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“Maybe she decided it was too much for her?” Ben asks, looking at all angles like the lawyer he is, and it isn’t as though I haven’t thought about it. It is a big life decision to go public with me as I step into the shoes of governor. But she isn’t a runner. She has been with me up until this point. The next step is big, but one I know she was willing to take.
“No. She wouldn’t run.” I hate this. I know deep within she wouldn’t run; she is mine, and I am hers, and I want her here. I want here with me.
“And she hasn’t shown up to the hospital?” Tennyson asks. My brothers are all aware her father is now in the general ward and recovering, but neither her father, nor Marci, who is by his bedside tonight, have seen or heard from Beth. Both are now starting to worry. Like I am. I have my security team positioned at the hospital, at her house, and here at the center, their sole focus looking for her or any evidence of her.
I look out the internal office window to the growing crowd inside and see Larry talking with some people from the center. Leaving the window, I say nothing to my brothers as I step out of the office and through the cheering supporters, plastering my face with a fake smile, making a beeline for him.
Larry looks at me with a smile, which soon fades.
“Still no word?” he mumbles to me as we shake hands and both smile for the flashing camera that has suddenly appeared before us.
“No. She was meant to be here hours ago.”
“It’s not like her to be late. Is she at the hospital?”
“Not when I called fifteen minutes ago,” I say, as I subtly move my head to the side and crack my neck. Tension builds in my shoulders. My body is agitated.
“Let me call Marci again…” Larry offers as he steps to the side to make the call.
I stay rooted where I am, as person after person comes up and shakes my hand, the men giving my shoulders a hard slap. My opposition hasn’t conceded, but there is no denying the numbers. I will be announced as the new Governor of Maryland later tonight.
“Nope, they still haven’t seen her and have been calling her, but no answer,” Larry confirms as he steps back to my side.
I look out to the sea of people, spotting everyone and no one.
“Have you seen Jeff?” I ask him, because I haven’t seen him for a few hours, leaving him stressed about the lack of toilet paper in the bathrooms earlier.
“I haven’t seen him for a while,” Larry comments as we both start looking around the room for any sign of him.
“We need you for a live cross with the night news programs…” Oscar says, slipping up to my side. I nod, forcing another smile to my lips as I leave Larry, my legs feeling like they’re weighed down as I saddle up to the camera. A microphone is shoved under my chin and bright lights shine into my eyes, and I put on the charm. My body language is at ease, my smile is well manufactured, and my brain remains focused on the questions until the bright light switches off and the camera man lowers his lens. Then I am back to worrying.
“Where is she?” I bark at Oscar and Eddie as we walk back into the office. I clench my fists, taking another look at the storm outside, and I know deep in my gut things are not right. Everyone is running on nervous energy, waiting for the call from our opposition to concede while frantically trying every avenue we know to find Beth. This is the most important night of my life, but I don’t feel joy, not like I was hoping. Just as I thought this night could not get any worse, the door to the office opens, and I whip around, all eyes on the person who enters. In a cloud of perfume, my mother walks in with Lilly hot on her heels, looking at everything and everyone with disgust.
“Hi, darling… I can’t believe you picked this place over the Four Seasons. Have you totally lost your mind?” she comments, her hand waving around the room like she is trying to prove a point. Typical. The first thing leaving her lips is a complaint. Nocongratulations on a successful campaign, early voting is looking good. No,I'm so proud of you. Beth's words of support from earlier ring in my ear.
I look at Eddie, the two of us having a silent conversation over Mom's head. I chose to ignore my mother, and turn back to look at the darkening sky out the window. Pulling my cell phone from my pocket, I dial her number again. It goes straight to voicemail. It is not ringing anymore. It is either dead or has been switched off.
Now I am really starting to worry.
42
BETH
My head is throbbing as I slowly try to open my eyes. I feel groggy, and my head is thumping.Did I fall during my sleep and hit my head or something?I think to myself as I swallow, my throat dry, my lips chapped.
I go to rub my eyes, but I can’t move my hand.Do I have a migraine? Am I dreaming?I hiss a little at the sharp, intense burn that I feel on my wrists every time I try to move my arm. It feels real.
A TV is blaring in the distance. News anchors talking about the campaign.Harrison. Wait, Harrison is in the lead? My mind is now a little more awake, and I open my eyes, the bright lights of the TV making me squint, my eyes watering a little as they start to get used to the brightness in the room.
“Harrison?” I croak out, wondering if he can get me a drink of water. Why does my bed feel so hard?
“Harrison?” I say again, a little louder.
My eyes adjust to the room.Where am I?I slowly look around the large bedroom that doesn’t look familiar. The curtains are drawn, but I can hear the loud rain outside. The bed is dressed in crumpled gray sheets, with timber bedposts, and as I look at them, I notice my feet are tied with rope to each corner.
“Harrison!” I say again even louder as I look up to my wrists. They are both tied to each corner as well, the rope burning a mark into my skin. My heart starts beating faster as I turn my head around the room and see Harrison being interviewed on the TV. He is at the community center. My memory comes back to me, knowing that is where I am supposed to be. Eyes widening, I look to my other side and see a large wall covered in photos and clippings.
I try to remember how I got here, but the last thing I remember is saying goodbye to Harrison at my place because I had paint on my clothes. Looking down, I see I am in a black dress, which has ridden up my thighs, leaving me exposed in the pretty black lace panties I put on for Harrison.
