Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Okay.” I pause. “So what’s the news conference for?”
He grimaces. “Nothing good.”
“Vague yet scary. Perfect. Totally par for the course.” I do roll my eyes this time and continue to Juno’s door where I enter without knocking.
She stops mid-pace and turns to me, her charcoal-gray skirt suit tailored perfectly to her tall frame.
“Wow. Did you hire hair and makeup?” I stare at her smooth brown skin and the perfect contouring that’s taken ten years off her age.
“Yes.” She points to the bench at the foot of her bed. “Sit. We need to talk.”
“You realize what’s left of the state press is currently crammed downstairs, right?” I grin. “Maybe they’ll turn on each other and start a brawl.”
“It’s not just state press this time. They can wait.” She resumes pacing, her impeccable heels clicking as she walks. I glance down at my jeans and somewhat worn button-up shirt, then remind myself that I’m not the one on camera. Even so, I run a hand over my light brown hair and try to smooth down the errant waves. I have these irritating little tufts of hair at my ears that never lay flat no matter what I do to them.
“Spill, sis.” I give up and force my hands to stay still in my lap. “I’m assuming this has to do with the election.”
“One month left.” She nods and stops pacing again. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but President Gray has left me no choice.” She walks to me and sits down carefully, no sense wrinkling her suit, I suppose. “He’s not leaving office.”
I meet her eyes. “You think he’ll win? I thought—”
“No, he’s not going to win, Georgia, but even so, he doesn’t intend to leave.” She takes my hand in hers. Her fingers are cold, almost clammy, which is when I realize just how nervous she is. “He’s already spoken with his Joint Chiefs about overturning any election results and staying in the White House under a declaration of martial law.”
“That can’t be legal.”
“The person who determines what’s ‘legal’ is the one who commands the Army and the Navy. Right now, that’s Gray. He doesn’t want me anywhere near the White House.”
“So, what does that mean?” My mouth goes dry. “Do you think he’ll try to do something to you? Like, I don’t know, the way they used to do in Russia to their rivals? Or what happened to MLK.”
She cocks her head to the side. “Wait, you think MLK was—”
“—taken out by the government.” I nod. “Definitely.”
She seems to consider it.
“Forget that part.” I shake my head. “My question is: are you in danger?”
“Nothing like that, no.” She sucks a tooth. “Actually, I wouldn’t put it past President Gray. He’s shown himself to be a lot more devious than I’d imagined.”
“Shit.” I swallow hard. “Do we need to do something? To leave? You should go into hiding.”
“No.” She sits up a little straighter. “I don’t run. Never have.”
“It’s not ‘running’ if it’s actually just ‘surviving’.” I squeeze her hand.
“I have a plan.” She almost smiles. “One that’s going to shock the world. You included. I’m going to win in a landslide.”
“That confident?” I peer into her eyes and try to figure out where this is going. As usual, she gives nothing away. She’s bulletproof, made to lead. Her only tell right now is the swampy state of her hands. “Can you pre-shock me with your big plan now? I don’t want to be the last to know.”
“I know you’re fed up with the secrecy.” She sighs. “I don’t blame you one bit. I’ve been meaning to tell you more. Everything’s just been so crazy, and I honestly didn’t know how you’d take it. It’s … it’s a little hard to believe. I didn’t believe it at first.”
“That bad, huh?” I don’t like the sound of this.
She shakes her head the slightest bit. “Remember when I told you I needed a platform to win this thing?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “You’ve been saying more rations, more meds, more help for people suffering with terminal cases of the plague.”
One of her eyebrows ticks up a bit. “You’ve been paying attention.”
I shrug. “I hear things when slinking along the hallways and stealing scientific gear.”
“Yes, those things are definitely needed. That’s a strong platform, but not a ‘landslide’ platform.”
“Okay, so hit me with the big idea. Is it free everything? That would be great. I mean, I don’t know how that would work, but if everyone could just survive together instead of the government trying to make things the way they used to be and pretending people care about interest rates and car emissions or …”
Her withering look stops me cold.
“Just an idea.” I shrug. “Sheesh.”
She clears her throat, more unexpected nerves. “If I’m elected president, I can guarantee my administration will find a cure for the plague.”