Page 87 of Booked for Murder

“Well, yes. While you were old enough to vote at that period in time, they passed that disaster on the sly, taking advantage of the holidays to slip it through when the public was paying more attention to their families than what the government was doing. The media didn’t report the bill, and while the transcriptions were available on the government’s website, it was a very hush-hush affair. The House and the Senate crammed the vote into the last few days the chambers were open before closing for the holidays. It’s also worth noting that it was the first major bill President Castillo signed into law. He did so quietly.”

“Maybe we should start with that bill,” I muttered.

“I was planning on it, actually. I’ve gathered a list of everyone who sponsored or helped write the bill, and I’ve made a list of bills they’ve all been involved with directly from that point forward. I suspect this is something far more insidious than giving the government more power and an easier ability to pass laws that are not for the people by the people. And as the law essentially bars the public from becoming aware of the content of dead bills, it’s almost impossible to tell if a senator or representative is truly representing the public.”

Mickey tapped on the screen of his phone, and after a moment, he set the device down and shoved it across the worn table so we could all get a better look at it. “Add in the upcoming campaign cycle, and it’s a recipe for disaster.”

I shrugged. “Castillo is at the end of his second term, and while he’s a Republican, there’s a startling number of Democrats who like him.”

Mickey shoved his phone in my direction. I reached over, took it, and read the screen, which informed me two Democratic Presidential hopefuls would consider Castillo as their Vice President. While historically, America had begun its political life with the loser of the Presidential bid becoming the Vice President of the United States, that had changed in 1804 with the ratification of the 12th Amendment.

I figured America could use the balance, but something about the current President becoming a future candidate’s Vice President didn’t sit quite right with me.

Especially when said President had already participated in hoodwinking Americans in general.

“Okay, Mickey. When did this happen?”

“About a week ago.”

I frowned. “Right before Godrin’s death.”

“The timing is rather interesting, isn’t it?” my co-worker replied, reaching for his phone, which I slid back to him. “When Mrs. Hampton mentioned the old bill, I started researching the situation, and I made sure to track everyone involved, what their primary abilities are, and any political affiliations they have outside of their party.”

Mickey liked research even more than I did, and I could only presume his aversion for blood kept him from becoming a medical researcher. I bet if he overcame his phobia, he’d take the medical world by storm and change the world within a few years. If he partnered with Mr. Tawnlen, the pair would become a terrifying force worthy of respect. If given any excuse to become mad scientists, they’d be worth fearing, too.

I leaned over and snagged the papers from Mrs. Hampton, flipping to the earliest pages, which listed who had sponsored the bill, wrote it, and any additional credits worth noting. Kennedys’s proposal included only his name.

Most had at least three or four people backing them, something I found interesting. I set aside those papers and held my hand out. “Do you have a copy of the bill that hushes dead legislation?”

She gave me five sheets of paper.

The cover page included a list of twenty names with members on both sides of the aisle, and the document wasted no time laying out the adjustments to how information would be presented to the public, claiming keeping records of dead bills would lead to confusion in the general populace.

I questioned the legality of the entire thing. “Doesn’t this bullshit violate the Constitution somehow?”

“I’m sure it violates some right somewhere, but currently, the public is allowed to request a copy thirty days after the bill’s death. I have not yet been denied a copy of dead legislation, so there’s nothing I can do.”

“So you need to know the proposal was voted on, it has to die, you have to wait thirty days, and then you have to specifically ask the author for a copy?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s correct. Until someone refuses to give me the paperwork, I simply don’t have grounds to make a challenge.”

“The government sucks, and I want to light it on fire,” I complained.

“Behave,” my mother warned. “You do not need to develop pyromaniac tendencies to go with your exsanguination.”

“Would you allow it if I solemnly swear not to use magic?”

“No.”

I scowled. “Come on, Mom. It’s just a little fire.”

“We’re supposed to be finding murderers, not cultivating them.”

While true, I crossed my arms and sulked in my seat. “It’s just a little fire.”

“You want to light the government on fire, Janette. That is not a little fire. That’s a lot of fire. That’s thousands of people on fire. You’re looking at over four hundred if you limit your pyromaniac ways to the Congress.”

“They voted this law in. They deserve to be lit on fire.”