Chapter 9
Deborah Voss became a hero to some people.
That angered Eleanor more than she expected.
News headlines called her THE INSIDER WHO BROUGHT DOWN AN EMPIRE.
Commentators praised her courage.
One television host described Eleanor’s arrest as “the incident Deborah ingeniously forced into the open.”
Eleanor turned the television off.
“Ingeniously?”
Renee sat beside her.
“People like simple heroes.”
“Then they should read children’s books.”
Renee smiled.
“You taught me those too.”
Deborah requested a meeting.
Eleanor initially refused.
Then changed her mind.
They met in an empty conference room.
Deborah arrived without attorneys.
She looked exhausted.
“I’m sorry.”
Eleanor almost laughed.
“You’re the second person this month to sit across from me and say that.”
“Bradley?”
“Yes.”
Deborah nodded.
“I deserve worse.”
“That isn’t useful.”
Deborah looked up.
Eleanor continued.
“Explain.”
Deborah took a breath.
“My brother started Voss Meridian thirty years ago. I joined fifteen years later.”
“And when did you realize what he was doing?”
“Two years ago.”
“You waited two years?”
“At first it was political donations. Then security arrangements. Then pressure on city agencies.”
“Then people became photographs.”
Deborah closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“You could have left.”
“I thought I could stop it internally.”
“You couldn’t.”
“No.”
“You could have gone public.”
“My brother would have destroyed the records.”
“You could have contacted investigators openly.”
“I was afraid.”
Eleanor leaned back.
“Officer Morrison said the same thing.”
Deborah said nothing.
Eleanor’s voice softened, but not kindly.
“Fear explains many things. It does not erase them.”
“I know.”
“No. I don’t think you do.”
Deborah’s eyes filled.
Eleanor continued.
“You turned me into a tool.”
“Yes.”
“You looked at my age, my routine, my family history, and decided I was useful.”
“Yes.”
“You know what Bradley did?”
Deborah nodded.
“He looked at my appearance and decided what I was.”
Eleanor leaned forward.
“You both believed your assumptions gave you the right to control me.”
Deborah started crying.
Eleanor did not stop.
“One of you did it for prejudice. One of you did it for a cause you thought was righteous.”
She paused.
“But neither of you asked me.”
Deborah covered her face.
For several moments, Eleanor listened to her cry.
Then she said:
“If you want forgiveness, I cannot give you that today.”
Deborah nodded.
“If you want to do something useful, testify truthfully.”
“I will.”
“And accept what happens.”
“I will.”
Eleanor stood.
Deborah looked up.
“Mrs. Washington?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you willing to speak to Bradley but not forgive me?”
Eleanor considered.
“I haven’t forgiven him either.”
Then she left.