Bill of Human Wrongs

Rachel and Mac had left, but only after everyone had promised to be at the coffee house for the show. Now, they were down to four in the hotel room. It was time to share with Kurt their unbelievable story.

“So Rachel plans on disproving what we all saw last night.” Kurt looked at the others. “Now why is she doing that? Who is going to let me in on your secret?”

Ron stood up and poured some coffee for himself, then looked at the others, “Anyone for a refill?” He sat across from where Kurt was sitting and started telling him what he knew. He told Kurt everything ending with a question. “Do you remember seeing Christine and me in there last night?”

“No, I don’t. Why?”

“I was there, we spoke. But I was 30 years older when we met.”

“Ok, I see.” Kurt stood. Turning to Claire, he scowled. “I won’t be your punching ball for jokes. I expect for all of you to be upfront with me, but.. Oh, forget it. I’ll be at the office when you want to talk.”

Claire raised her hand out to stop him, “Wait. Please, Kurt. Don’t you see why we have to cover this up? As soon as we begin to level with you, this is your reaction. I even had a hard time convincing Tony, but he had his science results to help him believe in the impossible.”

Kurt could barely speak so opted to shake his head. “Tony? Is he gone because of this?”

“Yes. I found a piece of the Latino newspaper on the floor of Senator Alexander’s office. It was the wrapping for the baseball Bill was showing off. He didn’t get it from a pawn shop, Kurt.”

Kurt felt the hot sensation flow up his neck, his face flushed. Forgetting there were others in the room, his raised voice convinced Claire’s body to shudder. “Damn it, Claire. Why didn’t you tell me this before? How the hell can I help you if you don’t tell me these things?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I can’t prove it. But Tony ran the tests on the ink. His results convinced him. He wanted to meet Eve that night.”

“Why? Why kill an innocent man, Claire?”

“Senator Hancock was told to do whatever he could to convince me to sign their dirty pledge. It’s all about SB 1257. Tony, Rachel’s car, the anthrax hoax.” She stopped to catch her breath. “Oh, and that stupid thing about the Ambassador to Chile. Probably the fire in my apartment.”

“And what about this thing about Senator Hancock’s wife? Did you have an affair with him?”

Claire put her head down, and then took a deep breath. Looking up, she glared at him sternly and said, “Yes, I went to the White House Dinner last Saturday, and I went back to his flat with him. The next morning, I found a manual full of talking points we’re supposed to say to the press. I snapped several photos before he caught me. He didn’t know I had the pictures. But he did know I was on to him.”

“And those are the photos that Rachel had on her show last night?”

Claire nodded.

“I may have proof that the Senator’s wife is a fake. I’ll know for sure later today.” His head was aching. “And where’s that proof of Tony’s?”

“I don’t know. It has to be in his apartment still.” She whipped around to include Ron and Christine in the argument. Her arm was stretched out, her hand waving at the couple. “Just look at them, Kurt. They came through the portal. They are from our future. Thirty years into our future!”

Kurt sat, he held onto the sides of his head and asked Claire for some aspirin. “How can you expect me to believe your story?”

“We did speak last night in the café, Kurt. My wife and I are close with Eve, the woman who was taken last night. Just look at that reporter’s film, for God’s sake.”

Eyeing him, Kurt’s tone sounded deadly, “Oh, I plan on it.” He was angry, stunned that Claire had left him out in the cold all this time.

“So here’s the million dollar question, Claire. How are you going to vote?”

She was surprised by his last question. “Kurt, I’m undecided.”

Christine couldn’t believe her response. “What do you mean? Look at us, Senator!” She pointed at Ron, then back to herself.  “What part of this bill don’t you get? Tomorrow is the first day of our history’s existence. This atrocity of a bill is what caused our country to go sideways. Safety? They say it will make us safe? Try hate. Within five years, there were townships across the country. Latino Town, Black Town, every minority you can think of was banished to a ghetto. And women? God. Ron and I fled and lived in D.C.’s Latino Town. No one, but the men in White Town had any rights.” She threw her hands in the air. “Damn it, Lady. You saw the paper. They killed Conchita because she was walking to a bus after dark! So tell me, Claire. Make me understand how you could be undecided about how to vote?”

Claire looked at Kurt. She quickly wiped her nose, and sniffled. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you earlier. I didn’t tell anyone, it was all getting out of hand. I mean with Bill and all. I should have trusted you, Kurt.” And then to Christine. “We’re going out, just you and me. I’ll tell you what’s on my mind and hear more from you. But you and I are going to get some clothes and then we’ll come back here. We’re on the same team, all of us in here are. So I suggest we work at getting along.”

Claire picked up her purse, and said to Ron. “Please talk to Kurt about a plan to find Eve. We owe it to her to do that. Come, Christine.”

The women left, and Ron began telling Kurt his idea. “I don’t think the portal works except for late at night. Eve always used it then.”

Kurt interrupted before he could say anymore, he took out his business card and pulled out some money. “Ron, I need to get out of here and get to my office. Come by in a few hours so we can discuss this. The address is on the card, give it to the taxi driver. He’ll know how to find me.”

Without waiting for a response, he left the room. It wasn’t until he was in the lobby when he realized why he had to leave so abruptly, she really slept with the bastard that killed Tony, she really did it.