“Don’t mention it, Brandon.”
“How’re you holding up?”
“Have seen better days, to be honest with you. Not liking how my daughter’s life is becoming a public affair. It is my goddamn issue to worry about.”
“It is terrible, isn’t it?! I tried my best to put a lead on the story. Nancy Smith is going with it. Pressure from higher up. Anything we can do to change their mind?”
“It is the worst nightmare. I’m holding it together with the best way I can. The detective is being a pain in the ass. There used to be a time when the right price could protect your interest. Now everyone has a goddamn vendetta to make a name for themselves. My publicity team is working on a media response strategy. Thank you for the heads up. I appreciate your counsel on this matter. Nothing I do will bring my daughter back. This I promise you, Brandon, her death won’t be in vain. Her name will be synonymous with an enduring change.”
“I admire you for that, Seth. Seeing the opportunity and the positive in every situation is a high art. I need some of that in my life…”
“I am coming around to the idea of embracing the publicity and using that to push for change. I need you on my side on this, Brandon. I want you to formulate a bill that protects helpless girls from being preyed upon. We can call it the Alyson Crawford Act. The team is drafting the language and will have it for you later today.”
When Brandon thought he could extricate himself from the situation, he was pulled right back in. He couldn’t possibly say no to this suggestion. What reason would he give? That he is not for protecting innocent little girls? What if it were his own daughter?
“Fantastic! Look forward to it, Seth! Hang in there. Alyson’s passing will not be in vain.”
It was the clearest of win-win situation Brandon could have ever envisioned. He gets to save his relationship with Nancy and Seth, and come out of the crisis looking good on all sides.
“Alex, do you have a minute?” It was already time to start doing the leg work to get the process going.
Alex had flown in from Boston the previous night on his way back after meeting with one Albert Lloyd. He rarely traveled to meet subjects of interest in person. He had to go back to Boston one more time given the urgency and seriousness of the case. It turned out to be a good detour for he was also able to gather more facts about the ongoing investigation. He had been assured by what he heard.
The meeting with Albert had also gone better than expected in part because of Alex’s early preparation in leveraging what he knows about people and situations. It was the clearest demonstration of the power he can wield if and when his hands are forced.
This time, it was for a good cause of protecting the Senator and Caroline. If push comes to shove, there was no way he couldn’t do the same to protect his interest. He felt good about himself as he walked to the large office, which was much bigger than the space allotted to the Senator and his team in DC. New York City is where the headquarters of McKenzie operation resides and the office was fitting of the grandeur of the action.
“Yes, sir. I’m available.”
“The news will break soon. So, we had better be ready for it. Nancy Smith is going live in a couple of hours. Seth called. He has some ideas about a bill we get through Congress. Something about protecting girls. Look at it when it gets here and let’s make a show of doing something about it.”
The Senator gave his orders not once flinching on the mention of Nancy Smith. Alex, on the other hand, couldn’t look his boss in the eye. The image of Nancy Smith was glued to his imagination. Did the Senator not realize he saw her? He wondered.
“What is the latest on the investigation?”
“The DNA evidence is pointing strongly to the involvement of a distant family member, whose DNA matches one found in the fetus. It seems that is their primary path of investigation. As far as I can tell, there I nothing pointing at Caroline or any of her friends. We should know more in the next day.”
“Good. How about Jack Reiner? Anything to worry about?”
Had the question been asked before Alex received the text message from Caroline, he might have answered it differently. This time, all he wanted to do was not spoil it for her.
“None that I can find. He seems to be an upstanding and highly accomplished gentleman.”
“That is what I thought, too. Anything else?”
“None at the moment, Senator. I’ll have your briefing ready for this afternoon.”
Alex heard the chirping sound on his phone announcing the arrival of a text message. He looked at it immediately after he left the Senator’s office. It was a message from Caroline.
“We’re leaving now. Call you later with the news!”
~~~
