Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
‘The body of senator Powell’s daughter was found in her apartment this morning from a drug overdose. Officials suspect no foul play as there was a suicide note found next to the deceased that is now making its rounds on all social media networks. According to the note, the senator’s public image is one completely removed from the reality behind the scenes.’
‘The senator is expected to make a public announcement later today, and it’s speculated that he will be forwarding his resignation effective immediately. No word yet on what led up to these events, but there has been speculation that Miss. Powell took her life due to discord in the family that had been ongoing for some time.’
‘The senator’s aide could not be reached for further comment, and as of this airing, his PR firm has cut all ties as well as his backers for the upcoming election. Senator Powell was a shoo-in for the presidency in the upcoming race, beating out his opponents by more than twenty percent in the popularity polls. This is Rachel Stevens with WSMD radio. Paul!’
‘Thank you, Rachel. For those listening, this just came in. The senator’s wife, one of the capital’s top lobbyists for the past ten years, has also been asked to resign. No word yet on when that’s going to happen.’
‘I expect this thing will have a huge fallout reverberating around D.C.’
‘You’re right, Rachel; as we speak, the senator’s backers and supporters are already clamoring to jump ship. We’re not certain of what exactly was written in that note the Miss. Powell left, just the few lines that hadn’t been blacked out, but it must be more than we know as of now.’
‘I suspect you may be right in that, Paul. I guess we’ll see what pans out as the day goes on.’ I turned down the radio, and we both looked at each other in shock. “Oh, dear.” That’s all she said before turning to look out the windshield with her brow puckered and her lip caught between her teeth.
Neither of us spoke for our own reasons as I headed to campus feeling more than a little bit uneasy. I was hoping, though, that she’d bought that bullshit because I wasn’t looking forward to answering questions about why I was in Susie’s apartment the night before.
I tried piecing together what could’ve happened after I left, and that news story didn’t add up. In the back of my mind, I think I already knew the answer to the questions that were running through my head but was deliberately not letting my mind go there.
“Did Susie strike you as the suicidal type? Murderess, sure, but suicide? I don’t buy it.” She finally spoke when we pulled into the campus parking lot.
“I didn’t know her well enough to say. I know she was batshit crazy, so who knows what the hell she’d do.”
She didn’t look convinced, and the crease in her brow got deeper. “Cody, do you think Susie had anything to do with Jeff coming to our place last night?”
“What makes you ask that? Did those two even know each other?” My tongue burned with the evasive lie, but I’d be damned if I was going to share my suspicions with her, or worst yet, tell her Jeff’s true purpose for being there.
Right now, she thinks he was just drunk and acting a fool because all she heard through the door and the fear that held her enthralled were his ramblings that made no sense and added up, at least in her mind, to an over-enthusiastic suitor who didn’t know how to take no for an answer.
I was still trying to put out the flame of suspicion as I walked her to her first class but left her knowing that we were both probably thinking the same thing. This whole thing has her family written all over it. I should be scared, I guess, but when I think about it, someone else had done what I wish I could’ve done.
Susie, from her own words, would not have stopped; she would have been a pain in my ass and Lisa’s for as long as she drew breath. Do I feel bad about her demise? No, not even a little bit. But I would like to know how her family knew I was going there and what happened leading up to it. If what I’m thinking is correct, then they’re way scarier than she knows.
LISA
It’s all anyone could talk about, Susie’s death. It seemed surreal to me that we were even discussing such a thing. I’m not sure how or what to feel or think because it’s so sudden that I’m having a hard time processing it. Add that niggling feeling that kept pulling at me, and I couldn’t concentrate on any of my classes.
I made it till lunch before I made the first phone call. Grandma Astor is the weakest link in the family chain on account of her mercurial moods and hippie ideals, as Grandpa calls it, so she’s the first one I called. She seemed as surprised as I was at the news and had more questions than I did.