The Longer The Fall by Aviva Gat (best new books to read txt) 📗

passed through the post office. All the different mail handlers touching it during sorting, it isn’t worth it for us to follow that unless we believe that someone at the post office is the perpetrator and I don’t think that is the case.”

“Regarding the picture, based on the angle it appears to be taken from the security footage from the convenience store across the street’s security camera,” Agent Murray offered. “The footage from that time period is gone, but we spoke with the store’s owners and employees and none of them seemed to even know who you are.”

“Don’t you have any other ideas? You’re the FBI, this is supposed to be your expertise right? Political blackmail?” Brandon’s voice sounded strained and angry.

“We are following our protocol and I am sure something will come up,” Agent Jones said. “We’re still conducting interviews with all of Madeline’s past competitors and their staff members, as well as anyone rumored to be running against her in the next election. We’re also looking at other political adversaries that Ms. Randall mentioned.” Agent Jones nodded toward Jane who was also sitting at the table, typing on her phone.

“I gave them a long list,” Jane responded, without looking up from her phone. “From Senator Coldwall, who has already come out against the SAVER Bill to Senator Hill, who you accidentally wore the same outfit as during that photo op at the UN a few months back. Senator Hill does seem like the kind to hold a grudge for something silly.”

“So if you’re interviewing everyone who disagrees with me politically and all their staff members, that, well, that’s a long list of interviewees,” Madeline said after holding her tongue while Brandon interrogated the agents. “Let’s say you conduct ten interviews a day, and that’s generous, right?” The agents looked to one another, nodding their heads in agreement. “Alright, seven a day, it will take you months.”

“Well we’re starting with people who are more likely to have a motive to hurt your political career,” Agent Jones reasoned. “Senator Hill and her staff are very low priority. We’re focusing on potential opponents. People who could be hurt by your success, or have something to gain from you losing office or political clout.”

There were many who didn’t want to see Madeline succeed. Democrats who wanted her seat back on their side. Republicans who called her a liberal, like it was a dirty word. Senators who had wide support from police unions and were receiving flack now that her SAVER Bill was being talked about on every news program.

“What do we do if you don’t catch the person by my reelection campaign launch in a few weeks?” Madeline asked, trying to analyze the worst-case scenarios that were playing out in her head.

“Well, we expect to find the person by then,” Agent Murray stated. “However, if not, then we’ll have to see what happens. This could be an empty threat to get money. Especially since you have been faithful to your husband and therefore whatever proof this person may have is fake or doesn’t hold water. Like the picture from the Langham, it doesn’t prove anything. The second possible scenario is that they release something to the public. If this happens, it will actually be quite easy to track them since they will have to be in contact with someone to get ‘proof’ out there. Should this happen, we’ll be able to catch them easily.”

Catching them won’t be the issue then, Madeline thought to herself. At that point, it wouldn’t matter who was behind this. All that would matter was that everyone would be talking about this scandal. No one would remember Madeline as the champion of the SAVER Bill or the promising young senator who could make it to the top. Her name would be scarred forever by this smear campaign. If she were lucky, she wouldn’t have to resign. If she were lucky, she could maybe even get another term in the Senate. But that would be all. Her career would have peaked before she knew it and it would be downhill from there, with no possibility of climbing back up.

Madeline thanked the agents, saying she didn’t want to waste any more of their time while they had so much to do. After they left, Brandon kissed Madeline on the forehead and headed out for work, leaving Jane and Madeline sitting together in the kitchen.

“Shall we get going?” Jane asked, still typing on her phone. “We have a meeting with the Penhursts who are sponsoring the reelection campaign launch party. They wanted to have coffee this morning to talk about our vision for the event. Just ten minutes.”

Madeline nodded and followed Jane out the door. She had a great vision for the reelection campaign launch party. She wanted the party to focus on inclusivity and the New Republican Movement. She wanted to convince police chiefs to attend and show their support. She wanted to portray to everyone that a vote for her was a vote for taking America in a new direction. But she feared the event would go differently. Instead of lauding her for being a visionary, she would be chastised for ruining her family, for not upholding the family values that she so cherished, even if other mothers from her children’s school couldn’t see it. The wheels in her head were already turning, how she could get ahead of this, make sure the world was on her side even if she were under attack.

Chapter 9

Madeline sat in her local office waiting for the regional leader of the Fraternal Order of Police. Since she had announced the SAVER Bill, the police organization had been actively speaking out against her proposed policy. They said it wasted valuable police time, forcing officers to spend time volunteering instead of protecting citizens, and that the stations were already underfunded as it was; they didn’t need any