Chapter 20

“I hope it fits,” the girl said as she handed over the box.

Barbara peaked inside and then smiled at the Governor’s intern, “I’m sure they will. Thank you very much.”

The girl then pointed to an ante chamber where Barbara could change clothes. After another thanks, from Barbara, the girl vanished into another room. Then Barbara nodded to some refreshment tables and told Shannon, “why don’t you go get something to eat. Just don’t get anything on that dress. I can’t afford another one right now.”

When Shannon did not even complain about anything, least of which, missing the chance to change clothes herself, Barbara knew something was very wrong. She stopped her daughter from walking off and said, “spill it.”

What came out was not what Barbara had expected her to say, “why didn’t you kill those cock… hens.”

Barbara grabbed her daughters arm and bent a little so that they would be eye to eye. There had been a day when that little bend was a hell of a lot more than it was now. Barbara tried not to be mean but, she was stern, “you want to know why we’re leaving Shannon? That is why. That question you just asked is why.”

Shannon crossed her arms and looked away with a scowl, “they were ass holes. They were trying to kill us and all you did was put a few holes in a cheap car.”

“You don’t know what they were trying to do,” Barbara replied in what she hoped was a reasonable sounding voice. “I don’t even know.”

Shannon now looked her mother dead in the eye and told her point blank, with no remorse, no fear, and probably devoid of any emotion at all, “I wish you had given me the gun. I would have blown their fucking heads off.”

Barbara realized that she should have blown sky high right about then. She could not even make herself get angry. She was scared and not from any couple of thugs in a four door. She was scared of her own daughter and she heard it in her own voice, “you don’t mean that baby.”

Shannon just turned her head but it was not from sorrow or fear. Barbara was seeing anger on her child’s face. What was even worse was that Barbara was also seeing way too much of herself in there right now. She gripped Shannon’s arm even harder as her attempts to make eye contact failed. Barbara even commanded, “look at me!” It did not work so Barbara just let go and straightened back up. Shannon walked off. Barbara watched her for a second but, all the young teen did was go grab a paper plate and start on finger food.

The ante chamber seemed to be some private room for the Governor. Barbara looked around it for a second and could only shake her head. She wondered what Helen Crass did with this room. It was finished very fine like, with all the frills, and included a bed, private bath, vanity with mirror, and a changing screen. The color was all a dark red and everything had that plushy cushion feel to it. Barbara could only just shake her head.

If the room had the faint scent of rose then the box that Barbara opened had a very strong odor that over powered anything else. It was that chemical smell you got in clothing warehouses that stayed on new uniforms for weeks after you got them out of there. Barbara shivered from it, set the box aside, and began to undress. She had gotten her clothes off when she heard a very familiar voice inside the room.

Barbara spun around and then got as close to the changing screen as she could without actually knocking it over. The only words that seemed appropriate at this time was, “get out!”

Conner seemed amused by her anger. He did not leave but, at least, he did not get any closer to her either, “and here I was thinking that maybe I should be the one who was angry with you.”

With a huff Barbara told him, “they’ll let anybody in to this thing won’t they?”

Conner just shrugged and kept on smiling as he said, “I’m a successful businessman and pillar of the community. Besides, I’ve noticed that Helen isn’t too particular about where the hand outs come from, they all spend just as well.”

Barbara’s eyes narrowed and she replied, “I meant in this room.”

Conner looked over at the bed and then back at Barbara, “I would say that our Governor’s remodeling does have it’s benefits.” He noticed her eyes looking down and back. It made him laugh, “I wouldn’t bother looking for it Barbara.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Conner,” she told him in a very serious way.

Her lie did not work. He was just as jovial as ever, “the German’s would not even let my own security in here. I doubt very seriously they allowed you to bring your gun in.” His eyes locked with hers. Barbara could not hide the fact that the implications of his statement were obvious to both of them.

Would he really do it? Barbara really wondered and, if he tried anything, she wondered if she could stop him. She vowed to make it, at the least, a very painful experience. She decided she needed to see just how much he was bluffing, “it’s not you Conner. It’s not what you want.”

He slapped his thigh and laughed, “quite right my dear. I have to admit that my brother had such good tastes. You are a remarkable woman.”

Barbara nodded and flippantly replied, “a remarkable woman that has people waiting on her.”

Conner did turn for the door but he shook his head as he did. He told her as he slowly walked, “always biting the hand that feeds you.” Then he stopped and looked at her directly, “like a few hours ago.”

Barbara’s nose wrinkled and she told him with as much smugness as she could support, “next time you send a couple of your thugs, make sure they know how to drive first.”

He shook his finger at her, “you really don’t get it do you? I’m the only thing holding back the wolves my dear. My associates are not so patient and definitely not as forgiving.” Then he added, “and they’re just the tip of the iceberg.”

“Yeah,” Barbara shot back, “well if what’s happened up till now is your idea of protection then I think I’ll do better on my own.”

“Such a pity,” Conner went to the door. As he prepared to walk out he said, “I would keep your head down.”

He walked out.