The Untethered by Southwick S. W

Author:Southwick, S. W. [Southwick, S. W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, thriller, Contemporary, Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy
Amazon: B01MTDVL99
Goodreads: 199180649
Publisher: Roble Arrow Publishing Ink
Published: 2017-02-01T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 34

Alexa Patra stood, hair pouring over her shoulders like liquid granite. Her onyx eyes focused on the snow-dusted, black robed judge. She spoke with reverence, repeating the oath of office on the capitol’s steps in Carson City, Nevada.

Preton Moore smiled as the crowd applauded, but recoiled when he saw Alexa’s eyes.

“Frightened?” she asked.

“Of…of what?” He shivered, moving away from her. Descending the stairs, he shook hands with everyone in his path, sucking in the congratulatory words like a man starving for reassurance.

Alexa approached a woman in a blue overcoat and said, “As your first assignment, please do not pay my salary or benefits during my term as lieutenant governor.”

The state treasurer stared at her. “I’ll need Governor Moore’s permission to do that.”

“No, you don’t need his permission.”

“Uhmm…” The treasurer scrunched her brows.

“I wish you success with your new job,” Alexa nodded at her, and turned away. Noting her parents in the crowd below, she strode down the steps past a group of eager reporters.

They peppered her with questions. “Ms. Patra, where were you during the campaign?” “Why did you resign from the CUH?” “Where have you been hiding?” “Where are you going now?”

Alexa glanced again at her parents, continued away from the steps, and turned down a side street. Stepping into a secluded parking lot, she stopped, her back turned to the capitol building. Snowflakes gathered like feathers on her hair as she waited.

“Honey!” Her mother scurried up from behind. “Didn’t you see us in the crowd?”

Alexa faced her. “Thank you for following me here. I wanted to speak to you and Dad alone.”

“We’ve been worried sick.” Thema hugged her. “I know you told us you’d be ‘out of sight for some time’ but we didn’t know what you meant—or that it included from us as well. It’s been almost a year. Why didn’t you return our calls? And we’re so sorry to have missed your election night celebrations in November. Your father had an important dinner scheduled with the Secretary of the United Nations that day. It was for the children; you understand.” She studied Alexa’s frame. “You look so thin. Have you been sick?”

“We’re so proud of you for taking public office, sweetheart,” Darius said, catching up with them, his dress shoes squishing into the slush. “But where have you been?”

“Mom, Dad,” she touched their gloved hands, “I’m sorry if you worried about me. That was never my intent.” Dropping her hands back to her sides, she added, “It means a lot to me that you attended my inauguration today. And don’t feel bad about missing my election night celebrations because I didn’t stay.”

“I can’t believe you sold your house and moved without telling us. Where are you living, princess? Do you have a new phone number?”

“I don’t expect you to understand, and I mean no disrespect, but it’s important to me not to say.”

“But why not tell us?” Thema asked. “You’ll be serving in a public office. Everyone will know.”

“If you’re not ill,” Darius interjected, “why

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