Todd Reapers

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 979-8-31782544-7
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 148 Seiten

Reihe: Reapers

The small town of Thistle, Utah suddenly earns national attention for more than just their famous fall apple festival when Fire Marshal Randy Sturge uncovers something sinister growing in his town.

T.E. Todd is an American author whose prior works include 'Famine & Forgiveness.' Her style has been described as suspenseful, page-turning, and even life-changing. She infused all her stories with small-town threads and heartfelt desire curated from a passion for truth and growth in the supernatural.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Todd, T. E.

Leseproben

Chapter 4

I Pledge Allegiance

On the floor of the Senate chamber in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. the final debate on the Appropriations package was underway. The Senate chamber was over one-third full. Every subcommittee member was present, along with those who offered testimony and arguments in the weeks prior either for, or against, proposed budget cuts and spending. Few Senate sessions were so well attended.

“We are nearing the end of what has been a difficult and arduous process,” began the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Cecille De Von. “And I just want to start by thanking everyone who has worked with me to get here. That starts, of course, with my Vice Chair, Senator Curtis, who has been a wonderful partner throughout this process. I also want to thank our counterparts in the House, Chair Davenport and Ranking Member Gibbs. And I’d like to thank all of my staff—and the Vice Chair’s who have worked tirelessly on these bills…and all our incredible subcommittee chairs…” Senator De Von called each name out.

Each subcommittee chair stood and offered a gratuitous wave as their name was called out.

“...and so many others.”

She took a deep breath and shuffled her papers on the podium and then continued.

“As I’ve said before, this important package would not have been possible on our own, but by working together, we were finally able to hammer out an agreement on funding bills that protect and even strengthen critical investments in our nation’s security, our nation’s economic stability, and our families and communities. Make no mistake, we all had to work under difficult stress, reviewing impossible numbers AND FIGHT OFF literally hundreds of extreme Republican poison pills from the House, not to mention unthinkable cuts to our nation’s most critical areas!”

The vein in her forehead began to protrude as her blood pressure rose. She took another deep breath, looked into the eyes of the members seated in the chamber and sold a self-assured smile before starting again.

“At the end of the day, I believe this is legislation that will keep our country and American families moving forward. So I want to share a few details about what is in the spending package before our final vote.”

She became giddy at the sound of her own voice saying ‘final vote’ and another grin emerged. She took another deep breath and proceeded.

“This package provides crucial funding to health research. To start, it provides funding for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and childhood diseases. It funds community health centers, local efforts fighting against the opioid crisis, mental health crises, annnnnd the new federal office of pandemic preparedness and agricultural research that I created with former Senator Thorne,” pausing for emphasis at the name-drop.

“In light of House Republicans’ attempt to gut funding to end public health infrastructure, including our wonderful women’s abortion centers, this bill protects those vital health efforts from countless far-right RADICAL proposals. We also added crucial funding for research in our agriculture to sustain our farms and future for our families. The American people should know that Democrats stood firm to reject every single one of those LUDACRIS attempts to reduce our government by as much as 65%. I stand here today to declare that the United States Appropriations Committee fully supports the health of the American people and will fund essential components of family planning, agricultural safety, and disease control.”

Approximately half of the men and women in suits in the chamber stood and applauded the Senator’s remarks. She paused her speech, as the applause inflated her ego and ushered in an atmosphere of intimidation directed at their opposition. Shouts reverberated through the Senate chamber and fueled Senator De Von’s indignant passion.

“This bill includes investments to promote global stability to keep our country safe, to ensure we are the strongest military-power in the world.”

Senator Noah Grady, the Republican Senator from Kansas was seated in chair 81 on the Republican aisle. As the loose-lipped majority stood for another applause, Senator Grady leaned over to his neighbor on the aisle.

“I think she means, so she is the strongest military-power in the world.” Senator Grady placed his right pinkie on the corner of his mouth, mimicking Dr. Evil.

“The far-right elements,” she said emphatically using finger quotes, “who force the American people to consider the notion of self-sufficiency rather than being able to rely on their government….,” she glared across the chamber before continuing, “...they claim to care a lot about fiscal and social responsibility, but their constant noise threatens to disrupt our good way of life. Life the way our government intended for all of us to live!

“Here, here!” Shouts of support again interrupted her speech.

“In closing, Madam President…”

Senator De Von turned and smiled gratuitously and endearingly at the Vice President and President of the Senate, Shaala Hussein. The two became fast friends twelve years ago when De Von and Hussein took their oaths at the same time, both their first term in the U.S. Senate. But their maiden oath-taking wasn’t the reason why they bonded.

The same week they took their oaths of office, both Senators, green and delirious by a haze of new schedules and demands, found themselves engulfed in scandal. Hussein’s trouble began when the Associated Press released a story the rookie Senator was being sued by voters in her own district and her political opponent for failing to meet the residency requirement to qualify as a Senator. The suit alleged Hussein owned a home in another district and only rented an apartment in the nearby district, but she did not in fact live in the district she was elected to represent. While it was not part of the lawsuit, the overarching implication was that constituents believed she would not represent their interests. Social media posts and influencers alleged that many of her donors had ties to terrorist-supported states, like Iran. The state of Virginia ordered an injunction and did not certify Hussein as the winner while an investigation was pending.

From the outset of De Von’s first term, she was subpoenaed for testimony into her involvement in the Veterans Health Administration failure to provide timely medical care to servicemen and women. When De Von was questioned during a Senate hearing how she felt about 1000 military men and women dying while waiting to get an appointment, she responded, “the deaths were a small fraction of those who received care.” The media quickly labeled her Cecille ‘De Void’.

Both embattled Senators were thrown a rope. In separate, after-hours, private meetings Senator Ahitophel “Ato” Thorne offered them a proposal they couldn’t refuse. Hussein’s lawsuit would disappear, and De Von’s testimony would be classified in exchange for their cooperation. Unbeknownst to the other, neither immediately agreed. So Senator Thorne applied pressure. He called a Closed Session when both De Von and Hussein were present. Capitol Police ushered spectators and visitors out of the galley and closed all the doors. All sitting senators were called to the floor and asked to surrender their electronic communication devices. All business, votes, and remarks are considered secret by law and Senator Thorne leveraged that power. De Von and Hussein were facing a vote of expulsion from the Senate if they did not comply. With their pride on the line, and the security of their families implied as emotional extortion, De Von and Hussein felt they had no options and agreed to work as directed by Senator Thorne, for the ‘betterment’ of their career.

Two terms later, through a series of coincidences, De Von and Hussein learned Senator Thorne and his associates had in fact orchestrated the lawsuit and hearings to draw the less-experienced Senators into his web. By then, their political votes and favors had already turned into corruption. They were too far in. Hussein garnered the respect of the secret team such that she was elevated to Vice President puppet. And De Von was promoted to Chair of the Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful appointments in Congress. Every year, she secretly orchestrated the funneling of taxpayer funds into their larger plan. This was their new normal.

Grinning with pride at own perceived power, De Von concluded her speech.

“.....Madam President…it remains imperative then, that the Senate finally put the national security supplemental package that we passed overwhelmingly,” she said, waving her pointed finger as emphasis, “...up for a VOTE!”

Senator De Von shot her pointed finger straight to the ceiling and her supporters jumped to their feet in raucous applause.

The presiding President of the Senate, Vice President Shaala Hussein, regained control by clapping the gavel two times. Everyone returned to their seats.

“This concludes our debate and begins the voting period.”

The Vice President peered over her desk at the marble rostrum to the Senate Secretary below.

“Call the roll,” she said, then stoically leaned back in her leather chair.

The Clerk spoke to additional Senate floor staff to initiate the roll-call. The Senators and additional page staff began to move about, waiting for the call of all...