Our producers received anoverwhelming response from the studio audience to validate Ms. Morgan’s claims immediately after the show was taped. If Speaker Rhoades is guilty, the audience demands he be held accountable for his actions. If he’s innocent, they want Ms. Morgan to be held accountable forheractions.
I immediatelyset out in search for and found several young ladies who were all former foster children in the Rhoades’ household. They have agreed to appear here with me today to share their stories, memories and take questions from the audience. This show is being aired live for a couple of reasons. One, because this type of issue needs to be brought to light, and two, because neither party will have any claim that this show has been edited to sensationalize it.”
So far, so good. Andi’s holding up, even though she’s now biting on her nails and occasionally her lip. I know she’s waiting to see who the girls are but Lindsay has purposely kept them off camera during her introduction. Allthe attention is on her right now.
“My first guestis Maria Gonzalez,” Andi’s sharp intake of breath quickly draws my eyes to her and I notice she doesn’t exhale.
Lindsay continues, “Maria is nineteen and student at the University of Georgia in Athens, majoring in veterinary medicine. Ms. Gonzalez was a foster child in the Rhoades’ home at the same time Andi Morgan was there. Thank you for coming today, Ms. Gonzalez.”
“Is that her, Andi?” I ask softly. Andi’s nod is barely perceptible.
“Thank you for inviting me, Lindsay,” Maria replies. She’s obviously uncomfortable onstage but there’s an also air of determination about her.
“Maria, do you remember Andi Morgan?”
“Yes, I remember everything about her,” Maria answers with a warm smile. I hear Andi sniffle and look over at her to see her face covered in tears.
“Maria, I’m going to ask the hard questions because that’s what the public demands to know. Are the allegations made by Andi Morgan against Speaker Rhoades and his wife true?”
The cameraman zooms in on Maria, capturing her facial expressions, body language and overall demeanor very well. The analysts will have a field day with this shot and the cameraman knows it.
“Yes. What Andi said is true. I am the girl he was raping when she stabbed him. She had been taking care of me because I’d been so sick. She came back in to check on me that night and when she saw what he was doing to me, she stabbed him to help me,” Maria’s voice quivers and tears escape her eyes, but she doesn’t back down and she doesn’t look away from Lindsay.
The audience gasps loudly. Lindsay smiles at her and holds her hand in solidarity. Letting her know she’s not alone and that she understands how hard it must be to declare this on live television to a cynical nation.
“Maria, there’s something I want you to see. Something that wasn’t aired on the original interview with Ms. Morgan. I don’t think she’ll mind you seeing it now, though.” Maria nods and Lindsay instructs her producers to queue the piece.
The footage is of Andi, telling Lindsay that she’s afraid Maria hates her – for not protecting her, for not staying in the room with her that night, and for leaving her alone when she was put in the psychiatric hospital. Andi is crying on the clip but on the live show, Maria is sobbing. She can barely catch her breath for a second and Andi moves to the floor and puts her hand on the television screen, as if she’s giving Maria her strength to continue.
It must work because Maria catches her breath and quickly composes herself. Maria looks directly into the camera, and from Andi’s position in the floor, they are now eye to eye as Maria says, “I have never, NEVER, hated Andi. I love her and I miss her to this day. I’ve never blamed her for anything. She was as much a victim of the Rhoades’ as I was.”
Andi leaves her hand on Maria’s face as her head drops and tears flow freely from her eyes to the floor. I move behind her, wrap my arms around her and hold her as she sobs. I whisper words of comfort and love, restating what Maria said and telling her what an impact she made on that young girl’s life.
One by one, Lindsay brings out five more young ladies who were all in the Rhoades’ care and every one of them corroborate Andi’s story. Everyone young woman gives an account, with specific details only someone in their position could know, and validates what Andi has shared. Her face is filled with relief that they’re willing to speak out and amazement at the strength these young ladies show in describing their molestation.
As Lindsay makes her closing remarks, she said there is more evidence against Speaker Rhoades. There are more girls who were unwilling to be interviewed on television but who will testify against him. She said the evidence she has uncovered is irrefutable and she will gladly turn a copy of it over to the FBI.
The show ends and five minutes later, Andi’s cell phone rings but the caller ID says “unknown.” She gives me a tentative look and takes the call anyway. I can tell immediately that the caller is Maria. For the next thirty minutes, Andi and Maria talk nonstop to catch up on each other’s lives. Andi ends the call after giving Maria our address and telling her she wants Maria to come see her and meet me.
“Lindsay gave her my number. I can’t wait to see her again and for you to meet her!” Andi is so excited she’s nearly skipping through the house towards me. She jumps into my arms, kisses me and telling me she loves me. “Now I have to go get ready for my song tonight!”
She races off towards the bedroom before I can say anything. She hasn’t told me what the song is or what she’s doing that’s she’s so excited about. I cringe every time I think of it because I know it’ll make her more of a target. All I can do is go with her and never leave her side.
“Andi,” I call after her and she surprisingly stops. “You know it’s hard to prosecute a sitting congressman, much less the Speaker of the House. Not because he’s above the law but because of the ties he has. He plays golf with the President of the United States for crying out loud. Nothing about this will be easy.”
“You’re right. But more people than notknownow. They know he did it. They know what kind of man he is now. He won’t be able to hurt little girls anymore. That’s what matters.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
LUKE
Holy hell. What the hell is she thinking? There’s no way in hell I’m letting her do this!
“Andi. Not just no. Buthellno.No-fucking-wayno.I-will-kidnap-you-againno.” And to my intimidating bass voice and unyielding fighting stance, my sexy little vixen just smiles sweetly and walks right around me.
“Mitch! I need the main spot light moved to center stage. It’s a little too far to the left for me,” she calls out to the owner of The Beta Room, who is also playing the lighting manager tonight since his original one is out sick.
“How about that, Andi?”
