Page 319 of Rage

"My father is member and donor to The Heritage Foundation.'Saving babies'and'traditional values'are the top platforms that he's run and won on. He's fought for anti-abortion reform and legislation that even I felt went too far, and then he goes and forces a young woman that he was committing adultery with to have an abortion against her will? This cannot stand, Levi. He can't get away with this."

Adam sniffs and wipes at his nose with his wrist before straightening his spine. "I don't know how to feel about us, and what you did to get close to me. I feel… used. And I don’t know if I can ever forget how much this hurts. I thought… God, I’m so stupid.” Another sniff, and a deep breath. My eyes are closed, listening to his words but unable to watch the way he can't even look at me. "But I also understand why you did it. And I think that maybe the outcome, getting justice for your sister and all the other people my father has wronged, justifies the means."

"Adam, I?—"

"I'm not ready to forgive you. As much as I understand, I'm not strong enough to let this go yet. But I want to help. What else can I do to help?"

It takes several moments to process what he's just said, and even longer to sputter out the words spinning around in my brain. "I—I don't know. This is a lot, though. A good start. Like you said, it should be enough to warrant at least an investigation. I know someone, from my computer forums, that works in Washington. He's an intern at the U.S. Attorney's Office. I already messaged him, and he says he can meet me. It's safer to do in person, so I?—"

"I want to go with you."

My eyebrows shoot to my hairline.

"It's a six-hour drive, and we'll have to stay overnight." Or longer, depending on whether it would be safe to return.

As much as I'm dying to keep him close, to find a way to make things right between us, I don't want him to risk anything or be uncomfortable.

"That's okay. I don't really have anywhere else to be right now. I can't stay here."

I nod, understanding what he means. "Okay. Um, pack a bag and then we'll need to stop by my place real quick so I can do the same."

He jogs out of the storage room, and I follow behind slowly, walking like I'm in a trance. This doesn't feel real.

"You want me to leave the pot?"

I jerk my head up to look at the older woman in a blue apron, my blurry eyes focusing on her nametag. Sal.

"Um, yes, please. Thanks, Sal."

"Long night?" she asks as she tops off my coffee cup.

"You have no idea."

Chuckling, she sets an insulated pot down on the table and says she'll be back around to check on our table when my guest arrives.

Adam is waiting in the car, sipping on his own to-go coffee and waiting for me to do the exchange. We left his truck parked at the church, where we used the office to make copies of everything we have, and took my car since it gets better gas mileage. It will also be harder to track us down if Senator Havre gets suspicious about Adam's absence, but Adam doesn't expect they'll notice him gone until Wednesday night church services. And by then, the deed will be done. Hopefully, an investigation will be underway. It's probably too much to hope for an arrest by then.

A tall, thin black guy with wire-framed glasses and a mess of curly black hair emerges next to the booth.

"Levi?"

"In the flesh," I say, grinning.

Standing, I ignore his offered hand to shake and pull him in for a hug. I've known Freddie for the better part of ten years, but only online. We met playing an online role-playing game when we were middle schoolers and became fast friends eventhough we've never talked face to face. We've texted, chatted, and thrown conspiracy theories back and forth in our favorite forums nearly every day, and know more about each other's lives than any of our in real life friends do. It's an unusual friendship, for sure. But I trust him, and he has the right connections.

"Wow. So, you are a real person."

I laugh out loud. "I'm going to need to get a selfie so I can show my mom proof that you aren't some old pervert living in his mother's basement."

"I keep telling you I’m not old!”

We banter back and forth until Sal comes to take our orders. I order two club sandwiches and three pieces of pie to go. Freddie just orders a coffee to go since he has to get to the office early enough to talk to his boss. Once Sal walks away, I give Freddie a meaningful look.

"Thank you for meeting me and helping. I have a lot of stuff, but I'm not sure how much of it means anything. I think there's at least enough here to open an investigation, even outside of the evidence regarding my sister."

Freddie knows what happened to my sister, so I told him what I found. After I assured him I didn't touch anything with my bare hands, he told me to put everything back where I found it and take several photos. Once he shows his boss and gets advice from someone higher up, they're going to contact someone that isn't likely to be in Senator Havre's pocket to report the crime to.

Freddie pulls the box over next to him and peeks inside. He whistles. "You're right, there's a lot."

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