Faded Ink
Lin
"You're the hope that moves me
To courage again
You're the love that rescues me
When the cold winds, rage
And it's so amazing
'Cause that's just how you are
And I can't turn back now
'Cause you've brought me too far "
I Need You by Leann Rimes
The paper fluttered onto the carpet, the rustle of the impact barely heard or felt.
No one moved. Silence.
CJ took a deep breath. Her fingers found themselves stretching downward until the tips brushed against the brownish-looking paper, making it crackle against her touch. Her fingers curled around it, lightly, and then fiercely, crinkling it in her hand, until it was no longer visible to herself or to Josh.
"What is it?"
"Huh?" CJ's head snapped up, startled by Josh's voice.
"What's in your hand?"
Her hand opened to reveal the paper, wrinkled with sweat and crushing fingers. "Uh, nothing." She could just make out the faded letters: "Alex Leman. 1959-1977."
Josh glared at her. "Don't tell me it's nothing. You look as if you're going to have a heart attack, right now."
CJ got up from the couch, leaving her back towards Josh, so he couldn't see the tears pooling in her eyes. "Maybe I am," she countered lightly. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing."
Josh stood up behind her. "I'm your friend, CJ. You can tell me."
"Josh. I said don't worry about it."
"CJ, can I talk you for a minute?"
They both turned around, startled by the new voice. "Toby," CJ breathed.
Toby stared at the two occupants of the office, noting CJ's defensive posture and Josh's tightening jaw. "What's going on?"
"Nothing." Pause. "Josh, could you leave us, please?"
"But CJ, you need to tell me..."
"No, I don't," her voice was sharp and biting. "Please just go."
Josh took one look at her, ready to pounce again, but something about the way she stood bothered him. He sighed and turned around, unwilling to leave the place where his best friend needed him.
Toby watched Josh leave and turned back to CJ. "Now tell me, what was that about?"
CJ didn't respond. Quietly, she made her way to the door and shut it, blocking out all prying eyes and ears. Her hands gingerly held the newspaper clipping, obituary. She made her way back to where Toby stood and told him, "Sit down."
*~*
That son of a bitch!
Who is doing this?
First it was a picture. A damned picture. And now it's an obituary.
I thought...I really thought that a morning without the publication of that picture was going to be a good morning, but instead a newspaper clipping from CJ is turning that dream into dust. Murphy's Law.
I can barely make my way through the hallowed hallways of this building because my eyesight is so red. If I ever find out...
An obituary. Who in the f*ck could be that morbid? And who in the hell would try to hurt someone with something that happened when they were so young? It's sick. Absolutely sick. Especially when that person wasn't even at fault for what happened. I'd like to see someone throw something back into their faces. If they're trying to blackmail someone with this piece of shit, there's no telling what kind of crap they've done in the past.
"Ginger, hold all of my calls."
I hear my mouth making words and sound emanating from the back of my throat, but I have no idea what and I really don't give a damn. Where's my legal pad? I have to write this down.
It's time to run down the list of suspects.
Peter Lillienfield: A smug son of a bitch, but he's too stupid to tie his own shoe laces. He runs along the party lines, making our lives a living hell. He already roasted Leo in the fire, what would stop him from one more? He would be stupid enough to come across our radar screen after that drug fiasco.
Ann Stark: She was a person I once considered a friend and now I just don't know. I just can't believe she would stoop that low, but then again, I may just be proven wrong. And after that f*cking Leadership Breakfast, I wouldn't put anything pass her. Sore throat my ass. You would think with someone with her years of lying would have known to use a better excuse than that. That's why it couldn't have been her. She would have been waiting at the front door, waiting to hear the screams.
Laurie: What would she have to gain? She was lucky to make it through that picture scandal with Sam. Scratch her.
Tad Whitney: I wouldn't cross that weasel off my list. CJ slighting him on that stupid Deputy job, left him sore at her. He's always had a mean streak in him. I wouldn't be surprised if the rat did do this.
Lisa: I don't know anything about her, except for what Sam has told me. It's highly unlikely she'd come waltzing back into his life just for the sake of doing so.
This is stupid. I have made a list and I'm running myself in circles.
The question is, who would know enough about CJ's past to even find a newspaper clipping like that? And who would be stupid enough to think it would work. But smug sons of bitches always trip themselves up. They get caught and then they look stupid.
But why bring up Alex Leman? Who would know anything about him? He was just a poor high school kid who got himself killed in an accident. An accident. Whoever is doing this is acting like he was brutally murdered. Nothing this far back in CJ's past should have even registered itself on the D.C. scene. And now somebody wants to hurt CJ politically for the sake of what?
What do they get out of this? The picture wasn't even published. A f*cking blurry photograph taken at 1:00 in the morning and it wasn't even published.
Unless they're trying to shake our trust in her.
No one hates CJ that much...
except...
that SOB. I'll kill him now.
*~*
"CJ, I need to talk to you."
She turned around, trying to dodge people in the hallway, a blue file folder clutched in her hand. "We can talk while we walk. We've got Staff." She continued on her way towards Leo's office.
"CJ, I need to talk to you," his voice took on a new edge.
Slowly she turned around to face Toby, noting the angry way he was holding himself back. Slowly, "It's about the newspaper clipping, isn't it?"
"Yes." He gently took her arm and led her into an emptier hallway, trying to keep roving ears from hearing them talk. "I know who did it."
CJ leaned back against the wall and took a cleansing breath. Her hand dropped the file folder against her leg. "Who?"
Toby took a deep breath. "First, CJ, I didn't know."
Her eyes narrowed. "Know what?"
"I didn't think he would..."
Her voice became low and hard. "What?"
"I never thought he would use it against you."
"Use Alex?" Pause. "Toby, who did you tell?"
"It was years ago. I didn't even think he was paying attention to me then. I was trying to protect you."
"Wait a minute. Who did you tell about Alex? And why did you think it was a good idea to tell anyone about Alex?" she hissed.
"Tad Whitney."
*~*
"Where are CJ and Toby?"
Josh looked up at his boss, anger seeping through his very being. "They had to talk."
Sam sat up straighter, "About what?"
"They didn't tell me."
Sam and Leo wordlessly stared at Josh, unable to figure out what had put him in such a bad mood.
Sam began again, "No pictures have been published in the Post, the Times or anywhere else for that matter."
"No," Leo agreed.
"Do you think we're in the clear on this?"
"Possible." Leo picked up his phone with every intention of tracking CJ and Toby down when they burst through the door.
"Sorry we're late," Toby mumbled. He stood between Sam and Josh, leaving CJ to stand by the door alone.
"What happened to you two?" Sam asked.
CJ walked towards Leo, her posture taut. Unconsciously, her hand sought out Josh's who sat beside her. Her fingers twirled around his, until they gripped each other comfortingly. He gently squeezed, giving her the quiet confidence to speak.
"We know who did it. And why."
"I don't need a lot of things
I can get by with nothing
Of all the blessings life can bring
I've always needed something
But I've got all I want
When it comes to loving you
You're my only reason
You're my only truth
I need you like water
Like breath, like rain
I need you like mercy
From heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you "
I Need You by Leann Rimes
I Hope You Dance: Shades of Red, White and Blue
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