Page 67 of Presidential Bargain
I sucked in a sharp breath. “Yes. He was the one who assaulted me a few months back. At afundraiser.”
The agent furrowed his brow and scribbled furiously in his notebook. “His real name is Russell Hunt and, Senator, I’m guessing that based on your expression, youknewthat.”
Jameson nodded. Why didn’t he tell me he knew Russell Atlee’s identity? I would ask later, when my headcleared.
“Ms. Washington, did you see Mr. Hunt at the event today? Before the gunmen entered thelibrary?”
I closed my eyes and pictured the scene, remembering what happened the moment we heardgunshots.
I was reading one of my favorite books to the children who attended, a silly book full of nonsense words with absolutely no pictures. When the thunderouspop-pop-popof gunshots came from the hall. The children screamed and they started to scatter. I helped the teachers and principal gather them into a tightcorner.
“Stay together and remain quiet,” I told them as calmly as possible. I rushed back toward the community leaders who were trying to barricade the door. I knew I was taking a risk by helping them, but all I could think about was the group of children huddled together in the corner. They didn’t deserve any of this. They were soinnocent.
Our efforts to barricade the door didn’t make a difference. The gunmen fired round after round into the library doors until they managed to force their way inside. A bullet hit me, knocking me back with an unexpected force. I collided with a bookcase, sending books tumbling on topofme.
A man, with his face covered by a black mask, approached me, stepping over the remnants of a table. His brown eyes looked familiar, but I didn’t have any time to try and place him. He reached back, his gun firmly in his grip, and struck me with the end. The last thing I remember before totally losing consciousness was him muttering, “I told youhe’dpay.”
“I’m sorry,Agent Abernathy, butI was unconscious most of the time. I don’t remember much,” Georgie answeredhonestly.
I could see her lower lip trembling, and her fingers were knotted tightly together in her lap. She was struggling to remember. I leaned over and kissed hertemple.
“Relax, little darling. It’s okay,” Ireassuredher.
I looked back at Agent Abernathy, who made a few notes before looking back up, scrutinizingusboth.
“Agent, you’re right. I do know that Russell Atlee was just an alias for Russell Hunt. I know quite a bit about him. Why are you so interestedinhim?”
“He was one of thegunmen.”
I felt the anger boil to life inside me. Russell Hunt was a mysterious son of a bitch, and I had my team working overtime to get every ounce of dirt on him because I wanted to bury him. Instead, he managed to get to my girl once again. Right under my nose, he brazenly stormed her event and hurt her. I backed away from Georgie because I was on the verge oflosingit.
“Jameson.” Georgie’s voice was pained and I turned back, teetering on the edge, to find her reaching out for me. Her expression said everything. She was confused but also distressed. My rage calmed to a simmer as I rushed back to her and collapsed at her side, holding tightly to heroutstretchedhand.
“I failed you, Georgie. I let him hurt you again. This is all my fault.” Hot tears scalded my cheeks. I reached up and cupped Georgie’s cheek. “I’m so sorry, darling. So fucking sorry that I let him gettoyou.”
“Jameson, none of this is yourfault.”
Georgie struggled to lean over, but I stood because I didn’t want her to cause further injury to her arm. I leaned over her and our lips collided in a salty kiss. I whispered apologies across her lips and she simply shook her head, refusing toacceptthem.
Agent Abernathy cleared his throat, interrupting us. We broke apart and I glanced in hisdirection.
“Contact my campaign manager, Sean Wallace. He’ll give you everything we know aboutRussellHunt.”
“Thank you, Senator.” Agent Abernathy nodded in our direction and then lefttheroom.
Georgie gazed up at me and I knew she hadquestions.
“Scoot over,” I said, lifting the thin blanket and sheet that covered her. I crawled in next to her and, on the edge of the hospital bed, confessed everythingIknew.
Georgie wasn’t released from thehospital for a few more days. We stayed together in that tiny room and watched the entire presidential election implode. The term ‘unprecedented’ was used so much that I wanted to send every television news anchor athesaurus.
Yes, what was happening wasunprecedented.
Once Russell Hunt was identified as one of the gunmen, every ugly truth about him leaked, including his identity, not only as Georgie’s attacker, but also as the son of Governor Lamar Huntley. My crack team of forensic accountants had been following the money trail for weeks, and it led directly back to the governor. The governor had been keeping Russell Hunt’s trust fund quitehealthy.
“Did you know about all of this?” Georgie asked. She was glued to all of the major news networks, and I tried very hard to persuade her to turn her attention elsewhere. Itdidn’twork.
I sat up, after having my face buried between her thighs for the better part of twenty minutes. Never in my life had this ever happened. Exasperated, I sighed and wiped a hand across my mouth. I loved the taste of her on my lips. “Yes, I knew about themoney.”
