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

campaign launch! She can’t just lay low, that will destroy the campaign!”

“I’d suggest you postpone the launch party,” Agent Hart replied. “We’re just not sure what this person is capable of and we’re trying to protect this family.”

“Protect?” Jane yelled. “Postponing the event would be death for Madeline! Can you imagine what people would say? Everyone already knows about the event. If we cancel, people will say all sorts of things about Madeline! That she’s flaky, not ready for reelection, she’s unstable! It would destroy her career!”

Agent Hart shrugged. “My job is to keep this family safe.”

“No, Detective,” Madeline cut in. “Your job is to figure out who is blackmailing me and to stop this from getting out. If my career is ruined, then you didn’t do your job.”

“Ma’am, we’re doing everything we can,” Agent Hart gave a nod and excused himself. He promised to update with any new information from forensics, the department that was already examining the new picture and tape. After Brandon and Madeline had listened to it in their kitchen, they called the FBI agents. Brandon was reluctant to hand over the new evidence. It was just too intimate, too revealing. Calling it evidence made it seem mechanical, like it wasn’t exposing a piece of Madeline or their marriage.

“What should we do about the reelection campaign launch event?” Jane asked Madeline. “Everything is booked and we’ve already been getting RSVPs. Cancelling would look really bad.”

“Don’t cancel yet,” Madeline responded. She still had hopes that this would be resolved in time. That she would be able to launch her reelection without traipsing through the mud on her way to the podium.

“Maybe we need to step back on the SAVER Bill,” Jane said. “Tone down the rhetoric. Let’s pursue other things for now?”

Madeline gave a reluctant nod. The SAVER Bill was what made voters like her. People liked her ideas, they would stand behind her come election day because of her principles. But the people in power didn’t like her principles as much. Maybe it was possible she had to step back if she even wanted to give the people a chance to vote for her on Election Day.

“Let’s try to be less controversial for the next few weeks,” Madeline responded. Jane agreed and left the hotel suite, where Brandon was just getting off the phone.

“Ordered you a Caesar Salad,” he said to Madeline.

“Aren’t you going to work today?” Madeline asked. Brandon hadn’t taken a day off work in months. He rarely did, only for very special occasions like when Madeline was sworn in after her first Senate seat win. Or for Career Day at the boys’ school.

He shook his head. “I think I’m with Noah today. VACATION!” He yelled trying to make this as fun as possible for the kids. They agreed not to tell the boys the real reason for their hotel stay. The boys believed their house was being fumigated for termites and that they were just taking a nice vacation in the meantime. Noah had stopped jumping on the couch and was already flipping through channels on the large TV in the suite’s living room. Adam was busy exploring the bedrooms of the suite, “Noah and I have to share?” he squealed with excitement as his older brother rolled his eyes.

Madeline walked to the kitchen where a coffee maker sat next to a bag of grinds. She began making coffee just as Brandon came up behind her and squeezed her shoulders. “It’s going to be all right,” he said quietly.

“I think we should pay,” Madeline responded in a whisper.

“What? Madeline! How could you say that?”

“This can’t get out.”

“What is going on? Why can’t you just tell me?”

Madeline shook her head. Brandon didn’t understand. There was no fighting it if it came out. Her name would forever be associated with scandal, betrayal, nudity. She could never advance in politics. Whoever was vetting her for vice president would immediately drop her name from the running. If she ever wanted to advance to the White House, her opponents would constantly bring this up, no matter how hard she tried to focus the conversation on policy. “It’s too risky,” Madeline responded.

“How could you, of all people, say that?” Brandon asked. Their discussion in the kitchen was becoming heated, enough so that the boys were starting to glance over from the suite’s living room. “Is this coming from Jane? Is she pressuring you to pay?”

“Not at all,” Madeline responded. “I’m just worried about what would happen if this gets in the news. Think about the boys. Do you want them to see me naked online? Do you want their friends making fun of their mother to their faces? And what will I do? What if I have to resign?”

“Because of stupid rumors? Because of lies!? That’s absurd.” Brandon’s voice became louder and Madeline flashed her eyes to the living room, where the boys were pretending to watch TV.

“It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened,” Madeline replied, hushing her tone. “Lots of people’s careers are ruined by lies.”

Brandon shook his head violently back and forth. “I don’t understand you, Madeline. As a politician, you are so strict on your values. You never vote for something you don’t believe in. You always speak up about what you think is right. That’s why people love you. Because you’re genuine and you have principles that you cannot be convinced to break, no matter what. But now, it’s like you’re ready to give up your principles because you’re afraid of not being reelected. It’s so unlike you, I don’t get it.”

“It’s not unlike me.” Madeline grabbed Brandon’s hand. “Listen, to continue fighting for my principles, I can’t let this explode. No matter what.”

Brandon again started violently shaking his head, just as the doorbell rang. Noah and Adam both immediately jumped from the couch.

“Don’t answer it!” Brandon