had eye witnesses placing the two together.”
“This is all so strange… Never in all the years of raising my daughter could I have imagined this would be how her life would be taken from us… I don’t understand, Brandon…”
“I am so sorry. We will find out soon enough. Why don’t you take care of Linda here? I will get my team to focus on following up on the investigation.” The Senator assured his friend and soon left the hospital.
