Alexander Death(39)

“Had enough?” Pedro asked.

Tommy shoved Pedro back into his car, and Pedro's head thumped on the Acura's windshield. Pedro swung at Tommy, but Tommy turned his head and let it glance off his cheek. Then he seized Pedro's throat in one hand, pressing his head back on the windshield.

Ashleigh watched Pedro's eyes swell wide with fear.

“You're never going to bother her again,” Tommy snarled. “Understand?”

“Fuck...you...” Pedro managed to say, though he was trembling badly.

Tommy flung him to the concrete and dealt a series of sharp kicks to Pedro's abdomen and head. Pedro curled up, bleeding from his mouth and nose.

“Are we clear now?” Tommy asked. Pedro just shivered on the ground, staring up at him.

Ashleigh leaned over Pedro. “Sorry, guy. I just don't like you. You're too annoying. And short.” Then she turned her back on him and kissed Tommy. “Thanks for protecting me. I have to catch the bus.”

As she walked away, she heard Pedro mutter the word “bitch” under his breath. Tommy kicked him again.

Ashleigh rode one of the city buses, checking her face a few times in a compact mirror. She wanted to look her best. Fortunately, Esmeralda was decently cute, so that gave her something to work with.

Ashleigh was getting worried about the lack of news from Charleston. They'd set up the riot successfully, and the last time she'd seen Jenny Mittens, the crowd was closing in all around her. Ashleigh had been in a hurry to get out of town, because Jenny had killed Ashleigh on her last rampage.

According to the news, there had been a riot, but not any fatalities. There was no talk, even on the Internet, about tons of people dying or suffering horrific disease. Either the government had decided to cover this one up, too—which would be extremely difficult, with all those thousands of witnesses—or, even more ridiculous, maybe Jenny just hadn't fought back, and had allowed the mob to beat her death. But again, there weren't any reported deaths.

Ashleigh's plan must have had a flaw somewhere, but she couldn't tell where it was. She'd set up the same conditions that made Jenny flip out in Fallen Oak, but it looked like she hadn't gotten the same results. What had changed? Had Jenny herself changed, so that she wouldn't even defend herself?

As she stepped off the bus, Ashleigh try to clear those worries from her mind. She had work to do.

Her destination was obvious—a large space in a strip mall, the windows papered with posters that read “Brazer for Senate.” Eddie Brazer was a current U.S. Representative, looking to take an open Senate seat in the upcoming election. The President only had a 35% approval rating nationally, and 19% in California. Brazer was part of the opposition party expected to gain more seats in the House and take over the Senate. He looked like a good horse to ride.

The inside of the office buzzed like a beehive. People sat at long tables, folding and stuffing mailers or talking on telephone headsets. Ashleigh smiled at everyone she saw, but made a direct path to the office at the back.

A man in his thirties sat behind the desk, typing as he looked among three computer monitors. She knew his name was Freddy Sanchez, and he managed this campaign office for the Congressman.

“Hi there,” Ashleigh said, knocking on the open door as she entered. He looked up at her and squinted his eyes.

“Do I know you?” he asked.

“I'm Esmeralda,” Ashleigh said. “I'm here to volunteer.”

“Donna handles volunteers.” He pointed over her shoulder to the crowded main room.

“Oh, I'm so lost.” Ashleigh moved closer, bumping her hip against the side of the desk, and she lay her hand on top of his. Love poured out from her into him, and his pupils dilated and a drunken grin spread over his face. “Can't you help me at all?”

“I suppose I could do something.” His eyes flicked down her body to her short skirt. “What kind of volunteer work would you like to do?”

“Just anything to help Congressman Brazer.” Ashleigh squeezed the man's hand. “He's so involved in issues that I'm passionate about. Like the environment, and inner-city education...Homeland Security, that's important, too...”

“You've studied his record a little.” Sanchez smiled.

“I've studied it a lot,” Ashleigh told him. “I think he'd be such a good senator. We need people like him to take care of the country. Don't you think?”

“Of course.” Sanchez took her hand. “We'd be happy to have you. Let me just get some information for our database.”

Ashleigh sat across from him and leaned back in the chair, letting him get a good look at Esmeralda's thighs.

“Name?” he asked.

“Esmeralda Medina Rios.”