Page 99 of Black Bird

“Okay, I’ll go slip one onto the podium and announce you in five. Good?”

“Fine, Gretchen.”

She took that as her cue to leave, saying nothing else and slipping out the door. He swirled his drink. A few minutes later, he could hear her doing exactly that over the amp in the ballroom. He silenced his phone and stood, buttoning his jacket and adjusting his tie. His bodyguards led him to the back entrance of the room, curtained off on the sides where he’d step up on the small stage. Gretchen looked over at him with an inquisitive look and he nodded that he was ready. She presented him, the crowd roaring in applause as he made his way up, waving and pausing for photos. A slideshow of children from the hospital began playing silently behind him on a large white screen. He took his place at the podium.

“Good evening, friends … families … survivors. It is with great honor that I host this year’s annual benefit for one of our nation’s most renowned youth hospitals. On behalf of this hospital, and all its precious patients, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for your selfless donations and your support as we continue to fight one of the world’s most ruthless enemies—disease.” He looked out over the crowd.

“One of the leading causes of death around the globe … is one that even I, as an elected official, have struggled with. Cancer.” Slight gasps and whispers started circling the ballroom. “Now, don’t start worrying, it isn’t me. However, many of you may not know that my dear wife—one of the loveliest souls in this world … has been battling a cancer known as AML … or Acute Myeloid Leukemia for a couple of years now. AML is one of the most aggressive and fatal types of blood cancer known to us, thus far. As my wife has been a passionate advocate for those with illness, she’s seen even before she was diagnosed … what it can do to a person. What a tremendous weight it can be, not only to the sick … but to their families.” He paused for a moment, feigning emotion like the snake that he was, and looking down at his speech.

“Watching a loved one battle such a thing is one of life’s most difficult trials. But watching your child … as this disease enlists them to be the tiniest soldiers in such a brutal war … well, I can’t imagine being one of those parents. My hat goes off to every one of those children, who so bravely face that foe on the front lines … their families with them.” He nodded sadly, raising his face back up to the audience that was growing emotional with every rehearsed word. His eyes caught the sight of his son who moved past an older couple standing closest to the stage—Sarah St. James on his arm. Brent cut a glare at him that was fueled with so much hate he thought he’d burn alive … but it was nothing compared to the genuinely evil smile and knowing hazel eyes that his would-be daughter-in-law gave him next. Conrad met those eyes … nothing sweet or warm in them.

She knows.

He cleared his throat, looking back over the crowd and glancing down at his speech. “Our hope of finding a solution to disease has often been diminished, even with our skyrocketing progression in medical science. Countless surgeries, and rounds of chemotherapy …” His eyes shot down to Sarah, who released Brent’s arm and made a step forward, her eyes never leaving his. Brent watched her, making no moves to stop her as she inched toward the side of the stage. “Uh, ex—excuse me … countless surgeries, and rounds of chemotherapy have often proven themselves unsuccessful, our grip on hope wearing thinner. We’ve found ourselves on our knees praying for—” He glanced over to find her still watching him … snarling at him like a predator as she crept closer to the steps of the stage. He could feel beads of sweat beginning to build on his brow.

“Praying for a miracle.” She paused and they locked eyes. Murmuring from around the ballroom started to grow as more and more began to notice the exchange. He was so close. He wouldn’t let her destroy years of toiling to find this diamond in the rough. It would come down to survival of the fittest. And who was she to these people? He faced his audience again. “As a man of the people, it is my honor and privilege toreveal that I—” Scuffling sounded from his right, and everyone looked over with him as two of his security personnel began to try to restrain her. She gave in, one arm held tightly by each man, and sneered at him, baring her teeth. He could have sworn a growl rolled out of her as those eyes pierced him.

“Say another word, senator … and I’ll out you right here,” she snarled.

Clever little bitch.

Conrad looked to his left where Annie and her mother waited to be introduced, confusion as evident on their faces as it was on the many that watched from the ballroom floor. His heart sped up, stomach churning as he was faced with a decision he wasn’t prepared to make. He glanced back at Sarah who patiently and calmly waited. Then he looked to Brent, who stood idly by … a hateful smirk on his lips. Brent cocked his head, raising his brows and crossing his arms. A silent indication that he would do absolutely nothing to help him. Conrad gritted his teeth, swallowing hard. The crowd whispered, most of them remaining silent as intrigue had them completely drawn in. He saw no other choice.

“Let her go,” he said, nodding toward her. The men loosened their grip and her shoulders slackened. She didn’t take her eyes off of him. “I extend my sincerest apologies … this benefit will have to be postponed.” His jaw clenched and the mass of wealthy attendees roared in dismay. He looked back at Sarah, moving toward her, and trying not to look at the disappointed guests or that ten-year-old behind him that began audibly cursing him as he sped down the steps. “Follow me,” he spat as he passed, Sarah all too eager to oblige. His security began to trail behind. Conrad stopped short, turning toward them and holding up a palm. “No … just her. Make sure it remains that way.” They nodded and let them go.

Conrad pushed through the back doors of the ballroom, Sarah hot on his heels as they traveled down empty hallways toward dimly lit areas that weren’t being occupied near the back of the hotel. He jiggled a few door handles, finally finding one open and they disappeared into the room. A motion-sensored light lit up a small portion of a room with towers of stacked chairs, seemingly for events such as the one that was being held tonight. Folded tables were also lining what walls were visible per the light. A small part of him wondered if this was the place he’d die tonight.

“Well played, St. James,” he started, turning and facing her. “I guess you think you’ve figured me out.”

She huffed a laugh. “I guess you thought you were more discreet.”

“What do you want, Sarah? To ruin me? Pay me back? For what exactly?” He paused, stepping closer. “For pushing you and my son together? Giving you fameandfortune? Was it not enough to satisfy the little lonely orphan from Seattle?”

“You really are a politician, Stratford. You’ve lied so much that you’re starting to actually believe yourself. How long have you been trying to convince yourself that this was some noble act? Using me.” He had to give it to her … she had balls. She moved forward a step. “Maybe I should ask you the same question, Senator. What doyoureally want? You wanna use me to cure your wife? Or do you wanna use me to glorifyyourself?” She started circling him. “It’s obvious that you must have some kind of idea that my blood will work. What will you do with it? A transfusion? Or are you one of the pieces of shit that took me out of my own bed to experiment on me like some kind of lab rat?”

“What are you talking about?” he seethed.

“You’re a government official. Anelectedgovernment official, mind you. How do you think the people will feel if they find out what you’ve done to me? Did you plan on this being a ‘kill one to save many’type of deal? Or at least make them believe it?”

“It doesn’t matter what they believe. If this cure actually works, the price or what I’ve done to get it will fly right over their heads. You don’t know what it’s like, little girl. Watching someone you love suffer. Consider the parents of children like Annie … that little girl I was getting ready to introduce tonight. Let’s say you had a child that was dying a little every day, in tremendous pain. If someone told you that one needle and twenty minutes of infusing a solution that would eradicate the problem would actually work … would you give a shit how the doctor got it?” He watched her as she paused her stride. “Exactly my point. They won’t turn on me.”

“Oh, they will. When they find out that the source of yourcureis an unwilling host … they’ll turn on you. When that cure runs out because I refuse to let you have any more of me? Then you’ll be trampled under the millions of people that are trying to get their hands on what you’ve introduced, but no longer have. And for the record … I do know what it’s like. I watched my mother die a horrific death because of an incurable disease that no one had even heard of before. The clock ran out for her. And then theyusedher.” She inched closer. “And then they usedme… made me a walking vaccine that’s been kept secret and unknowingly reproducing the elixir of fuckinglife.” She leaned in until their faces were mere inches away. “I won’t be this country’s personal piggy bank. I won’t be the one that looks over my shoulder for the rest of my life, or subject myself to being poked and prodded until there’s as much left of me as there is of my mother!”

“There’s nothing you can do. This is so much bigger than you realize.”

“Oh, there’s plenty I can do, Conrad. And I will … if you don’t fix this.” She smirked. “I will fucking bury you and your fancy name until I’m positive no one will ever remember you existed.” She drew back. “I’ll make you an offer … as a littletestof my own.”

“And that is?”

“I’ll give you enough blood to use on your wife. And I’ll be present so that I can be sure you’re not replicating it—under the condition that you publicly admit that you’re a lying sack of shit and resign from the senate.”

Conrad clenched his fists at his sides. “You fucking little bitch.”

“Bitch, I may be … but either way, you need me.”

“And if I refuse?” he asked through his clenched teeth.

“Then it’ll be exactly the answer I expected from you, and I’ll squeal on you anyway. If anyone is gonna benefit from what I’ve been through … it won’t fucking be you.”

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