Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
Sapphire Angel got her first view of the news trucks and photographers when she stepped from the alley and spied Senator Chappelle's office across the wide street. For a big city, the assembly of people and vehicles would constitute a small gathering. For Wynton, though, this might be the town's entire news corps.
When the reporters, photographers, and cameramen spotted her a moment later, bedlam erupted. She strode across the street as questions rained down on her and cameras flashed.
"Sapphire Angel, what's the purpose of your visit to the senator?"
"Sapphire Angel, what brings you to Colorado?"
"Sapphire Angel, why Senator Chappelle? Does this mean you support his reelection bid?"
As the questions continued, Sapphire Angel maintained her path, walking straight through the throng. She flashed a smile to the crowd and spoke.
"I'm sorry I can't answer your questions," she said in a clear, confident voice. "I will be discussing a few matters with Senator Chappelle, but can't get into them."
As she closed within a few feet of the building, the front door opened and Socrates Chappelle strode out. He looked as big in person as he had on television, but not in an intimidating way. His warm eyes offset his large size. He was only a few feet away from Sapphire Angel and extended his hand toward the smaller woman. She smiled and shook it. As she did so, the cameras flashed and clicked.
"Such a treat to meet you, Sapphire Angel," he said, holding her hand and smiling toward the cameras.
"Likewise," she said, with a nod and a smile. "Thanks for agreeing to meet with me. Can we go inside?"
Chappelle seemed disappointed at the thought of losing his audience of reporters, but recovered with a nod.
"Certainly, certainly," he said. The door was still open behind him, and he gestured for her to enter. She stepped over the threshold, her short skirt flitting about her thighs. Before stepping inside after her, Chappelle turned to the gathered crowd and spoke.
"Folks, I'm sorry I can't invite you in. As you can imagine, though, Sapphire Angel and I will be discussing very important matters, and can't be distracted. I'll be sure to give you a full briefing later."
After finishing his announcement, Chappelle stepped into the building and closed the door.
"Please," Chappelle said with a polite nod as he turned to her, "let me show you to my office."
Chappelle led the costumed woman deeper into the building, moving through a large open area filled with staffers sitting at desks. They all wore headsets, but none of them spoke on the phone. Instead, they watched the superheroine with wide eyes as the senator led her past.
Chapelle's office was less grand than she had expected. The plaster walls contained some paintings of mountain scenes, but the room was otherwise devoid of decorations.
"I spend so much time in Washington, I haven't really had a chance to decorate this place properly," he explained, noticing her gaze.
"It's nice," Sapphire Angel said. "I like the paintings."
"They're from a local artist," Chappelle said, and gestured toward two chairs and a sofa. Sapphire Angel moved to a chair and lowered herself into it, straightening her skirt. The senator took a spot in the other chair and angled himself toward her.
"Can I offer you a drink?" the Senator asked, not taking her eyes off of the stunning woman.
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
Chappelle nodded and sat back in his chair.
"I must say, your request came as quite a surprise," he began. "I never thought I'd be the first one to meet the famous woman who saved President Andrews."
"I was just glad to help avert a catastrophe," Sapphire Angel replied with a smile and a shrug.
"You did more than help. You saved everyone near that nuclear plant, based on the reports I read. I feel honored to be the first public official you've ever spoken with." He narrowed his eyes. "I am the first, aren't I?"
Sapphire Angel gave a slight nod. "Yes, you are."
His excitement at her response was almost palpable. Surely he was considering the public relations benefit of being the first government official to meet one of the most famous people in the country.
"I have so many questions," he said, his voice trailing off.
"I wish I could answer them, Senator Chappelle, but I suspect your questions might go places I can't get into."
"The world would love to know more about you, Sapphire Angel. You're the biggest mystery in the country. I'm sure the media frenzy isn't lost on you."
"It's not. Unfortunately, as I said, I can't get into anything right now."
The senator let out a long sigh. "I guess we'll let our imaginations wander."
Sapphire Angel ignored his remark, getting to the point of the meeting.
"Senator, I'm here hoping you can answer some questions for me."
"That hardly seems fair," Chappelle replied with a smile. "I answer your questions, but you can't answer mine?"
The heroine folded her gloved hands in her lap. "I wish it could be different. I'll leave it up to you whether you answer."
"Very well, then," he said with a slight wave of his hand. "What are your questions?"
"I'm looking into the disappearance of Eric Stump, a freelance computer programmer from Wynton. He was a big fan of yours."
"While I'm not as popular as you are, Sapphire Angel, I have my fair share of fans," he replied, his face showing no emotion. "Do you think I can find him simply because he liked me?"
"No," she said with a slight shake of her head. "I'm asking you because I've learned he sent you an email before his disappearance. The email requested a meeting with you, to discuss what he called a matter of grave concern. Have you seen it?"
The senator's mouth twisted, and he gave a brief snort.
"Do you know how many email messages I get in a day? All of them supposedly about matters of grave concern. My staffers handle most of them, and I see enough that I probably wouldn't remember it, even if it made its way through them to me."
"Can you look for the message and determine if anything was done about it? Or if there was any follow up with Eric Stump?"
"I can check with my staff, and also ask my IT person to search on our server for it, and if there was any response to it. What was his email address?"
He grabbed a tablet and pen from a small table next to the chair, and jotted down Eric's address as she recited it.
"Thank you," she said. "I appreciate your efforts. Time is important here. Do you have any idea why he might have wanted to contact you?"
Chapelle shrugged. "It could be any of the thousands of reasons my constituents contact me with what they feel are urgent issues. It could be about a bill in Congress he believed to be life or death. It could be a local issue. It could even be a personal issue. Maybe a personal issue for a family member or friend. We get that all the time. There's really no way to narrow it down."
"He was a freelance programmer," she said, "and to the best of my knowledge it looks like he was working on a secret project for WarTech. Would that help narrow it down?"
Chappelle paused, but again showed no emotion.
"Not really," he replied. "WarTech is the most respected employer in the area and does everything by the book. The chances of them screwing him over — for example, on something like his pay — is pretty nonexistent. I doubt he was contacting me regarding anything they did."
Sapphire Angel pursed her lips. Someone with Chappelle's connections had to be able to help in some way.
"Senator, are you aware of any projects WarTech has been working on? Perhaps that knowledge might shed some light on what he was doing for them."
"Again, you're probably barking up the wrong tree. But either way, I'm not privy to the goings on over there at WarTech."
"So you have no idea what sort of things they would use an outside programmer for?"
"None. I think that's pretty normal for most companies. Most companies have their base staff and augment it with outside contractors."
Sapphire Angel fought back a sigh. This wasn't getting her anywhere. Perhaps the senator could help her in another way.
"I'd be curious to see what goes on over WarTech, Senator Chappelle. Do you think you could get me a tour, or something like that? Maybe meet some people in charge?"
Chapelle raised an eyebrow. "What exactly did you want to see?"
Sapphire Angel shrugged. "I just want to get an idea what goes on there. It seems like they make this town go, so if I want to put all the pieces together, it's as good a place to start as any."
"I can see what I can do," Chapelle said, giving a slow nod. He seemed to be deep in thought. "I have some connections there."
"Thank you. You've been a big help, Senator."
"Have I?"
"Often it's the background pieces, and how they fit together, that can help the most when I look into something. So even though I don't see an obvious path to the finish line, this will help."
"Anything I can do for you, Sapphire Angel, just ask."
"I will. When do you think I can expect to hear from you about a tour? Time is really important."
"I will call over there once we're done. I just need to know how to get in touch with you."
Sapphire Angel gave him the same phone number she had given to Officer Jennings, and told him that texting was the best way to communicate. They ended the meeting, and she left. Once again, she was the subject of awestruck stares from all his staffers, and was on the receiving end of flashes from the cameras waiting outside. She gave a brief smile before darting across the street and ducking into the alley.
Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
Oh goodness......unabIe to get a particuIarIy good read on Senator ChappeIIe here! From what I gather, he does have soIid footing at WarTech.....at Ieast enough to get Sapphire a tour. Speaking of her, I can onIy imagine what she was going through whiIe she was waIking down the news crew-fiIIed Iine towards the Senator.....being merciIessIy hounded Iike that wouId have probabIy cracked anyone eIse.....a reminder that fame isn't necessariIy aII fun and games. And she even faced it again on the way out.....I guess for someone who has been in the spotIight for as Iong as her; and gained as much renown as she has wouId definiteIy have to prepare for those sorts of things.
ReaIIy hoping ChappeIIe genuineIy is who he makes himseIf out to be in this chapter, and is not another corrupt person using a high authority as an excuse, Iike Mark Bishop. After having to withstand his suffering for severaI chapters of the previous noveI, I dont think I can take any more peopIe Iike him for a good, Iong whiIe. If I have to, though.....hopefuIIy they wiII get what's coming to them.
For now, though, Iike Sapphire said, he has been a big heIp. Thanks to him, we possibIy set ourseIves up for a tour at WarTech where, Id imagine, we'll Iearn more about what's going on. StiII traumatized about CIark Ieading us into a near-death trap at the bar, though, with Don Lanigan and the others. Maybe ChappeIIe might be trying to make the same pIay......after aII, its Sapphire who wiII be going and not Beth, so everyone wiII aIready know who she is and want at Ieast something to do with her. HopefuIIy they wiII be Iess annoying than the news crew and cameramen.
After that earIier ambush, I wouId feeI unsafe going anywhere, honestIy. We shouId stiII get ready for this tour, but aIso be ready for anything.
Targets are Mark DevIin, Mantis, Richard Turner, Detective CIark, and Don Lanigan. StiII don't know for sure about ChappeIIe.