Chapter 13 - The Walk to the Podium
The steel door swung wide open, revealing the brightly lit backstage corridor lined with waiting stagehands, audio technicians, and two federal marshals standing at attention.
Senator Vance stood frozen for a fraction of a second, his shoulders slumped, before a strange, hollow sort of resignation settled over his features. He straightened his silk tie one last time, smoothed the lapels of his Savile Row jacket, and forced his face into the familiar, charismatic mask that had fooled millions of voters for decades.
He stepped out of the green room, walking with the stiff, mechanical dignity of a man condemned to the gallows.
Julian, Marcus, and Arthur fell into step directly behind him like an honor guard of executioners. The two federal marshals flanked the rear, their presence completely hidden from the cameras but unmistakably clear to anyone in the corridor.
They reached the base of the massive steel staircase leading directly up to the center of the stage. Above them, the thunderous roar of the auditorium crowd shook the dust from the overhead lighting rigs.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the master of ceremonies’ voice boomed through the backstage monitor speakers, thick with manufactured excitement. "Please welcome the next United States Senator, Robert Vance!"
The applause swelled into a deafening wave of sound, rattling the metal stairs beneath their feet.
Senator Vance stopped on the bottom step. He turned his head slightly, looking back at Julian over his shoulder. "If I do this... if I read the file on live television... will you let my grandchildren be?"
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Julian looked down at the older man, his expression softening just enough to reveal the profound, immovable weight of a promise made twe
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