the cover-up (serial novel) - episode 12

8/11/2019 The Cover-Up (Serial Novel) - Episode 12

1/13


2/13


3/13

Act III

34

Paul

State Senate minority leader, Paul Cochran, called a meeting with

his closest strategists at his gubernatorial campaign headquarters in

Richmond. The campaign office was in a storefront a short walk from

the government buildings at the edge of a neighborhood that was

being redeveloped. lthough it had yet to be officially announced,

Paul had been pleased to hear that !overnor Tedesco would be

focusing on a campaign for president. t least that got him out of the

way for the ne"t governor#s race which was the political contest Paul

was focused on. $ven though that meant Paul could rela", he was

never one to take it easy. fter all, getting a head start never hurt

anyone.

%e propped his feet on the plain wooden table that served for a

desk, barely missing knocking over a half&finished cup of cold coffee,

and balanced his tablet on his lap. Three others sat around the room

in mismatched chairs 'the storefront hadn#t been completely outfitted

yet(. )* have confirmed that an investigation into +liver ason#s death

has begun,) Paul said in his usual dour voice. )The -ustice

epartment has agreed to keep the investigation out of the public eye

which means we say nothing about it at all until * give the word.)

"/hat would be best,) said a fidgety young man, )is if it appeared

that we had nothing to do with it at all.) %is name was 0ev, and he

was clearly uncomfortable at meetings of any kind preferring the

company of a computer instead. 1ut Paul knew the importance of


4/13

keeping those in charge of digital operations in the loop in order to

keep the political machines running smoothly.

"2es,) Paul agreed. )/hen the investigation is done, we will all

appear 3ust as surprised as anyone else.)

The conversation paused as keys 3ingled in the lock to the back

entrance of the storefront. 0oud humming and the click&clack of high

heels on the tile floor of the hall preceded the opening of the office

door.

"*#m late, sorry,) said 4illeena 4yle as she stepped into the room,

several raindrops dripping from her black veiled hat.

Paul checked his watch. )5o, * think you#re early,) he said. )/e

were supposed to meet at twelve.)

"-ust as * suspected,) 4illeena said standing in the middle of the

room 6 there were no more chairs. )2ou wanted me to miss out on

all of this. on#t deny it.)

The fidgety young man, 0ev, offered her his seat and he leaned

against the wall by the door, hoping to make a quick escape as soon

as possible.

"/ell, you#re here now,) Paul said trying to sound bright despite

his disposition.

"nd * come bearing news,) said 4illeena as she perched on the

chair. )0ast weekend, * attended the wedding of our mutual friend

Timothy Tedesco.)

Paul, who prided himself on never being surprised, looked

genuinely shocked. )%is wedding7 2ou knew about it7 eon didn#t tell

me anything.)

"/ell, * guess that shows you where my husband#s loyalties lie,)


5/13

said 4illeena. )nd * would not encourage you to involve him in your

investigation of Timothy. %e is as loyal as the day is long.)

"* 3ust don#t see what#s in it for you,) Paul said, his tone

perple"ed.

"That#s not for you to know. y reasons are my own, and they will

remain my own until * see fit to disclose them.) shadow passed over

4illeena#s face as she spoke.

Paul sighed. )This isn#t a venture *#m willing to risk on a vendetta,)

he said.

"/ho says * have a vendetta7) said 4illeena picking her

platinum&polished nails absent&mindedly.

Paul#s face pinched, his thoughts at war inside of him. 8inally, he

said, )2our real name isn#t 4illeena 4yle, is it7)

4illeena sat in silence for a moment, staring down at her hands

folded in her lap. )+bviously, * have a maiden name,) she mumbled.

"1ut it isn#t bacus,) said Paul trying to sound confident.

4illeena didn#t respond.

1ehind them, 0ev quietly nudged the door open. %e wanted toslip out unnoticed.

"*#m trying to determine, rs. 4yle, whether our partnership will

be more a liability than an asset,) Paul said fingering the bridge of his

glasses above his nose. )* cannot risk my campaign 6 my name 6

with a woman * know nothing about. *#m sure you understand.)

"Saying you 9know nothing# about me is highly inaccurate, isn#t

it7) said 4illeena bitterly. )nd the only thing * understand is that you

are a selfish politician whose only care is for things to go his way.)

Paul shook his head. )2our secrets are safe with me, * swear.)


6/13

4illeena stood up, her high heels making a definitive double&click

against the floor. )2ou would do well to remember that * do not

answer to you, r. Cochran. nd * think you want my help more than *

need yours.) She turned hastily and swept out the door before Paul

could respond, nearly colliding with 0ev who was standing between

the door and the wall.

"eeting dismissed,) Paul said waving his hand. )0ev, * need for

you to trace every person of importance rs. 4yle, or bacus, is tied

to since she is not being forthcoming.)

"2es : yes, sir,) said 0ev as he went out the door.


7/13

35

Elise

/ith the an"iety of the wedding behind her, $lise ason 6 whom

should now be called $lise Tedesco 6 settled into life at the

!overnor#s ansion. She was treated with great respect and care by

the mansion staff, but often felt that was because of the man she was

now married to. %owever, she became fast friends with allory, the

sister of her husband#s now&deceased wife, and she was at least on

speaking terms with his oldest daughter, Tamika. %er brother, Timothy

-r., kept his distance for the most part and avoided everything but the

most distant interaction.

$lise#s primary concern now was the delivery of her child 6 theirchild 6 hers and Timothy#s. $lise tried to determine what kind of

father Timothy would be based on his interaction with his children, but

wasn#t sure if she was a good 3udge of that sort of thing.

+ne thing that she was glad about 6 even though she never

mentioned it 6 was that her mother, 0ynda, had moved into a hotel

suite in town in order to be close to $lise. She said she would remain

there until the baby was born and for a few weeks afterward to make

sure $lise )got on alright.) $lise looked forward to her mother#s

almost daily visits to the !overnor#s ansion. *t was during one of

these visits that $lise disclosed to her mother the one thing that had

been bothering her since the day of the wedding.

"* don#t understand why she came up to me,) $lise said as she

lay on the plush mattress in the master bedroom. /ith the burden of

child&bearing, $lise had taken to lying down frequently throughout the

day.


8/13

"re you sure Timothy didn#t invite her7) 0ynda asked as she

alternately smoothed her daughter#s hair and patted her stomach.

"5o. /e approved the guest list together,) $lise said. )She wasn#t

on it.)

"So, she crashed the wedding.)

"She didn#t crash the wedding, other.)

"That#s what it looked like she was trying to do when * saw her

tussling with allory,) said 0ynda. )+ooh, this baby is about to come6 feel it kicking to get out,) she added as she massaged $lise#s belly.

"The doctor said two more days,) $lise sighed.

"Then you should get to the hospital tomorrow and stay

overnight,) 0ynda said before getting back on topic. )id you ask

Timothy about her7)

"5o, * want to, but it might be a sore spot for him,) $lise said.

)%e#s never mentioned her.)

0ynda sighed. )5early everyone has secrets they prefer to keep

hidden in their past. *#m sure Timothy is no e"ception. *f this bothers

you, and if it#s going to be a continuing question in your mind, my

advice is to ask him about it now and get it out of the way. on#t be

afraid of him getting upset. 1etter to offend him now and provide time

for healing than to let an open wound fester and you both get

offended later.)

"+kay,) $lise said, her breathing becoming labored. )*#ll do that

after the baby is born.)

"5ever put off until tomorrow what you should do today,) 0ynda

admonished.

$lise grimaced. )* know that, om, but this baby might come


9/13

tonight.)


10/13

36

Lev

0ev walked out of the back door of the storefront and into the lite

rain. %is hair was thinner than it should have been considering his

age, and the humidity made it stick to his forehead. 4illeena was a

few steps away hurrying toward her champagne&colored cura.

"&mrs. 4yle,) 0ev stuttered as he caught up with her.

;uickening her steps, 4illeena pulled the key fob out of her

pocket. The car beeped as she called over her shoulder, )*f Paul sent

you to get information out of me, you can turn around and go right

back through that door.) She opened the driver#s side door of her car.

"5o. * recogni


11/13

She got in her car and drove off.

The rain started coming down in earnest now. s 0ev walked

back to the storefront that would soon become a full&fledged

campaign office, he remembered.

*t was after one of the class#s debate rehearsals. 0ev gathered

the two music stands that served as podiums to take them back to

the faculty room where they were normally stored. s he headed

down the hall, the door to the faculty room swung open, and a young,

dark&haired man e"ited and strode off down the hall in the opposite

direction. 0ev only caught a glimpse of his face. 1ut, 0ev knew he

wasn#t a fellow student. %e thought nothing more of the man until, as

he approached the door, he heard a loud crash from inside the room.

%urrying forward, he shoved the door open, releasing the musicstands 3ust inside. 4illeena 4yle 6 or iss bacus, as he knew her

then 6 was standing with her fists clenched and her back to the door.

The cause of the noise was a stack of plastic filing cases which were

now lying cracked on the floor, their contents strewn about in a

random heap.

"&miss bacus,) 0ev said touching her arm to turn her around.

)re you all right7)

iss bacus 3erked her arm away from him but turned sideways

so that she was facing the window. )* can#t=believe it,) she said, her

voice tight and breathless with anger. )*=can#t.)

0ev had never seen his tutor anything but happy and carefree.

2es, she could be stern in the debate hall, but she was never angry

or easy to irritate.

"2ou&you can#t believe what7) 0ev said taking a step closer. )That


12/13

man, did he=do something to you7)

%is tutor now turned to face him, but her eyes were gla


13/13

8inally, his tutor turned to look at him, and though her eyes

brimmed with tears, they had taken on a certain predatory quality. )*

will make her life hell>)

the cover-up (serial novel) - episode 12

Documents