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Chapters (50)
  1. COVER PAGE
  2. TITLE PAGE
  3. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  4. DEDICATION
  5. CONTENTS
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“Spoken like a true Braden,” Victoria said. “You’re right, John—it might still be possible to cover this up. It was my mother who put the scrapbook together, and she probably knows where the original documents are. But she killed an FBI agent tonight, and the FBI will want to know why. She might be tempted to tell them about both scrapbooks— unless I get to her first and tell her not to. She never has to mention the second scrapbook; only the first one needs to become public knowledge— the desire to protect that little secret would be enough to explain the murders she committed. I could go to her; I could tell her what to say; I could handle this—but I won’t.”

Braden blinked in astonishment. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t think this is a winning ticket anymore.”

“Don’t be a fool, Victoria—this would cost you everything too.”

“Would it? I’m not so sure. See, I’m only in the first scrapbook, and I can survive that. And as for the second scrapbook, who can blame me for that? I’m just the victim of a bad marriage. How could I have known what a degenerate you were when I married you? It’s guilt by association, that’s all. Thank heaven my saintly mother was able to uncover all this before it was too late—and it’s too bad that the stress of it all drove her to such extreme measures.”

“You’re out of your mind,” Braden said.

“Am I? I can survive this, John—but not you. You’re more of a liability than an asset to me now. I’m better off going on alone.”

“It would mean the election—the end of everything we’ve worked for.”

“We? I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you use that word before.”

“Victoria, why are you doing this?”

“You figure it out. The election’s over, John—we’re out of it. You’re out of it for good; me, I’m not so sure. I just might wait for the smoke to blow over and make a run for it myself four years from now. Who knows?”

She took the copies from Brad and looked at him. “If you’re looking for a job, let me know. I can always use a bright young man like you. The pay would be the same—and if it’s not enough, we can talk about benefits.”

44

44

By midmorning the Warren County sheriff’s Department was on the scene in force, barricading the wooded area with black-and-yellow crime scene tape while a CSI team was busy collecting forensic evidence under the supervision of the local coroner. The day was clear and hot, and the morning mist had already lifted from the ground; Nick and Alena stood beside Nathan Donovan, watching as the coroner made his initial observations.