- Posting Speed
- Multiple posts per day
- Online Availability
- 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Writing Levels
- Prestige
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Primarily Prefer Female
- Genres
- Political intrigue, fantasy, futuristic, sci fi lite, superheroes, historical fiction, alternate universes. Smittings of romance, but only as side plot.
no-lightbox
"Lena... know you don't like all these trips, but the election isn't far off. It'll be over soon enough, and then whatever happens, we'll be able to settle down and rest for at least a few weeks."
The car splashed through another mud puddle and Elena watched as the grimy water plastered itself to the window. Specks of dirt and gravel drifted like melting snow down the pane of glass, leaving smears over top of smears... The car would need a wash after this. Touching a finger to the cool glass, Elena let her finger trail the smears, a soft sigh escaping her lips. It was the third city in as many days, and he was looking more and more tired as the days wore on. Beneath the horn-rimmed glasses, his eyes were clear sterling, but lately the whites were more accurately red, dark circles pooled above his cheekbones. He's lost weight, too... they both had.
"I worry about you is all, Daddy. You've been at this for so long now. You know I hate to see you stressed out. And it's only going to get worse when you win..."
"When?" Chuckling, he shook his head, "You've got a lot of faith in me... A lot more than CNN these days, anyway."
"That's because CNN doesn't know news from locker room gossip these days."
Gerard Gibbs laughed softly and reached across the car, placing a strong, sturdy hand on her shoulder, "You're too young to worry about me, sweetheart. You're twenty-one... you're supposed to be running off to wild parties and embarrassing me with the press. You aren't Supergirl, you know..."
She turned to face him and wrinkled her nose, "Dad, please... How are we gonna stay relevant if I blow all my embarrassing news stories before the election?"
Gerard laughed again, and the booming sound resonated through the car, echoing for what seemed like an eternity. It hadn't been like that in reality...but it seemed now, forever etched into her mind. It was the last sound she'd heard before the horrible shriek of crunching metal that followed. The town car veered off to the side with the force of a small house cat being hit by a bull, spinning several times before it came to a screeching halt in the middle of the opposing traffic on the other side of the highway. Horns blared and tires screamed against the asphalt and through eyes blinded by tears and a trickle of blood from a cut above her eyebrow Elena watched the Semi headlights closing in on the drivers side window.
"Good evening, New York. Justine Strandberg here with the nightly report. Tragedy struck the political circuit last night, when Presidential Candidate, Senator Gerard Gibbs was killed in a traffic accident on the JFK Expressway. Gibbs' daughter was also in the car with the Senator - no word on her condition at this time. Gibbs' campaign manager, Charlie Strathmann reports there was no foul play involved in the incident, but sources reveal an invesitagtion has been called for. Senator Gibbs' brother, Rupert Gibbs was found murdered earlier this spring in his Fort Lauderdale home, and police suspect the senator's death may be related. No word yet on how these developments will reflect in the political race.
"In other news, St. Mary's Chapel in Belleville is under investigation for the deaths of three Russian men found in a van outside the ch--"
The dull drone of the newscaster on the television was muffled by the sound of a knock and Elena shifted her gaze to the door as a nurse peered into the room, "You have a visitor, Ms. Gibbs..."
Slowly, Elena nodded and the nurse stepped back to allow the figure behind her inside, "Lena, Baby girl... How are you?" Charlie sank down into a chair beside the bed, his overstuffed suit jacket buldging out with a heavy, somber sigh. Out of respect, he waited for an answer - though none ever came - and as he continued a moment later, Elena simply turned her face back to the television set.
"I'll be giving a press statement this afternoon. I just wanted to stop by and check with you... If... if you've got anything you'd like said?" Silence fell through the room again and Charlie leaned forward, resting his chin in his hands, "Elena... You'll have to tell us what happened sooner or later."
Steel grey eyes moved slowly back to the manager, a heartwrenching brokenness etched beneath them. Charlie straightened and blinked a few times before he rose to his feet, he wouldn't push with her.... He couldn't. The doctors had said it would take some time for her to recover - and even after the fact, there would be damage. "Alright, Lena. I'll check back in a few hours. If you need me, call me..." But even Charlie knew... She wouldn't call for anyone, no matter how much she needed them - regardless of what happened.
Several hours had passed, and still Elena hadn't spoken. Whether her silence was a result of the PTSD or simply a parallel of emotional pain she was in, no one knew, but with the only witness to their candidate's death in the state she was in their last hope remained it seemed, in hiring someone from the outside to investigate. The trouble was, a high-profile situation like this called for subtlety... Hiring the next Perry Mason to figure out why someone wanted Gerard Gibbs dead would only amplify the press' curiosity and for now... for now that wasn't something anyone needed. It was Charlie's counterpart on the campaign, Dixon Felber who suggested calling in a Private Detective - someone who could look into matters without causing a mess of publicity. Someone who could get them answers and get them fast.
The number came six pages into the google search and it was Dixon who settled the matter - never minding that the man wasn't exactly the leader in high-profile cases... and in fact, had more of a knack for 'domestic' issues. According to Dixon, he had a reputation for getting things done and that was all that mattered. The hardest part would be convincing Elena herself, but then... the girl was so compliant it was a miracle she wasn't deaf, along with mute. Still, Charlie decided to propose the idea until after he was sure the detective was worth a look. She had been through hell, and he was determined not to make matters worse.
Leaving Elena's hospital room, Charlie dug the number from his pocket and with a small frown, he sank into the chair outside her door, dialing the detective's number...
The car splashed through another mud puddle and Elena watched as the grimy water plastered itself to the window. Specks of dirt and gravel drifted like melting snow down the pane of glass, leaving smears over top of smears... The car would need a wash after this. Touching a finger to the cool glass, Elena let her finger trail the smears, a soft sigh escaping her lips. It was the third city in as many days, and he was looking more and more tired as the days wore on. Beneath the horn-rimmed glasses, his eyes were clear sterling, but lately the whites were more accurately red, dark circles pooled above his cheekbones. He's lost weight, too... they both had.
"I worry about you is all, Daddy. You've been at this for so long now. You know I hate to see you stressed out. And it's only going to get worse when you win..."
"When?" Chuckling, he shook his head, "You've got a lot of faith in me... A lot more than CNN these days, anyway."
"That's because CNN doesn't know news from locker room gossip these days."
Gerard Gibbs laughed softly and reached across the car, placing a strong, sturdy hand on her shoulder, "You're too young to worry about me, sweetheart. You're twenty-one... you're supposed to be running off to wild parties and embarrassing me with the press. You aren't Supergirl, you know..."
She turned to face him and wrinkled her nose, "Dad, please... How are we gonna stay relevant if I blow all my embarrassing news stories before the election?"
Gerard laughed again, and the booming sound resonated through the car, echoing for what seemed like an eternity. It hadn't been like that in reality...but it seemed now, forever etched into her mind. It was the last sound she'd heard before the horrible shriek of crunching metal that followed. The town car veered off to the side with the force of a small house cat being hit by a bull, spinning several times before it came to a screeching halt in the middle of the opposing traffic on the other side of the highway. Horns blared and tires screamed against the asphalt and through eyes blinded by tears and a trickle of blood from a cut above her eyebrow Elena watched the Semi headlights closing in on the drivers side window.
"Good evening, New York. Justine Strandberg here with the nightly report. Tragedy struck the political circuit last night, when Presidential Candidate, Senator Gerard Gibbs was killed in a traffic accident on the JFK Expressway. Gibbs' daughter was also in the car with the Senator - no word on her condition at this time. Gibbs' campaign manager, Charlie Strathmann reports there was no foul play involved in the incident, but sources reveal an invesitagtion has been called for. Senator Gibbs' brother, Rupert Gibbs was found murdered earlier this spring in his Fort Lauderdale home, and police suspect the senator's death may be related. No word yet on how these developments will reflect in the political race.
"In other news, St. Mary's Chapel in Belleville is under investigation for the deaths of three Russian men found in a van outside the ch--"
The dull drone of the newscaster on the television was muffled by the sound of a knock and Elena shifted her gaze to the door as a nurse peered into the room, "You have a visitor, Ms. Gibbs..."
Slowly, Elena nodded and the nurse stepped back to allow the figure behind her inside, "Lena, Baby girl... How are you?" Charlie sank down into a chair beside the bed, his overstuffed suit jacket buldging out with a heavy, somber sigh. Out of respect, he waited for an answer - though none ever came - and as he continued a moment later, Elena simply turned her face back to the television set.
"I'll be giving a press statement this afternoon. I just wanted to stop by and check with you... If... if you've got anything you'd like said?" Silence fell through the room again and Charlie leaned forward, resting his chin in his hands, "Elena... You'll have to tell us what happened sooner or later."
Steel grey eyes moved slowly back to the manager, a heartwrenching brokenness etched beneath them. Charlie straightened and blinked a few times before he rose to his feet, he wouldn't push with her.... He couldn't. The doctors had said it would take some time for her to recover - and even after the fact, there would be damage. "Alright, Lena. I'll check back in a few hours. If you need me, call me..." But even Charlie knew... She wouldn't call for anyone, no matter how much she needed them - regardless of what happened.
Several hours had passed, and still Elena hadn't spoken. Whether her silence was a result of the PTSD or simply a parallel of emotional pain she was in, no one knew, but with the only witness to their candidate's death in the state she was in their last hope remained it seemed, in hiring someone from the outside to investigate. The trouble was, a high-profile situation like this called for subtlety... Hiring the next Perry Mason to figure out why someone wanted Gerard Gibbs dead would only amplify the press' curiosity and for now... for now that wasn't something anyone needed. It was Charlie's counterpart on the campaign, Dixon Felber who suggested calling in a Private Detective - someone who could look into matters without causing a mess of publicity. Someone who could get them answers and get them fast.
The number came six pages into the google search and it was Dixon who settled the matter - never minding that the man wasn't exactly the leader in high-profile cases... and in fact, had more of a knack for 'domestic' issues. According to Dixon, he had a reputation for getting things done and that was all that mattered. The hardest part would be convincing Elena herself, but then... the girl was so compliant it was a miracle she wasn't deaf, along with mute. Still, Charlie decided to propose the idea until after he was sure the detective was worth a look. She had been through hell, and he was determined not to make matters worse.
Leaving Elena's hospital room, Charlie dug the number from his pocket and with a small frown, he sank into the chair outside her door, dialing the detective's number...
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