Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

Ambrose Patriota raised his index finger and the young
woman awaiting Josie’s pleasure faded away. The senator sat
back, unbuttoned the jacket of his dark suit, and lamented:
“Always a drama around here, I fear. If it’s not someone trying
to kill us, it’s someone trying to touch us, talk to us, sway us,
or degrade us. I apologize for what happened.”
“I’m not sure what you have to be sorry about,” Josie
suggested.
“Our lack of security for one. Our people are better trained
than that. I’m sorry you were the one in the way.”
“Senator, I wasn’t in the way. That man came at me for a
reason.” Josie moved, itching to be out of the office, eager to
talk to the man in custody. Sadly, the rules of this place were
as unforgiving as the couch she sat on and Ambrose Patriota
was kindly dismissive of her desires.
“I’m sure it seemed that way, but I fear you are indulging in
wishful thinking. You came to talk about a personally
horrifying experience, anything people say to you here will be
interpreted in that light.”
Josie returned his smile, but it was not as practiced as his.
Her expression clearly indicated she did not like to be
patronized.
“What he said was very distinct. I did not mistake it. He
knows where Hannah is.”
“Truly?” One heavy brow rose to challenge her. “That man
told you specifically that he knows where Hannah is?”
Patriota hit Hannah’s name a little hard and Josie realized
that he was trying to put it in context. It both amused and
frustrated her that the essence of her testimony was forgotten
so easily. Before she could point out that it seemed his
hearings were an exercise in futility, she saw things click into
place like lucky sevens.
Hannah.
Albania.