Victoria wasn’t quite asleep yet but she was in her pajamas, which resembled many of her pant suits: dark plum silk pants and a matching long sleeved, button up blouse. She didn’t have anyone in her bed to show off for.
However, her evening was disrupted by the breaking news report and she was already throwing on a black overcoat and heading down to the scene.
Victoria bypassed the news, murmuring, “No comment,” as she heard her name being called out by the various local news. Her eyes scanned across them as she slipped under the caution tape, making a beeline for the Chief of Police.
“Benson, Calvin... good evening,” she said somberly, not really feeling like it was about to be a good one at all.
In the background, she heard a radio playing from someone’s cellphone and heard her name and the following diatribe echoing in the night. Bystanders all stared at her, almost mimicking the questions being shouted.
She ignored them and focused on the two men. “I have already made some calls to friends in surrounding counties. You’ll have more firefighters on the way in thirty minutes or less,” she said before they could respond to her.
“Councilwoman-“ started Benson and she waved him off.
“I also have more volunteers on the way to bring your people water and food. I contacted the folks at Helping Hands and they’ll be by shortly to set up a tent. What else can I do to help?” She asked, her tone all business.
Calvin glanced her up and down, his salt and pepper mustache twitching as he opened his mouth to speak, “I... think that about covers it...” and he glanced to Benson.
As did Victoria.
“Ma’- I mean Ms. Demure, we’re already stretched pretty thin...” he started.
“I’ll contact the Mayor’s office and see if I can get him to reappraise your budget. Whatever your boys in blue need, we’ll find a way to provide. If need be, I can call in a favor from the Chief in Bellevue to get you all some relief. We need you all sharp so we can find out who did this and why.”
The two men nodded at her as she turned to walk away, shooting one last look over her shoulder at the destruction.
“Councilwoman! Councilwoman! Do you have anything to say about what happened here tonight?” Another newscaster called out.
She ignored him with a tight, almost pained smile.
“You gonna respond to my mans Oscillator?” A voice called out from behind the yellow tape, a camera phone pointed in her face.
Victoria narrowed her eyes at the person and then flicked her gaze to the camera.
“If you have a problem with my methods, contact me directly and we can discuss this on your little radio show,” the politician replied, her tone clipped and giving nothing away.
Yet as she passed the crowd, she didn’t go to leave the scene and instead stood by her car. She stood there until the volunteers showed up, until the relief firefighters arrived, and beyond. It wouldn’t be hours until she left, pulled aside by Calvin and gently ushered into her car.
And even when she returned home she wouldn’t sleep restfully, her mind dreaming of a voice speaking this whole event into action.
However, her evening was disrupted by the breaking news report and she was already throwing on a black overcoat and heading down to the scene.
Victoria bypassed the news, murmuring, “No comment,” as she heard her name being called out by the various local news. Her eyes scanned across them as she slipped under the caution tape, making a beeline for the Chief of Police.
“Benson, Calvin... good evening,” she said somberly, not really feeling like it was about to be a good one at all.
In the background, she heard a radio playing from someone’s cellphone and heard her name and the following diatribe echoing in the night. Bystanders all stared at her, almost mimicking the questions being shouted.
She ignored them and focused on the two men. “I have already made some calls to friends in surrounding counties. You’ll have more firefighters on the way in thirty minutes or less,” she said before they could respond to her.
“Councilwoman-“ started Benson and she waved him off.
“I also have more volunteers on the way to bring your people water and food. I contacted the folks at Helping Hands and they’ll be by shortly to set up a tent. What else can I do to help?” She asked, her tone all business.
Calvin glanced her up and down, his salt and pepper mustache twitching as he opened his mouth to speak, “I... think that about covers it...” and he glanced to Benson.
As did Victoria.
“Ma’- I mean Ms. Demure, we’re already stretched pretty thin...” he started.
“I’ll contact the Mayor’s office and see if I can get him to reappraise your budget. Whatever your boys in blue need, we’ll find a way to provide. If need be, I can call in a favor from the Chief in Bellevue to get you all some relief. We need you all sharp so we can find out who did this and why.”
The two men nodded at her as she turned to walk away, shooting one last look over her shoulder at the destruction.
“Councilwoman! Councilwoman! Do you have anything to say about what happened here tonight?” Another newscaster called out.
She ignored him with a tight, almost pained smile.
“You gonna respond to my mans Oscillator?” A voice called out from behind the yellow tape, a camera phone pointed in her face.
Victoria narrowed her eyes at the person and then flicked her gaze to the camera.
“If you have a problem with my methods, contact me directly and we can discuss this on your little radio show,” the politician replied, her tone clipped and giving nothing away.
Yet as she passed the crowd, she didn’t go to leave the scene and instead stood by her car. She stood there until the volunteers showed up, until the relief firefighters arrived, and beyond. It wouldn’t be hours until she left, pulled aside by Calvin and gently ushered into her car.
And even when she returned home she wouldn’t sleep restfully, her mind dreaming of a voice speaking this whole event into action.
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