Private Detective: BENNINGTON P.I.: A thrilling four-novel political murder mystery private detective series...

by D. W. Ulsterman

  “Yeah, Colin – the prostitute.”

  Colin pressed forward with his questions, his initial discomfort in asking them falling away.

  “And are you two ok with the congressman seeing a girl forty years younger than him, who he pays for?”

  Jolene put a hand up, indicating she didn’t want Colin to proceed any further.

  “That is a man’s personal life, and I don’t want to be involved in any conversation about that, and if you value your job, Colin neither should you.”

  Colin shook his head back at Jolene, his face contorting into a mask of disgust.

  “You just said you work here because you think the congressman cares about a lot of the issues you do, right?”

  Jolene nodded.

  “Yeah, that’s right.”

  “But the congressman is engaging in an act that has enslaved women since civilization began – the act of sex for money. He’s a powerful man using his position of authority and his money to control someone much weaker than him. If you consider yourself a feminist Jo, how do you support someone who does that?”

  Jolene quickly stood up from her chair, her eyes flashing anger.

  “I’m taking a break before this conversation gets ugly. Colin, I’m going to repeat the same advice I just gave you. If you value your job here, then stop asking these kinds of questions. You do it again, and I’m going to Frank with a complaint.”

  Jolene slammed the door behind her as she left.

  Colin sat looking back at Tracy, who shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

  “You really pissed her off.”

  Colin shrugged.

  “Whatever. If we can’t have an honest discussion about the people we work for, maybe we shouldn’t be here.”

  Tracy’s eyes widened in alarm.

  “You’re not thinking of quitting are you?”

  Colin remained silent for several seconds before finally responding.

  “No…not really, not yet. It’s just that…I guess I thought I was coming here to help win some big moral victories for society. I thought…I thought the congressman would live up to the image you see during his campaigns, his speeches, whatever. I knew Frank Bennington was kind of a loose cannon screwball, that’s part of his legend. But the congressman, I just thought there would be more there, you know?”

  Tracy stretched his arms above his head.

  “Yeah, I know what you mean there. The way my mom talks about him, I thought he must have been some great man, right? That he was this visionary, charismatic leader or something. The reality is that he’s kind of a bore, really. The most important thing in the world to the congressman is the congressman. I like how you just put it – that you thought there would be more there. I actually felt the exact same way after meeting him. Then again, that’s pretty much par for the course up here. Most of these politicians, they really do just end up boring the hell out of the people around them. Between you and me, if I was given a choice of having a beer with the congressman or Bennington, I’d choose Bennington every time. Yeah, he’s a mess, but at least he’s an interesting one.”

  The door to the small office space opened as Jolene walked through and slammed her right hand onto the top of her desk.

  “Ok, O’Shea, we had our first official fight! That means make-up drinking this afternoon. I’m taking you and Tracy to my favorite dive. Ever hear of The Rub?”

  Colin shook his head as Tracy began waiving his hands in front of him.

  “NO-NO-NO. You aren’t taking us out to your all girls hangout, Jo.”

  Jolene stuck a dramatic pose, placing her hands on her hips and jutting her chin outward in defiance of Tracy’s refusal.

  “Don’t be such a prude, Tracy. You WILL be joining us or I will never speak to you again.”

  Tracy began clapping.

  “Deal!”

  The sound of Colin’s cell phone ringing filled the space of the small office.

  It was Kat.

  “Will you take me out somewhere tonight, Colin? I need to have some fun. I want to forget about last night.”

  Colin placed his hand over the phone and looked back at Jolene.

  “It’s Kat...she wants me to take her out tonight.”

  Jolene’s eyes narrowed slightly as she whispered back to Colin.

  “That’s the congressman’s girl, right?”

  Colin nodded, eliciting an instant and quite enthusiastic response from Jolene.

  “Then bring her along too! We can pick her up on our way!”

  Colin removed his hand from over the phone.

  “I was going to have some drinks with friends, Kat but you’re welcome to come along. They said it was ok.”

  The tone of Kat’s voice clearly communicated her grateful excitement.

  “Really? I get to go out with your friends? That would be…thank you! Thank you! Just tell me when you want me ready!”

  “Uh, does 4:30 work?”

  Kat’s voice remained like a child being handed a present on Christmas morning.

  “Yes! I’ll be ready! Thank you!”

  As he ended the call, Colin realized then just how fragile and uncertain Kat truly was. Underneath the cold and commanding exterior she had formed out of necessity to survive, was an insecure and fearful young woman who simply wanted to feel safe and cared for.

  Colin O’Shea decided at that moment to give Kat as much of that safety and caring as he could, despite his earlier demands to Bennington that he wouldn’t be Kat’s babysitter anymore.

  22.

  Congressman Joseph Latner didn’t really care who Congresswoman Betty Mears was. Bennington had given him a brief, handwritten summary already – a woman from a military family in her second term in Congress from Florida. She was short, already noted for being somewhat combative, and much beloved in her home district which was dominated politically by the military presence of the massive Pensacola naval air station.

  None of that mattered to Congressman Latner. What mattered was the Congresswoman Mears was a Republican, and she was willing to allow him to co-sponsor a touch feely bill allowing mortgage deferment for active military engaged in combat assignments. His name, a senior member of Congress, would give the legislation the gravitas it needed to garner attention, while the bill itself would give Congressman Latner the publicity and general good will that would bolster his chances of being selected by Governor Mendez as a running mate in the upcoming presidential election.

  It was, quite simply, the kind of legislative win-win that was the backbone of D.C. politics, where principles always took a backseat to self promotion.

  That said, as Congressman Latner sat inside of Congresswoman Mears’ office, he couldn’t help but silently admit to himself he already disliked the woman. Her face was overly fat, her eyes narrow little slits that sat atop too fleshy cheeks. She had too many pictures of her children and grandchildren on her desk and wall. She was the mother of three sons, all of them currently serving in the military. She also had a quote from the Bible prominently displayed just behind her desk, a location that ensured anyone sitting with her in the office had no choice but to read it.

  We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

  The woman was a genuine bible-thumper, the kind of people that made the congressman’s skin crawl. All the pictures of her military family, bible quotes, and a mounted head of a deer that stared back at him from another wall to his right.

  Damn Republicans with their God first, family first, shoot first bullshit.

  Frank Bennington, who sat in the other of the two chairs opposite the congresswoman’s desk, likely sensed Congressman Latner’s disdain for the current environment and moved to get the discussion going.

  “Thank you so much Congresswoman for meeting with us. The congressman is absolutely one hundred percent behind the “Helping Our Heroes” legislation that your office has presented. We really want to be a part of this worth
y effort.”

  Congresswoman Mears looked back at Bennington and smiled, causing several crows feet wrinkles to flare out prominently from the corners of her eyes. Bennington sensed the woman was genuine, if somewhat politically misguided, having only spent three years in Washington D.C., she was likely not yet entirely corrupted.

  “Thank you Mr. Bennington. My office was very surprised, and grateful, when your office contacted us. To have the name of someone who has served in Congress with such distinction for as long as Congressman Latner here has is just the thing we need to get the bill out of committee and made into law.”

  “Did God tell you that Congresswoman?”

  Frank Bennington realized his mouth had dropped open slightly after hearing Congressman Latner’s question, his mind not able to comprehend why the congressman would say something so potentially offensive.

  Congresswoman Mears appeared unfazed though, her eyes settling fully on the congressman and holding his stare for several seconds.

  “I have no problem speaking to anyone about my faith Congressman, and would be happy to answer any questions you have regarding it.”

  Congressman Latner glanced over to Bennington and then looked back to the congresswoman.

  “I don’t mean to be rude Congresswoman Mears, but I don’t want to be attaching my name to a bill where the other sponsor goes in front of the media and declares that God made her do it. Even if you believe that to be the case, I’d prefer you keep that to yourself.”

  The congresswoman let out a short laugh, though her eyes continued to bore into Congressman Latner’s. Bennington realized he and the congressman sat in the office of someone far more capable and formidable than they had realized prior to the meeting.

  “You have no need to concern yourself over that congressman. While I make no secret of my faith, I also make certain to keep it separate from my role as a legislator. I’m sure you can appreciate keeping things separate, right congressman?”

  Congressman Latner’s face reddened slightly as his eyes flashed with indignation.

  This bitch think she can intimidate me?

  Frank Bennington leaned forward in his chair, his voice attempting to return the conversation to a much less antagonistic environment.

  “Congresswoman, I assure you, your faith is no problem for us. Not at all. In fact, I admire it greatly. We have scheduled an interview with the Washington Post for next week regarding the legislation, and the congressman’s participation. I was thinking it could take place at our office, in the conference room, if that’s ok with you?”

  Congresswoman Mears continued to look at Congressman Latner for a moment before turning her head slightly to address Bennington.

  “That’s just fine Mr. Bennington. Tell my scheduler on your way out, have staff work out the talking points, and I’ll see you next week.”

  Bennington stood up and extended his right hand and warmly shook the hand of the congresswoman. Congressman Latner was already moving toward the door, his face looking as if he had just smelled something bad.

  “Thank you congresswoman, I’ll have everything ready for next week. We’re really looking forward to being a part of something that will help out our military serving in combat.”

  The congresswoman held the political operative’s hand tightly, the same stare she had given the congressman now fixated fully on Bennington.

  “It is a good bill, Mr. Bennington. So good in fact, I’m willing to work with just about anyone to see that it becomes law.”

  As Frank Bennington moved to catch up to the congressman, who was already nearing the door to the hallway outside the congresswoman’s office, he found himself silently enraged at how rude and arrogant Congressman Latner had behaved. The guy had always been something of an asshole, but lately, he was veering off into behavioral territory that was unheard of even for him.

  As both men began walking down one of the many Capitol building stairwells, their shoes echoing loudly against the marble laden walls that surrounded them, Bennington reached out and grabbed the congressman by the arm.

  “Joe, what the hell were you doing back there? Why be such an asshole to that woman?”

  The congressman whirled to face Bennington, his face looking down at his chief of staff with a mixture of rage and what Bennington feared looked to be genuine madness.

  “I don’t need some Republican cunt to presume to tell me how things get done around here! Telling ME how to keep things separate! What did she mean by that? I’ll tell you what she meant! That she thinks she’s better than me! She can take her God quotes and her military pep rally bullshit and shove it up her backwoods ass! Her entire office had the stink all over it.”

  Bennington had no idea what stink the congressman was referring to and said as much.

  “Stink?”

  Congressman Latner nodded his head, the feared madness having almost entirely taken over his eyes.

  “Yeah, Frank – the stink! Republicans are stupid enough as it is, but a Republican woman? That’s about as dumb as it gets. The kind of dumb that stinks like the worst kind of shit. You’re paid to hold your nose to that stink, but I don’t have to. It makes me want to puke. She makes me want to puke. Fat, old little bitch.”

  “She’s a year younger than you Congressman.”

  The congressman’s eyes widened as several drops of his saliva landed onto Bennington’s face.

  “What? I don’t…who gives a shit Frank! Just make this thing happen and let me be done with it! I’ll do the interview, and put my name to it, but I don’t want to have to sit in her stinking office again. You understand me?”

  The congressman’s finger jabbed painfully into Bennington’s chest as he finished his statement.

  “Understood, Congressman. Are we done here?”

  Congressman Latner turned away from Bennington and began walking swiftly down the steps.

  “Yeah, Frank we’re done here. I’m heading home.”

  Frank Bennington watched Congressman Latner’s departure, his emotions fighting between concern over the congressman’s erratic behavior, and anger over having been treated like some kind of throw away member of his staff.

  By the time he had reached the bottom of the steps and was walking down the hall, Congressman Frank Latner had no thoughts regarding Frank Bennington, or his just concluded meeting with the congresswoman, or even the possibility of running for Vice President of the United States. Instead, his mind was already fully consumed with but one subject - Katalina Brezhnev.

  He would see her again tonight, and allow himself more pleasure by bringing her more pain, more humiliation. It’s what she deserved. It’s what they all deserved.

  23.

  Kat looked at herself in the mirror, checking for the umpteenth time to make certain she looked normal. In recent weeks, as she found herself spending more and more time with Colin, she came to realize the allure of just being a regular young woman, and not someone who sold their body for money, living in a large building run by a woman who made her living providing food, shelter, and clients in exchange for half of everything she made. A woman who, while supportive and protective of those who called Ivanka’s building their home, was essentially living off of their labors, and whose own family had ties to darker, and more frightening elements of Washington D.C.’s underground society comprised of criminals who often stood shoulder to shoulder with the political elite.

  Kat wanted something better for herself. Something more real, more stable, more represented by the hope that had brought her to America in the first place.

  Her hair was tied back in a tight bun, her makeup applied more lightly than she normally wore. Gone was the leather pants and jacket that the congressman had indicated she was to wear when visiting him, replaced by a simple black skirt and matching black turtleneck sweater.

  She was going out with Colin and his friends. Though she wouldn’t tell Colin, Kat considered this their first real date. Two young, attractive people sharing drinks and laughter
with others similar in age. The thought even made her smile as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror.

  The small bedside clock in her room indicated it was almost 4:30. With one final look in the mirror, Kat grabbed a small purse and left her room, walking quickly down the long hallway of Ivanka’s building and then down the stairs to the reception area below where she found Ivanka herself seated in one of the many parlor chairs that decorated the room.

  The older Russian woman looked at Kat with her dark eyes that somehow seemed to provide comfort while also demanding total respect. While Kat remained appreciative of Ivanka’s help in the last year, she also feared her, knowing the woman was no-one to be trifled with.