Surviving Anna (Ch. 12)
Anna, Cass and a violent confrontation, Charlie explains why he disappeared after the fire...
Narration by Hilarey Johnson
Recap: Anna and Charlie’s partnership intensifies. Attorney William Johnson, the witness to refugee Tri Upreti’s accident and an attorney for a known alt-right group in town, seems to have connections all over the Treasure Valley—from the Mayor and non-profit groups to top business leaders. Anna interviews Johnson, and it becomes contentious, which leaves Anna even more convinced the TAP, Johnson, and possibly other major corporations in Boise are determined, for some reason, to cover up the truth of Tri Upreti’s accident. Charlie makes a drunken, midnight visit to Anna and finally reveals his backstory. She leaves him asleep on her couch, mixed-up and troubled, only to be awakened by Charlie’s shouts, and flames. They escape her burning house just in time. Cass takes Anna to her place, and while she’s still reeling, Anna gets a call from the fire marshal…
Anna and I never imagined, while we tried to untangle truth from deceit, we would become part of this story. We found ourselves descending into a shadow world operating on the fringe of our cozy community and the “good people” in it. People who, in many cases, knew or at least suspected the truth, but had become adept at rationalizing, or simply ignoring it altogether. Or maybe we had always been part of the story, along with everyone privileged enough to have their daily needs met.
From The Refugee Crisis and The Law of Unintended Consequences, by Charlie Moore, with Anna Barlowe
CHAPTER TWELVE
All the confirmation Anna needs are the narrowed eyes and smirking lips of William Johnson: He knows. He did this. He incinerated my house.
After a brief startle, Johnson eases back into his chair and appears completely relaxed, except for the slight, smug twist at one side of his mouth. “I heard you had some trouble, Miz Barlowe. He pauses, and stares at her with his horrible eyes. “You’re lucky to be alive.”
Anna can’t contain a shudder, but it isn’t fear. It’s anger.
“I’m real sorry about your…charred home, but I don’t know what you’re referring to when it comes to the TAP. Why would we, at the True Americans Party, have anything to do with your unfortunate accident?”
He attempts a beatific smile, that comes off extremely creepy. “We’re all God-fearing folks, here.”
Johnson’s whole thing, his smirk, his attitude, the disgusting scent of his office, makes her nauseous. She swallows the bile rising in her throat, reaches one hand into her bag and punches a few buttons on her phone.
Johnson watches her, jerks back, then looks relieved when he sees her hand reappear empty.
She smiles. He thought she might pull a weapon on him.
But when she bends across the man’s desk, his brows raise in surprise. A giant coffee cup in her line of sight has the words, Just Another Conservative Working Hard So You Don’t Have To, printed on it. Johnson’s computer mouse sits on a Don’t Tread On Me, pad. The surreal nature of the moment—someone who has turned himself into a living, breathing meme of a human being—gives her a feeling like vertigo.
She rests her hands on his desk, together, as if in supplication. Her expression turns contrite, as if she’s about to plea for mercy, and his surprised expression becomes triumphant. She bends her neck, until her forehead almost touches his desk.
Then she parts her hands and sweeps away everything in their path. Johnson rockets out of his chair. His phone, file folders, ridiculous coffee cup and mouse pad, laptop, plexiglass trays filled with paper and folders—it all crashes to the floor. Johnson stares at her in shock and outrage. His eyes bulge. His lips try to form words that end in a growl.
Now… Anna smiles. There’s an honest reaction.
Her focus is on Johnson when she’s grabbed from behind. The big man who’d been talking to Johnson when she charged in now grips her around the waist and collarbone like steel. She curses her exhaustion and lack of sleep the night before. He’s moved quicker than her sluggish brain and muscles can react.
