By David C. Daoust
They were in the newly rebuilt upper offices of the Bram Family Nursing Home. It was a conference room, usually used primarily for business. Today, however, it had been commandeered by the actual Bram family. Most of the family, that is.
“Of course, I didn’t!” his youngest son, Dylan, protested. He had just explained, in detail, the facts behind the assault on Sadie Blue, “Neither did Jace!”
This was to be the first time Eduardo got a full account.
Eduardo, very unhappy at the moment, listened to his wife, Glynda, calmly question their son. Trying to get him to paint a picture of what happened that day.
“I believe you,” Glynda reassured, all to keep tempers down. She then pressed, “Just try to tell us- how could this have come to pass?”
“Well, it was all so much- it was palpable. There were so many of us. All I can say is, the situation took on a will of its own. I’d never felt anything like it. I was not ready for it. It was so much… We were angry, I knew we all were- I could feel everyone’s anger. But, I mean, I thought we were just going to mess with her. I’ve known most of those guys all my life, never seen them act like that. It only took one person to push it over the line… and then, it was like reason shattered,” Dylan explained what he was feeling best he could, yet he broke off at the hard part and pressed again, “I did not lay a hand on her! I swear, I was in the back,” the young man practically begged for his father to accept his side of it, then added, “So was Jace.”
The elder Bram nodded as he considered his sons words. He traded a look with his wife, who sat sternly at the table.
“Everyone says it was us,” Dylan stated, a little less intense after his father’s silent nod, “We’re the only ones named… We did not do anything.”
Eduardo’s anger flared, abruptly- “Don’t act so innocent with me. You may not have struck, but you did not stop it either!” The would-be senator then fumed to the heavens, “A son of mine, without the presence of mind to separate himself from the will of some… primitive mob…”
“The situation merely got away from you,” his wife interjected sharply, interrupting the man’s sudden rant. Then pointedly added, more to her husband than her son, “It can be tricky, at times, to see what’s coming when emotions are involved.”
‘How could your mind be so weak?’ Was the very next thing Eduardo was going to ask his son. Queued up, ready to launch like a bullet. That question, was what his wife had stopped him from asking; apparently, she saw it coming. He held that bullet on the tip of his tongue, unwilling to damage his son further.
“Where is Jace?” Eduardo, suitably chastened, suitably reined in by his wife, asked as he moved across to the other side of the room, to stand at the large picture window, peering out, sternly, as though he may find his answer there. “I sent for both of you.”
“I told him that,” Dylan answered, “He was going to see Wyatt and Voss… I don’t know.”
Wyatt and Voss? Eduardo did not know them; never heard of them, really. He certainly did not see them as a good influence. At this point, anyone his sons ever knew must have been a horrible influence for them to have been involved with such idiocy. Without actually uttering a word, his displeasure was apparent on his face as he glanced back at his son.
“I told him!” Dylan futilely argued with his father’s silence.
Eduardo did not bother to reply, simply turned back to study the grounds below.
The anger was sitting there in his mind, no where to go. He could not see how this would ever blow over. He felt they were mired in it; splattered all over his good name. His son’s future- now questionably nonexistent. All because, what? They were more well known to the community than the rest of the guys involved. That is, if what his son told him was true. He glanced back again at Dylan, he just saw his son standing there, distraught. He would prefer to hear it from Jace as well, but he believed Dylan.
How far would he go for his sons? He had already gone so far. He knew he was instrumental in Twin Crown’s secession from the Confederacy. His actions changed the belt. Made the UM an actual thing, rather than a bunch of people talking about being a thing. All to try and sidestep some Confederate judge, nonchalantly throwing his sons in the Stockades.
Now what?
Judge Haul. Raymond’s son was still in the same position- mutually assured destruction was a thing. A powerful thing at that, considering it was what made Twin Crown a sovereign state. Yet, now that it was, Eduardo knew- the legitimacy would have to be paid.
Eduardo feared that his sons would have to face charges. Also, that his sons would never give up the names of anyone else involved, which could not possibly make them look good…
Suddenly, the door burst open, one of his secretaries, looking distraught, rushed in, “I’m sorry Mr.Bram- you’re needed right away… the Starport- someone’s been shot!”
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