Midnight by Anna Dove (books for new readers .TXT) 📕

and hot breath. The sun beat down mercilessly, and the sweltering heat rose up from the bodies in a choking cloud. Jack was nowhere to be seen—she needed to get higher, so that she could see over the crowds. She might be able to spot him then, as he was a head and shoulders above the rest. Moving laboriously towards the Lincoln Memorial, she finally arrived at the steps. If she could only climb a few—then she would be able to see. She was at the base now, just to the left of the steps, near the enclave that led to the miniature Lincoln museum.

                A hand from behind clapped over her mouth, and an arm grabbed hers from the other side. She tried to spin, but the grip tightened. Her body froze and her mind began to race.

                “Haley—stop, it’s me, James Landon. Don’t talk. Trust me. I’m on your side. Walk into the museum. Don’t look behind you.”

                 The male voice was familiar—the gala, the secret room. His grip tightened and then he let go completely. Her first instinct was to turn, and then she thought she might run—and then, she set her face forward and walked into the little museum. She felt the blood pounding in her temples. It was dark inside, the sunlight only illuminating a few feet into the interior before fading into the blackness.

              Entering, she pressed herself to the wall and turned. Landon stepped towards her, and motioned for her to continue in. She stepped two more feet and then stopped.

              “No further,” she hissed. “I’ve met you once. I’m only trusting you right now because of the Senator. I don’t know you. I have a knife in my pocket and over the past few months I’ve learned not to be afraid to use it. Tell me what you want.”

             Landon leaned against the wall to her left, facing her. He had relaxed slightly; he was tall, and his face was barely visible in the dim light. He took a deep breath.

             “You can chill,” he said.

             Haley raised her eyebrows. “I can chill? You grab my arm and force me into a dark corner and then tell me I can chill? What the hell?”

              “I didn’t want to make it look like you were associated with me.”

               Haley was quiet for a moment, and she could hear the chants and shouts outside.

               “Why not?” She responded in a more moderate tone.

               “Soon I won’t exactly be in the First Lady’s good favor. I don’t know what she will try to do to me. It’s better if you are not seen right now as someone in corroboration with me.”

               She could see him look behind them at the entrance and then peer into the darkness over her shoulder. He took a small step closer to her.

               “McCraiben is running against her,” he said in a low tone. “He is convinced that the First Lady is somehow responsible for the attack. We were down in the bunker with them--and he began to notice little things about her--the way she acted around Reed, the little glances and whisperings. When she announced, he felt even more strongly that it was her. He wants you to be his aide, to work with him. You don’t have to say yes—you wouldn’t be in the public eye until much later—for now he just wants to talk to you, and use you to help him figure out a way to expose her. All in secret of course, and then if he becomes President you will work with him in public then, once you have the safety of guards. He’s asked myself as well. It’s pathetic how small the group of people is that anyone can trust right now—so far, it’s only us.”

                 Haley felt a sudden rush of relief. The Senator was alive! And not only alive, but ready to believe the truth. She could tell him—they could join ranks. Then, a flash of doubt.

                  “Why do you trust me? And how did you find me?”

                  “I trust you because the Senator trusts you. And I wasn’t looking for you—I just saw you in the crowd. The Senator told me to keep an eye out in case I ever saw you. Couldn’t believe my luck. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

                  “And that’s enough for you? You trust me because of him?”

                  “Yes. I was there, Haley, with him, for the last few months while it all happened. He’s the only one I trust, but he trusts you too, and so I have to.”

                 “And how can I trust you?”

                 “Because the Senator does.”

                 Haley paused, and looked at the outline of his face against the dim light entering from outside.

                 “I want to talk to him; if I can see him, I can tell you both the whole story.”

                 Landon took another breath and held it for a moment before exhaling. “Of course,” he said quietly, nodding. “Come to McCraiben’s house. Come tomorrow.”

                “I will.”

                With no further comment, Landon turned and stepped into the sunlight, and then disappeared around the corner towards the chanting throng.

22.  The Senator’s House

 

“Without knowing what I am and why I am here, life is impossible.”

- Leo Tolstoy

 

           The Senator’s house was in NE D.C., stretching tall between two other ornate row houses. Their bricks dated back to 1922, and although the plumbing and wiring had been replaced on multiple occasions, many of the original fixtures were the same, including the sprawling claw footed bathtub, several small chandeliers, ornate oak furniture and a great wooden chest.

            Haley arrived at four in the afternoon. She raised her hand, paused, and then knocked softly.

            She heard faint footsteps approaching, then a pause, and then the bolt slid from within and the brass doorknob turned. The door