Page 47 of Special Agent Isabella

“At first, because I was filled with anger at the army’s treatment, or should I say lack of, I went along with the conspiracy bullshit flooding the various sites. I guess I felt justified.” He refused to meet her eyes. With his face full of regret, he mumbled, “My frustration at the state government’s lack of support made me an idiot, and I almost lost myself in the process. But talk is one thing. Action is another.”

Stacy winced. “Are you referring to the fact that they bombed my office building.”

“Yes. I don’t condone violence, not like that. They were lucky no one was killed.”

Stacy’s head shot up. “Maybe the frightful damage can be rebuilt, sure. But the fear the explosion evoked is another thing. We lost some good people. Many refused to return to work after the incident.”

“Can’t blame them. Yet you returned.”

“Of course. I’m the governor, elected by a majority. I have a duty.”

“Not to die, ma’am. That’s asking too much. Right now, there are those in cahoots who’re downright dangerous, making plans to hurt innocent people.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you.” His surprisingly blue eyes stared at her, not a sign of culpability in sight. “The word is to take you by force and torture you… some want you dead. I couldn’t sit by and do nuthin.”

“I still don’t understand how offensive chatter could grow into this danger? Did you go to the police?”

“Sure. They took my statement, and said they’d look into it, but their hands were tied because the people I pointed at hadn’t actuallydoneanything. According to the first amendment, we all have the right to free speech. If I could have named some of the top people, you know, the ones in charge of the threats, they would be interested. But I couldn’t. Folks at the top only used code names like Falcon and Ghost or group names like the Proud Boys. No one, including myself, has any idea who those people are.”

“But you knew when they intended to strike?”

“Yep. Tonight. You have a standing date with the mayor in the same Greek restaurant every Tuesday, right?”

“Yes… Perseus. We love their food.” Suddenly, images reeled through her imagination like a video. She saw herself arriving at seven precisely and being led to the same table they used each week… with Gloria, Mayor Hensley, waiting… or soon to arrive.

“You believe they had plans to attack me there?”

“I know they did. The discussions were about kidnapping you, taking you someplace where no one would find the body after they were done with their dirty work.”

“And you believed them?”

“Sure. They weren’t fooling around.”

“How did you organize taking me yourself so quickly?”

“Oh, I had those plans in place for some time. My mother used to work as a cleaner in the Capital. I had her old uniform and a wig she used before the cancer took her. Many times, I’d pick her up after her shift to save her from taking the bus so late. She’d let me in sometimes to show me around. The woman was proud to be working there.”

“You know, I believe you now. Why didn’t you trust me to believe you before you went to such extremes? I would have taken steps to protect myself.”

“I did reach out. You refused to see me.”

“No.”

“Yes. I went to the office and asked for a minute of your time. The guard at the gate said I had to go through regular channels, make an appointment with your secretary.”

“Why didn’t you explain… there wasn’t time for that? That you had information about my safety?”

“Oh, I did. But he looked right through me like I was just another pest voicing my opinion and turned me away. Then I saw the crowd all screaming such hatred and vile stuff, I saw his point. He had no way of knowing I was different from any of them.”

Stacy shook her head, her face ashen from his words. “It’s a sad world when we refuse to trust one of our veterans. My husband would have been devasted.”

Vinny nodded as if he agreed. Then he reached for a container on the table and began forming a cigarette using strange-looking tobacco.

“Is that marijuana?”

“Yes. I’m sorry if the stink bothers you but it’s medicine for my back and leg. Truthfully, it’s the only relief I get for the pain if I overdo it. A few puffs, and I’ll be able to sleep.”

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