The Price of Power Read online

  Freedom From Conscience: The Price of Power

  Michael Cross

  © Copyright Michael Cross 2016

  Published by Black Rose Writing

  www.blackrosewriting.com

  © 2016 by Michael Cross

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine or journal.

  The final approval for this literary material is granted by the author.

  First digital version

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Print ISBN: 978-1-61296-770-7

  PUBLISHED BY BLACK ROSE WRITING

  www.blackrosewriting.com

  Print edition produced in the United States of America

  Thank you Andre Devecseri,

  for cover design.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

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  It is said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I am not sure if that is always the case – yet my experiences seem to verify truth in those words. I had once been the virtual slave of Vincent, a serial killer who relished in exercising power over others – to the point of hunting people down in a cruel exercise of punishing God for the pain he had experienced in life. Yet I would meet a man just as devoid of feelings, but who could pull the strings of power in order to accomplish what Vincent could never imagine. It was ironic that it turned out that much of what Vincent had believed about the ruling elite was true. Yet he could never have dreamt that the young woman he kept locked in his basement, which had come so close to devoting her life to him, would someday be seated with those very individuals he so vehemently despised.

  Yet even with all this power I found myself yearning for the company of my husband Matt. Our last chance to share intimacy, my opportunity to express my complete love, was the day our divorce papers were finalized. Most would find that unusual, yet most would find my life unusual – a woman who loved her children and her husband, as well as two women who were more than just lovers, but also her eternal sisters. Yet even with such a complicated life I was not entirely satisfied, as the young woman lying next to me quite clearly testified to. Oh, and then there was the part about being a serial killer. It seemed so strange to be a congresswoman as well as someone who had taken so many lives; yet perhaps the only irony was that I had personally helped people to make the transition from this life to the next. After all, while my colleagues preferred to have others do their dirty work on a massive scale around the world I at least had the courage to see the life leave my victims.

  And what of the future? My ambitions are not in the least satisfied. Perhaps it is part of who I was at a genetic level – or perhaps my appointed destiny is to be in a position to do great good…at least I hoped that was the case. Sometimes I wondered if I might someday be the one…wait, I could not imagine myself in the role of bringing ultimate darkness to the world. Even as I visited the grave of my beloved, who had expected full loyalty, not death at my hands, I wrestled with what the final outcome of my life might be. Yet the fact that my deed still pierced my heart and soul convinced me that I was not a bad person – and certainly not one who would help usher in darkness. I am not evil. I just have to keep that in mind as I continue on my quest, whatever that might bring forth.

  Chapter 1

  My rise to influence was not as I had expected. Sure, I had been elected to the US Congress, and had believed that was an automatic ticket to prestige and power, but I was soon to learn it wasn’t. Fortunately, I had Shane as my un-official mentor to assist me through those first days of transition from relatively unknown Oregon legislator, to a national representative.

  Shane, as a former CIA agent, gave me the run-down of how the game was played on Capitol Hill. He was extremely valuable, although a bit quirky at times as he generally wanted to meet at an exclusive health club in the sauna; he claimed he preferred a state of nudity as he could make sure I was not hiding anything. I did not care that it was not segregated by gender…sort of like being at an Oregon hot spring. Of course as I was pregnant with Sofia he was able to witness the expansion of my abdomen. Oh well, whatever his motivations it did not bother me at all since our first meeting had been quite explicit. And I would always be grateful that as I was strung up naked and being tortured by a corrupt female cop he had arrived just in time to save my life. She was not so fortunate. I appreciated Shane as my substitute father perhaps. Yet even at his age I could not help but feel attracted to him. I cannot say my mind was always on politics as we spoke…I could only hope Matt kept himself as fit when he reached his age.

  One particular rendezvous in early December, before being sworn into office, Shane and I were discussing political strategy when the issue of Katja came up. I did not think he was aware of all the aspects of my unique family arrangements involving a polyamorous relationship with my husband and long-time lover and friend Nicole, as well as our recent addition Katja, but all of the sudden he asked, “Melanie has Matt taken Katja as a wife in any sort of significant manner – as in a marriage ceremony?” I was trying to come up with an evasive response as he elaborated on his question, “Okay, has Matt taken Nicole as an additional wife either, or do you all just have an arrangement?” The only way I could respond was to ask, “You know?” He nodded his head. He continued, “Melanie, while you are in congressional sessions you will not be seeing your family that often. If you are the glue that holds everything together then there is real danger that cracks will occur and you cannot afford to have a discontented male or female lover who has the ultimate tool for revenge at their disposal – disclosure!”

  Defensively I answered, “Nicole and I both have children with Matt, and Katja is due to have his baby in March. I have just assumed that children bind us more than just the whole sexuality or emotional intimacy thing.” Shane shook his head, “Look Melanie, half of all marriages end in divorce and probably half of the people who stick together do so merely for economic reasons or for the sake of the children. I applaud you guys for having a unique relationship that works, but you need to make sure you bond together in more significant ways.” I asked, “So what do you have in mind?”

  Shane replied, “I have a cousin who is the leader of a polygamist Mormon sect in northern Montana.” I listened intently as he explained, “All women wan
t to have that special moment of marriage to a man. Katja and Nicole are no different, and if you do not allow them this opportunity you have already planted a seed of resentment towards you. I have talked with my cousin on several occasions and he is a kind man who truly believes in what he is doing. You would like him – he is so esoteric he practically floats off the ground when discussing religion. Call him and tell him you are the one I had talked to him about. He absolutely will not divulge any details to the press. Trust me.”

  He handed me a paper with a phone number and joked, in his irreverent way, “Sorry, I know you have no pockets but maybe you can set it on your tummy and not lose it.” I laughed and in a teasing manner commented, “In a few months I’ll be back to the body you saw at the Zagrievs’ club. Maybe then I can put on a special performance…for old time’s sake?” He cleared his throat and replied, “You know you are a lot like my wife…in regards to having babies. She had nine and never so much as a stretch mark.” He proceeded to stand before warning me, “Be careful with what you joke about Melanie. And remember what I said about marriage.”

  On the way back to the hotel I contemplated what Shane had said. Thoughts of when I was in high school flooded my mind. I remembered my husband’s brother Mark and how he had not only introduced me to killing but how I had wanted to build a future with him. Then I thought about Nicole, and how we had killed her husband Daniel – she wanted to protect me from him since he had planned to make sure I never divulged our secret serial killing club, so to speak. Of course then Matt came into the picture and I wound up married to both of them, and quite happily I might add. Then thoughts of being kidnapped by Vincent, winning a legislative seat, Katja and I getting revenge against the Zagrievs and their police friends and then being elected to congress…my life was far from conventional or simple.

  After I got back to the hotel room Katja greeted me with a passionate kiss and suggested we order dinner to be delivered. I joked that maybe we needed some exercise – that she was looking really fat lately and she pouted and scowled at me, “Melanie, you are mean…oh, and you are just as fat so there.” We both laughed and gave each other a hug before she stepped back and proudly flexed her arms, “No fat here I can assure you!” I sighed, “I was just joking Katja.” I then suggested we skip dinner, but Katja cautioned, “While I love the idea of spending a romantic evening with you if I do not eat something soon I will be spending much of it in the bathroom.” I fully understood so I asked room service to bring us a wonderful dinner.

  While we were eating Katja asked, “So, what do you think the next one should be?” I replied, “The next one? It won’t be until March before we see what this one will be like.” She giggled, “No silly, not my baby, but my next tattoo! I was looking at some sites and wanted your opinions – oh, and I was thinking of another piercing…if you are interested in the location I am more than happy to show you.” I took advantage of her playful mood and replied, “You can show me after dinner, my love. Oh, and I too was thinking of you getting another ring – a wedding ring!” Her eyes opened wide with excitement and she asked, “Wouldn’t that mean getting three rings?” I smiled and took her hand, “I am not sure really, at least one from Matt…with a ceremony perhaps?” Katja smiled and shrugged her shoulders. She then quickly changed the subject to staffing suggestions for my Washington, D.C. office. I admired how she always put work before pleasure; a far different approach to life than mine.

  We discussed business until after eating – I was unsure how to return to the subject of the ceremony. She then stood up, took my hand and led me to the bedroom for some much-needed intimacy as I had a lot on my mind and needed escape. Later, as we rested in each other’s embrace I asked, “How is your relationship to Matt? It seemed that when I brought up his giving you a ring you…” She interrupted me with a loud sigh, and gently put her hand across my mouth, “No Melanie, that’s not it.” In a reflective manner she continued, “I have come to really, really appreciate Matt. Yes, even love him. But…I…I have to say that when it comes to romance my heart is more with you and Nicole.”

  I asked, “What do you mean?” She explained, while looking up at the ceiling, “I guess it is like one of those psychological scales. If a ‘1’ means total heterosexual and a ‘10’ would mean totally lesbian I would probably be an ‘8’ in all honesty. I don’t quite understand it myself, I mean a couple of years ago that would not be the case but a lot has happened since then. You understand, don’t you?” I nodded my head, Shane’s words of warning running through my mind, as well as Dr. Hodge’s, but then she said, “I love being with him, exploring nature together, and will never leave him, even if something happened to you and Nicole, but when we make love I do it more as an expression of gratitude for his caring and his being there for me no matter what. So in a weird sense I love him, but I am not nearly as physically attracted to him as with you.” I asked, “Are you at all attracted to him?” She sighed, “Of course, sometimes. I mean when we are together it is fantastic, but sometimes I feel guilty that I only occasionally feel that way.” I put my arm around her in re-assurance, “Well, he has a lot more than most married men have I suppose – he has your loyalty, appreciation and love…oh, and he has two other wives to keep him satisfied as well.” We both broke out laughing and resumed love-making until late in the evening.

  I woke up early the next morning and began to get out of bed. Katja asked, at first in Russian and then, as she awoke, in English, “What time is it?” I said it was 5:30am and I had thought of calling Matt and Nicole. She said that was fine, but she would call later. She then asked, “Did you understand me when I accidentally asked in Russian?” I rubbed her back and said, “I understood the word “vremya” meant you were asking about the time. Believe it or not I sometimes glance over the children’s Russian vocabulary words.” As I was looking at her back, and the two tattoos, one of an exotic bird against an elaborate jungle scene covering her left shoulder and extending down her arm and the other series of Russian runes that covered her right upper shoulder and extending over her entire left breast, I asked, “So how many tattoos are you planning to get?” She turned over and said, “Maybe one day my entire body. I’ve seen some pictures of women who have – it is quite stunning.” I warned, “Well, you still have to be able to have a professional look if you are my aide.” She laughed, still half asleep, “I wouldn’t do my face, hands or neck, but I’d like to do everything else. Nobody I wouldn’t want to see it will ever know. Would you mind?” I replied, “No, if that’s what you want. However, what about the stretching of your breast? What will that look like later?” She sighed, “When I had that done I suppose I was not thinking. It will probably be okay but I’ll make sure to wait on the other one as well as my belly and lower back. When I’m done having kids that will be the last of any bare, untouched skin.”

  As I went into the other room to turn on the computer I marvelled at how much she had changed since we had met. The body I had seen in California when we were preparing to go undercover at the sex club to find out who had killed her sister and tried to kill my family was far different than the hairy, increasingly muscular, tattoo-covered woman in the other room with a crew cut and bleached blonde hair. And while her butch appearance was not what I had envisioned her ever becoming, it was nice to have extra variety in relationships.

  I knew that it was late in Portland but I needed to see if someone was up. Sure enough Nicole was logged onto Skype, and even better I found that both Matt and Nicole were there together. They both greeted me and began to ask about everything going on in Washington. I gave them a rundown and then it was my turn to ask about them and the children. Nicole was radiant as she gave me the news that she had been to the doctor and found out she was pregnant with another girl. Matt joked that he and Alex, my son, were surrounded and needed a boy from Katja. I shrugged my shoulders and said we would try to find time for testing.

 
I then explained to them the idea Shane had presented. Matt took Nicole’s hand and said, “This is the ring we gave you before the fire. Do you suppose I could give it to you again in an official ceremony?” They looked at each other, Nicole smiling, and she replied, “It would be wonderful!” Nicole began to cry and Matt asked if they should immediately try to find a ring for Katja. It was painfully apparent to everyone that once I was sworn in my spare time would be limited. We would have to accomplish this all during the Christmas holidays. Nicole excused herself for a moment, she said she heard one of the kids wake up, and I asked Matt, “Are you okay with being married in a fundamentalist sect?” He shook his head, “As long as I do not have to join and live out in some desert it would be fine.”

  After we all shared a group “I love you” I promised Katja would call later. When I hung up I walked over to the little refrigerator to get some juice and noticed a letter from the Immigration and Naturalization Service on the counter. It was addressed to Katja but it had been opened so I took out the contents. Apparently she had to renew her visa and she had a number of forms to fill out. From what I could see she should not have had any trouble with renewal, but it hit me that without her job with me she could face deportation back to Russia, even if her baby was born in the USA. It angered me that our polygamist marriage would not count to allow her to stay in the USA without constant renewals. I knew that at some point I would have to propose she sign a will that if anything happened to her then Matt would get custody of her baby – otherwise the child might wind up being given up for adoption by the state.

  When Katja got up I asked about the immigration forms. She said there was no problem, but I would have to verify that she was my employee. It felt strange that I now had such a large staff. I was not interested in the tedious work of payroll and the like, but Katja said she was willing to take care of that. And I was elated that Dr. Hodge finally agreed to take over as my chief of staff – maybe he appreciated the opportunity to finally have a real job in politics, as well as being able to get away from his wife. Katja of course would be my executive assistant, and coordinate most of the work from the Portland office. I trusted Dr. Hodge to make final decisions on choosing capable people to fill all my needs – and it seemed that he had done well.