The Divide by J. L. Brown

Author:J. L. Brown [Brown, J. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J. L. Brown
Published: 2020-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifty

The White House, Washington, DC

A knock. Sasha popped her head in, her hand remaining on the open door.

“You need to listen to something,” she said.

She traversed the Oval Office and entered Whitney’s study, not asking for permission nor waiting for Whitney to follow her. Whitney frowned at the unusual lack of protocol but followed her chief of staff just the same.

Sasha turned on the radio.

“It’s always been a dream of mine,” said a voice through the radio’s speakers.

Whitney tensed.

“Why did it take you so long to run?” asked the talk-show host for Patriot News, his tone more subdued than usual. It was one of Cole Brennan’s first broadcasts since his son’s death.

“Life had other plans for me, I guess.”

She envisioned the shrug and the boyish grin of Cole’s guest. A grin she knew well.

“My daddy sold cars,” the guest continued, “and I was expected to follow in his footsteps.”

“I read about that in the Washington Times,” Cole said. “The only legitimate paper in Washington, by the way. Then what happened?”

“I realized I wanted more out of life.”

“You were a state legislator in Missouri,” said Cole. “What made you run for Congress?”

“When I learned that Steven Barrett’s death wasn’t an accident,” said the voice, tinged with anger, “and that the FBI covered it up, I had to do something. Congressman Barrett was a Missouri son. Born and raised. He represented our district and state faithfully for many years, and he deserved better than the investigation the federal government conducted for him.”

“Those are strong accusations, my friend,” Cole said. “Any proof?”

“Not yet, but I’ll get it. How the FBI handled his murder was a travesty of justice and an injustice for the congressman’s family. I won’t rest until they receive the justice they deserve.”

“Don’t you find it ironic,” Cole said, “that you and our president both come from the same district and were elected to the House because of a special election?”

A pause. Whitney held her breath, wondering if the guest would disclose their shared history.

“Her opportunity arose because of the suspicious death of Congressman Barrett,” the guest responded. “I was elected after the governor appointed the congressman serving at the time to the president’s vacant seat in the Senate. There’s a difference.”

“Are you implying,” Cole said, his voice rising incredulously, “that the president of the United States was involved in Barrett’s death?”

Another pause. “I didn’t say that.”

Sure you didn’t.

“I know something about insinuation,” Cole said, “and that sure sounded like it to me.”

“All I’m saying is that it’s a curious coincidence.”

“If you say so. What are your plans now that you’re in Congress?”

“There’s plenty we need to do to take the country back, Cole. Decrease regulations, reduce the deficit, and create manufacturing jobs, to name a few.”

“Couldn’t agree more. Well, that’s all the time we have today. Before I go, I want to thank all of you for your phone calls, letters, and emails about my son CJ. They mean a lot to Ashley and me. Now, I’m going to say something else some of you don’t want to hear, but you need to.

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