Inside the Brownstone at 7:40

*

Workhouse board members rushed into the dining room, and they screamed at each other.

"Yoleta provided us with on-site guards and security officers." Karen pointed at the men to leave.

"Rodrick's so-called son, Trent Jones-Hale, caused my grandmother's death by ratting her out to the prime minister. They tried to toss me in the workhouse when he realized her money would go to me and not them." Lana's son stormed out of the party.

Yoleta's supervisor, Lana, entered the room. "Everyone is so angry at each other. I wonder if he received a postcard with upsetting news." She plodded toward Yoleta, lumbering forward, each step slower and less coordinated than the last. Her pain did not affect the aged beauty's appearance because cosmetics were artfully applied. She wore a badge on her dress.

Former Leader of Marriage Laws. She sighed. "Prime Minister Sean-Mack is an idiot, but so was his tenderhearted poppa. Sean-Mack has the same first, last, and middle name." In a mocking tone, she said. "I'm Sean-Mack- Sean-Mack-Sean-Mack, the second. My adopted son is too humiliated to be called by my name, so he calls himself Junior."

"That's not true. Junior's birth name is Junior, but Ann is his mother, and she hurt him..." Yoleta's eyes widened. "Maybe you shouldn't say that out loud."

"I know Junior's real name. I'm joking, but it disgusts me how you treat him and Madd-Ox. Girl, I'm sick and don't care. I haven't given my entire job up because of your behavior."

"What has Madd-Ox told you?" Yoleta asked.

"It's what I told him. Little girl, you're overworking him. Junior needs Madd-Ox's protection because you asked him to run. Apologize for being a jerk, but I'm sure you'll be a wonderful Prime Minister, but you're being a lousy friend." Lana's smile fell. "Will you and Rodrick take me home?"

"Are you sure? We have to bring Avery-Joy's ex, and he is pathetic," Yoleta said.

Lana's fingers clung to her friend's shoulder to steady herself. "Yes, but I'll ride in your limo, not your creepy hearse, though the ride would be fitting. I know you retrofitted it not to carry coffins, but my last ride won't be in an old funeral wagon. Sorry, I'm tired and weak, and I'm afraid I'll die on the way home. Can Rodrick drop me off?"

"Your condition isn't usually fatal," Yoleta said as she guided her supervisor, Lana, out of the brownstone and into her vehicle.

The others followed.

Yoleta, Stanton, and Rodrick left and arrived in Lana's neighborhood.

Rodrick and Lana vanished behind the trees.

Yoleta and Stanton waited around forty minutes outside in the limo for Rodrick to finish talking to her boss.

Yoleta didn't hear screams from within Lana's ranch-style home, but when he came back, he wore clean clothes and scrubbed fingernails. She realized Rodrick must have killed her boss, or at least knew the man who did.

She didn't gag. Glimmers of sadness reflected in her eyes. "Why did you murder my boss? You had potential, and I'm disappointed in you."

"He had to kill her. She is a Kindness Rebel. Vex is sending the squad to remove all evidence," Stanton said.

Rodrick's broad shoulders slumped. "I didn't kill Lana. Vex doesn't want her deathbed confessions leaked to the media. She stored these clothes to protect me."

Yoleta scowled, her mouth in a narrow line, and her fingers poked at his sleeves. "She was our friend."

"Stop blaming me for her murder." Rodrick didn't look her in the face.

Stanton opened his briefcase. "I demand a gift for not going to the media."

Yoleta sighed and fumbled for her wallet, keeping it close. "Vex can pay you, not me. I have nothing to do with this."

"Keep your money. Grew-Ella will make a lovely mistress after I wed a supermodel or the next queen. Vex signed these contracts for me in the past, but they won't give me Grew-Ella because Chase adores her. He's broke. Sean-Mack wants her dead; at least I'm better than him."

"Wow, I didn't realize you were this dangerous, and I should have known," Yoleta said. "Did you attack Ida?"

Stanton laughed at her. "Vex and I tossed her into a workhouse sewage vat after I used an old elf spell to bind her. Her rebirth hasn't happened. When you learn how rich I've become, both of you might change your mind. Yoleta, I can fund your campaign." Stanton pulled out more cash from his briefcase and threw cash at Yoleta's feet. "Each is worth fifty thousand."

"Ida has come back. You don't know how dangerous death-binding magic is. Who taught it to you?" Yoleta asked.

"I bought it in an underground market, and I'll use it on you too if you don't take my money for an engagement contract, aka the mistress contract. I'll dye Grew-Ella's hair and pay a plastic surgeon to fix her. She'll be an improved and less annoying version of her sister."

"No, I already signed a contract with Chase," Rodrick said.

"I don't plan to marry her. Vex sold Grew-Ella to Chase in exchange for Kindness Rebel information, but I offered cash." Avery-Joy's ex showed more money in his open briefcase.

"Young man, it's illegal to use the contract for deviant assaults. She'll stab you if you corner her," Rodrick said.

"Vex plans to use Grew-Ella as an unacceptable draft pick in a local fight-to-the-death beauty contest after Chase is bored playing hero. Grew-Ella might survive and win the title of village princess and free plastic surgery. She is stronger than she looks, and that beautiful freak injured your so-called son. Trent has never been the same."

Rodrick shrugged. "And you think you'll control her? If Grew-Ella didn't sign willingly, then I'm not interested. And the mansion you live in is rightfully owned by her brother, Madd-Ox. She doesn't take kindly to thieves."

"Don't blame me because I borrowed the money first. I'll pay it back if he gives me his sister. In the rare case that she becomes pregnant, I could sell her baby." He punched Rodrick in the stomach and fumbled for his weapon. "Sign, or I'll butcher you!"

Rodrick whipped out a laser gun and shot Stanton until the man stopped twitching. "I didn't try to kill him, but he forged execution paperwork and stole government funds." Rodrick's tears washed his hands.

Yoleta covered her mouth and gagged. "Every person on death row is filtered through Stanton and Vex. How many innocent people did I execute?"

Rodrick hugged her, leaving tears on her clothes. "Their deaths weren't your fault. Lana and I raided his estate and placed millions back into the government's main account, but Sean-Mack will blame Grew-Ella for his thefts." Rodrick avoided the man's attractive face.

"Stanton's passing won't be announced to his family for a day or two," Yoleta said.

Rodrick didn't move. "How will Karen react? She hates Stanton. Sean-Mack still wants her under control because she publicly accused him of kidnapping her daughter. She apologized when Grew-Ella returned, but the damage to his career will never be undone. He might try to frame or cancel her."

"You should have thought about that before you shot him." Yoleta's free hand touched his neck.

He sobbed harder and waited for her to squeeze. "I set my weapon to stun. Slaughter me. I can't live with the guilt."

"Honey, it was self-defense." Yoleta suddenly looked as if she didn't know what she was doing and hugged him. "Don't interfere with this election."

"Shouldn't you campaign after the recall results?" He asked.

"Even Junior is running. Check your phone. I received a text an hour ago. The votes are in. Sean-Mack tanked the economy and sold our most prestigious universities, libraries, restaurants, and businesses to New Jersey and West Virginia for money. Now he regrets it because he and Vex didn't realize the old interplanetary property law wouldn't be revoked. He attempted to rig the votes, but even that failed. My running for office is not premature."

"Go to Karen's and establish her alibi," he said.

Squad members opened the limo door, and they took Stanton's body in to be disposed of inside the Kill Home and cremated. Not realizing he was still breathing. The death-binding spell he cursed Ida with came back to him.

Stanton couldn't move as they wrapped him in the heavy cloth. The only thing he could do was wait until his flesh was transformed into ash.