Free Flashpoint by Ed Gorman

Ripper would have gotten following those bloody long-ago nights in Whitechapel. All the sites except for Empire News showed at least some restraint. Not enough was known yet to come right out and say that Senator Logan had smashed the skull of his bimbo honey. Empire News had already placed him on the gurney where he would receive the injection that would take him to the depths of hell. They went heavy on his liberal politics and quoted one of their familiar talking heads, a so-called professor at a Christian college that had a white supremacist on the staff. He said, ‘If you want to understand how liberalism corrupts all those who promote it, look at Senator Logan. He might have been a decent man at one time in his life. But if these charges are true – and I must say, things don’t look good for the man – then his decadence speaks for itself.’ This was the same man who reported sightings of Jesus even more often than a certain type of person reports seeing Big Foot eating French fries at McDonald’s.
    I had no doubt that if a polling company started questioning people the results would show that the majority would be certain that the senator was guilty. And the story was only a few hours old.
    I found the number for the police station and called it.
    â€˜Police station.’
    â€˜My name is Dev Conrad. I’m Senator Logan’s campaign consultant. I’d like to know if the senator is still there?’
    â€˜I’m going to connect you with Detective Roberts.’
    â€˜Thank you.’
    A minute-long wait. ‘Detective Roberts.’
    I went through my introduction again.
    â€˜What can I do for you, Mr Conrad?’
    â€˜I’d like to know if Senator Logan is still there and if so when you expect him to be released.’
    â€˜He’s still here but I can’t tell you anything about when he’ll be leaving. Detective Hammell is in charge of the investigation. That’ll be up to him.’
    â€˜So I assume Jane Tyler is still there, too.’
    â€˜She’s with Detective Hammell and Senator Logan, yes.’
    â€˜I’d appreciate it if you could give her my phone number and ask her to call me.’
    â€˜I’ll do what I can. I’m plenty busy myself.’
    â€˜I understand.’ I gave him the number of my cell. ‘I appreciate your help, Detective.’
    â€˜If you’re thinking of coming here, I’d recommend against it. The place is a zoo. We’ve never seen this many reporters.’
    â€˜I appreciate the tip. And I won’t be coming. Thanks again.’
    Just as I was hanging up my room phone rang. I was sure I knew who it would be. Somebody from Washington. I wondered why they hadn’t called sooner. They were past masters at panicking and for once this was a time for it.
    â€˜Our phone here might be bugged. We haven’t swept this room for two days. I just ducked in here because I don’t want anybody eavesdropping.’
    Both parties have what functions as a headquarters. Ours is a conduit for everything from gossip about an opponent to getting emergency campaign cash. The man on the line had been a congressman many years earlier but had stayed in Washington because he liked the nightlife there, as all of his wives would attest to. Some people disintegrate when they panic; he was the type who just got real pissed off when things went bad all of a sudden. The way he was clipping his words off I could tell he was pissed right now. I should also mention that we weren’t what you call fond of each other. I thought he was smug and he thought I was ungrateful. We’d never actually met and that was, I suspected, a good thing.
    â€˜Did he or didn’t he?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜A setup?’
    â€˜Yes. Howie Ruskin’s out here.’
    A pause. ‘You sure of that?’
    â€˜Yes. As soon as we hang up I’m going to start looking for him.’
    â€˜We’ve