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An hour later, I hear the water beginning to drain from the tub A bath I’d run for Hadley so she could relax and I could think I glance at the closed bathroo by

Things have changed now I know it And I iine so does she

We can’t go back Not after the emotional line we just crossed I want to remove her worries Christ, I want to erase her pain I know I can, that’s the trouble I’m the one man she needs, and she’s the very woman I crave

And now I have the answer for why she sought out other gedme question where my loyalty has been For the last year, I’ve been restrained under my duty to the senator, but I’d devastated Hadley because of that loyalty All of that I can handle What I can’t handle is that she kept co I would reject her

She never gave up Not once

Before s, a blessed distraction I grab it from my back pocket and see it’s Gabe “Hey, Gabe What’s up?” I ask

“I’ve got that name for you,” he says “Want it over the phone?”

I get his worry We’re being tapped, but the phone is a burner that isn’t connected to le piece of electronic equipment that I trust “This is a safe line, who is it?”

“It’s Congressman Westhaven”

I stare at the bathroodressed “Patrick Westhaven?”

“Yup That’s the one”

The htens my spine like a steel rod “How do you know that it’s hiiven this easily Usually anything that’s too easy makes me suspicious

“Because I put a few feelers out there and it appears that the congress private invitations in lockers It’s his kink, so to speak”

“Oh, I see” Not what I expected to hear, but nonetheless it uy I want to talk to “What else do you know of the congressman?”

“Other than that, not er at the club said that he can be a little shady and rough at times”