Marigold by Heather Manheim (best books for 8th graders .TXT) 📕

you could assassinate the President? I’ve already alerted him to the fact I think there is a security breach. But I’ve protected you, for now. I didn’t divulge details, and I let you meet your mom. That was a charming reunion, by the way,” he added sarcastically. “I’ve also protected Ringo and Audrey and everybody at the bunker. Even Namaguchi, Duffy, and Hernandez are safe. I don’t have time for petty quarrels. But, if you don’t do as I wish, I’ll turn you all in. Even Josie was foolish enough to explain to me exactly how she snuck into the country and made her way down. All of it! The secret stops, Teeterville, everything!”

“Well, what do you want?”

“What does anyone want? Power, or to take power away. It’s the tale for both of us. You want to take power away from Everett. I simply want more power. I don’t need to be the top dog, so to speak, but I’m not content being a glorified Security Guard anymore either—”

“How does that fit into anything?”

“Uh uh…rude to interrupt. Weren’t you taught any manners?” It was as if a dam broke, and he was channeling all the power he had seen used around him, but he had yet to use it himself. It had been out of his grasp until this moment.

Brookshire paused; he was enjoying this moment of power that he so clearly desired. Davis had no idea he was so capable of being so cruel. So deceitful. It seemed so unlike him. Davis felt this person was far away from who she knew as a child and got to know again as an adult. She wondered if Ringo or anybody else had any clue. She doubted they would. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent her on a fool’s errand. She didn’t have much time to think. Davis stammered, “I just don’t get it. You’re nice, and you were always so kind. What happened?”

“Was I? Or did I just fit the perception of what a good mate would be? I am handsome, I must say.” Brookshire chuckled after this egocentric comment. “I was nice to you and found you attractive. I couldn’t help that you were ‘off-limits.’ That’s one reason I wanted to increase my power. I should have been able to make you mine, but I was unable to.”

“Where did you even get your hands on the vial? You went into the room, got into my private things?”

“You should be careful where you leave things, especially when there are ways to get to your things. You should know, I mean, how did you work your way to Ruby’s room? So, beware of leaving your things lying around in the future. Anyhow, when you went to the zoo and the other ladies were preparing to get ready for dinner, it was easy to get the venom out of your knapsack. Even if I got caught, well, I’m security, easily dismissed. I’m untouchable, darling.”

Davis felt queasy. She found the whole thing unbelievable, but she had no time to think things through or respond before Brookshire continued with his tirade.

“Have you ever heard the saying ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’?” Davis nodded with hesitation and fear. “Well, what it leaves out is that for that power to corrupt correctly and thoroughly, it also needs absolute cooperation from the helpers of the person in power. Do you follow?” Brookshire did not wait for her to answer before continuing. “Yes, President Everett controls by keeping people in the Pods, having you all dress the same, and of course, the brain control drug in the Marigold Injection. Do you think he can do that all alone? There are plenty of people, like myself, who are immune to the brain control drug, yet, we crave power for ourselves, too. So, we cooperate. There are other people, like Duffy, who have chosen not to cooperate. But their voice is much smaller and quieter. That’s why I’d rather just leave them alone but use you to get what I want.”

Davis stammered, “I thought you cared for me, the others too. I still don’t understand.”

“Oh, Davis.” He held his hand to his head as if just talking to her was exasperating. “I have absolutely nothing against you or the others. It’s more about what is in it for me. So far, I have simply told President Everett I have uncovered some information you may not be as truthful as you seem. That there may be a plot implemented by the group that kidnapped you. If you agree to do as I say, then you, your mom, the bunker, it will all be safe. I’ll say you got coerced, that you didn’t want to participate in any of this, but they were trying to force you. You came to me for help, which is how I started to uncover the plot. They found out about Ruby being here, and they threatened that they would harm her. As I think of it more, Namaguchi may have to go down. I need an inside man to pin it all on.”

Davis could not believe how cavalier Brookshire’s attitude was about everything. “Well, what do you want me to do? What is to be my part?”

“Glad you asked. After I clear you, you marry President Everett. Act like the good, obedient wife he expects. You’ll have a safe yet possibly mundane life here. But you’ll be with your mom, and you’ll make friends with the other wives. I guarantee it. You and I can even have a relationship on the side. It may be hard to believe right this second, but I do care for you. I just have my priorities, and becoming more successful trumps my relationship with you. President Everett will promote me to a high position in his cabinet since I not only broke up the plot but saved him and you. It also saves face for him. Because as I said, you participate, this gets minimized. He won’t have an idea of how