“I understand that your home state is scarlet red, Senator, but tell me how good this would look. Think about it: a campaign commercial for the democrat who comes after your seat next year at mid-terms. Sickly children in hospital beds with IV tubes in their small arms because you voted to cut funding for childhood vaccination clinics in rural communities in your home state. They’ll be epic. Those vaccines could have prevented measles, chickenpox, and other childhood diseases, but you voted against the legislation. There’s a reason you left the Republican Party, isn’t there?
“If I recall from your acceptance speech in 2020, you believed the Republicans had lost their collective heart. You announced that because of recent events, you were leaving the party. You stood on that stage and declared yourself an Independent.”
Former Republication Senior Senator Jack Baggett from Kansas sat across the desk from me in his office in the Russell Senate Office Building. Braggin’ Jack Baggett liked to ride the line between conservative and liberal, depending on who had the best offer for him.
It was said in certain circles that Baggett could be bought for a glass of good whiskey, a Cuban cigar, and a blow-job from a cute twink. I was holding that card for our hardball negotiations.
Jericho had been busy all of Monday setting up his security officer license in DC so he could accompany me to Capitol Hill. Before he left for DC, he’d gone down to the front desk and explained to one of the guards, Ernesto, not to let anyone into the building who wanted access to the Wallis apartment, nor should he accept any packages for me.
Ernesto was only too happy to oblige us. I was pretty sure Mr. Wallis had something to do with the extra protection because the guard didn’t know me from anyone.
Meanwhile, I worked to gather information to supplement the briefing book Mrs. Lambert had sent over on Monday afternoon.Tracking down Landon Checker, the cute young law student who worked as a clerk for Senate Majority Leader Arnold Paxton, had taken a little time, but with the right number of dollar signs, nothing was impossible.
“Look, Fitzpatrick. Jim Marshall is doing me a solid by backing me for chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee. With my military background, I should already be the chair. You know better than anyone how these things work. Did you serve? Oh, that’s right, you didn’t because you’re gay and they didn’t want you.
“You probably couldn’t have hid it under DADT anyway. Don’t you believe those men and women who fought foryourfreedom—since you didn’t—should have access to better benefits than they do right now?”
I saw red. “And you’re planning to push against the plan the president and SecDef want to implement to eliminate all trans and HIV+ members who are fit for service from the ranks?”
Motherfucker paled. “Who told you that? That’s a… When did I say that? I support the president.”
I reached into my briefing book and pulled out a picture of Bragin’ Baggett from back in the day in his desert fatigues. He had his arm around a handsome blond airman who was resting his head on Baggett’s shoulder.
I handed over the photo that one of my private detectives had been able to track down from the mother of the soldier. “Nice photo of you and Airman First Class Toby Allen in Saudi in the summer of 1990. You guys served together during the Gulf War, didn’t you?”
“Y-Y-Yeah. We were assigned to the same unit. I haven’t talked to him in years. I’ll need to call him to catch up. It would be good to get him to campaign with me.
“Maybe I should surround myself with vets to show I’ll look out for their best interests instead of having to say it. Thanks,Fitzpatrick. I think I have my new platform’s focus.” The cocky fucker chuckled as he stood, signaling I was being dismissed.
“You’ll have a hard time getting in touch with AFC Toby Allen. He died in 2018 from pneumonia related to his AIDs diagnosis. When was the last time you were tested, Jack?”
“You know as well as me that members of congress have complete physicals annually, Fitzpatrick. You don’t scare me.”
I walked toward the door and opened it in time to see Landon Checker, as I expected, just outside the door holding a red interoffice mailer, signaling its contents were for the senator’s eyes only. The guy was wearing a sexy smile as I slid an envelope from the breast pocket of my jacket to him. “Thank you for supporting the cause.”
The memo I’d write to the LGBTQIA+ Equality Caucus in the House so they’d be better prepared for the upcoming campaign season would outline Baggett’s intention to use retired vets to pretend he supported them. There were plenty of Trans and HIV+ vets who could counter Baggett’s bullshit.
He really planned to vote with the president to severely decrease veterans’ benefits, including removing all trans and HIV+ veterans from receiving any benefits as a cost-saving measure in the DoD budget. They should all be horse-whipped.
Turning to Jack, I smirked when his face fell. “I believe you know my friend, Landon. Looks like the speaker has something for you.”
Landon’s presence at the door was meant as a stark reminder that I wasn’t to be trifled with. Washington had many secrets, and I made sure to learn as many of them as possible.
I closed the door, smiling and waving to Jack’s staff as I made my way out of the office and down the hallway where Jericho sat with his phone. He stood when he saw me.
“We need to stop at the security entrance so I can collect my firearm and return this lovely piece of jewelry. How’d it go?”Jericho held up the visitors’ pass hanging off a lanyard as we took the elevator down to the first floor. I tugged mine over my head and took his as we stepped off the elevator and walked toward the entrance of the building.
“It went as planned. I never go into a meeting without knowing the outcome. The car should be here to take us to The Occidental for lunch with Congresswoman Mei-Lyn Chu.”
Jeri collected his weapon and stopped me as I was about to walk out the door. “You wait here until I find the driver. I’ll be right back.”
He was so pretty. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he quickly walked down the stairs to Constitution Avenue with his phone to his ear. I assumed he was calling for the car, but what if he was calling to set a hookup date for later?
It wasn’t my business, was it? He was my protection detail, and once I was in Wallis’s condo, locked away from the world, his activities were no longer of concern to me. So why did I give a damn?
Before I could answer that question in my own mind, my phone rang. I pulled it from my breast pocket, half expecting Jeri to call for me to come outside, but it wasn’t Jeri on the phone. It was Detective Compton, which couldn’t be good.
“Hello, Detective. What can I do for you? I’m working today, so unless this is extremely important, I’m afraid I’ll have to put you on my calendar for next week.”
