Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
First, Montrose Westbrook would join him and gin up the crowd’s emotions with a mournful tribute to Brent and his life, cut short by a tragic “car accident.” Then he would tell the crowd that their benevolent senator had chosen to honor his late nephew by introducing legislation to install smart devices in every car, beginning in five years, which would prevent anyone inebriated from starting a motor vehicle. It would also shut down the engine if a driver drove too recklessly or erratically.
While that sounded helpful, what they weren’t telling anyone was that the government’s three-letter security agencies would be collecting private citizens’ data, openly sharing it, and tracking every person’s move in the name of “safety.” Madison had scarcely believed them when she’d overheard this creepy AF plan at the most recent family dinner. Winston and Montrose had crowed about the money they would make from mining and selling this trove of data.
Once Montrose had roused this afternoon’s crowd and established Winston as the hero who could only make the vehicular deaths victims’ wrongs right if he was reelected, his wife, Genie, would introduce Todd and Madison as an example of the hope for the future. Madison had been stunned when the grieving woman had volunteered for the role. Then again, she’d played an integral part in creating the intro video that would play before she and Todd announced her ‘pregnancy,’ which included pictures from their courtship, wedding, and other events since—all staged to make them look deliriously in love. Worse, Agatha had patted herself on the back for obtaining a recording of a random baby’s heartbeat and the corresponding ultrasound images as a visceral way of introducing voters to the next generation of the Pershing clan.
If Agatha only knew that Madison had secreted away the real thing at her last obstetrical visit…
Proof of her baby growing had brought tears of joy to her eyes…and tears of despair that Matt hadn’t been beside her to share the experience. But he’d made his choice. Or he’d seemed to. Nope, she wasn’t climbing on that mental treadmill again.
But she had to wonder…if Matt was gone and not coming back, why had Ethan said otherwise? Why were his colleagues and bosses here?
Applause brought Madison back to the moment. Montrose took the stage and clapped Winston on the back like they were the best of friends and the closest of family. Like his son wasn’t dead because the senator’s grandson had taken a knife to his throat and almost severed his head from his body.
God, the things people would do for money…
The pair droned on about their mutual admiration—and their upcoming legislative endeavor, which had growing bipartisan support in the House. Probably because there would be profit-sharing among everyone cowardly enough to give this horrible legislation a yes vote. And since the president had once been Winston’s buddy in both the country club and the strip club, he wouldn’t veto it. Madison hated being so cynical, but she’d witnessed how the system operated in the past two years. The reality made her sick.
After their spiel, Genie, in a stunning black pantsuit, took the stage. “Welcome, everyone. It’s so great to have you here with us. I’ve waited and prayed for this day. If you follow our family, it’s no secret how much I’ve grieved my son, Brent. It’s also no secret that I’m extraordinarily fond of the senator’s granddaughter-in-law.”
When Genie flashed the first genuine smile she’d seen from the woman in months, Madison curled her lips up in a flash-frozen expression for the crowd. Did Genie realize she’d forgotten to mention Todd? She seemed awfully nervous, so maybe it had been a verbal slip or oversight, one the family wouldn’t easily forget or forgive…
Beside Madison, her husband scowled at her deviance from the teleprompter. Mentally, Madison celebrated. It was a petty victory, but one of the few she’d had lately. She would take it.
“The senator’s grandson is a man I’ve regarded as a second son since the day he was born. He was my son’s dearest friend. He and Brent played youth baseball together. They ate my spaghetti together. Todd slept under my roof more times than I can count. My husband and I even took him to Disney World with my son just after fourth grade. Great trip. I truly enjoyed Todd as a child.” She smiled and paced the stage. “Of course, the boys grew into teenagers, and they were a mischievous handful. They got into their fair share of trouble together. That’s for sure.”
The crowd laughed, and Genie rolled on with her speech—none of which resembled her scripted remarks.
Where was she going with this?
When Winston scowled, Montrose approached his wife to take the mic from her. Before she even considered the ramifications, Madison stood and slung a protective arm around Genie, sending Montrose a smile full of teeth.