The Senator's Blind Spot

ake her public

became mor

es I' d given her, then bl

n me impossi

nted eve

to frame me for leakin

og, and Izzy immediately pointed the finger at me, suggesting my

sistant, Brend

esperate to protect her boyfriend, Leo,

dirty work, subtly threatening Leo'

berated Brenda for a minor error, I

"She said if I don' t help her... discredit you...

how?" I as

omething far more damaging. Izzy had even hinted at something more direct, something that cou

da whispered, showing me a small, unlabeled container of clear liquid.

. This was beyond

using you. And she' ll discard you, and Leo, when s

hope warring with fea

And tell me everythi

ofile strategy session with Ha

presentation, fu

d strong. "I have something urgent to bring

oked from me to her, hi

n of sabotage, culminating

had given me, "is what Ms. Isabelle instructed her

hat' s a lie! She' s

n' s voice was dangerously qu

embling, c

ison said. "Tel

had prepped Brenda, but Izzy'

Izzy, then at me,

on, Senator. For my contact lenses. I... I must ha

Izzy shot me a

"Chloe, this is a very serious accusa

ed again, more severely. Izzy m

o pivot

sabelle' s campaign to discredit me is very real. And her threats against j

own water bottle, the one Brenda

out saline," I said, looking directly

e cap and took

ano

his expression unread

own. For a moment,

mall cough. My hand

harder this time,

I swayed, clutching t

I... I don'

breath coming

s er

omeone call 911! Izzy, what

"Nothing! I told you! It w

convincing. The gasping,

whisper to Harrison, "The vial... Brenda... Izzy made her

fluttere

afely in my possession, swapped for the saline one Izzy had likely forced on Brenda as

oyalty and competence. Izzy had shown neither. She

ic reaction to something in the office air, the doctors, subtly influ

curtly. "And Brenda. Her complicity,

I asked

. Out of DC. He' s luck

, for now. He, or Brenda

"You' re a survivor,

ld. He had no idea. Izzy