Say the Word(139)

“It’s so very short sighted of you to ask me that question. Why? Why would I do this?” She leaned forward, her voice intent and her eyes suddenly gleaming. “I’m the wife of a U.S. Senator. The arm candy. The Stepford Wife with a great complexion, good breeding, and no brains in her head. Right?” She laughed again, and I flinched at the harsh sound, my fingers clenching against something metallic. Abruptly, I realized I’d been so stupefied by Judith’s appearance, I’d forgotten I still held the scissors in my hand.

“That was my role. Sit still, stay quiet, look pretty.” Judith’s eyes narrowed. “It didn’t matter that I had twice the brains of my senator husband. I’d never have been elected. Do you know why, Lux?”

I shook my head as my fingers worked silently, angling the scissors to saw at the bonds holding my wrists. Progress was painfully slow — I knew I had to keep my arm muscles as immobile as possible to avoid detection.

“Let’s play a game,” Judith suggested, uncrossing her legs and folding her hands delicately in her lap. “For every answer you get correct, I’ll let you stay in here a little longer. Too many wrong answers, and I’ll have you taken outside. And, believe me, Lux, you don’t want to go out there until it’s absolutely necessary. Understand?”

Seeing no other options, I nodded. My right hand began to grow tired and I feared the small blade was growing duller with each stroke, but I kept sawing anyway.

“How many U.S. Senators are there?”

A third grader could’ve answered that one. “One hundred.”

Judith nodded. “Good. And when was the Senate founded?”

That was a little harder. I thought back to the history classes I’d taken in college, racking my brain for the answer. “1789?” I guessed, holding my breath until I saw Judith smile coolly.

“Someone knows her history. Very good,” she praised. “And today, more than two full centuries later, how many women have served in the Senate? Any idea?”

I swallowed roughly. I had no clue — not even the shadow of an inkling.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, finally feeling one of the bindings on my wrist begin to split.

“Well, that’s unfortunate.” Judith rose from her seat and walked to the curtained window. Pulling the velvet drapes aside, she stood before the pane. I craned my neck, but could see almost nothing in the black night outside the window. A few industrial lights, some metal fencing — nothing I could properly make out.

“It’s getting late. We’ll be leaving soon.” She turned back to face me. “The answer to my question is forty-four.”

I stared at her in silence.

“Forty-four women have served on the Senate.” She walked closer. “Not this year. Ever. In the history of our country. In two and a quarter centuries.”

“I didn’t know that,” I whispered, feeling one of the cords holding my wrists sever completely.

“There are twenty female senators serving this term. Twenty, out of a hundred. It’s considered a banner year for women.” She sat on the sofa again, glancing at her watch with a sigh. “And yet, you ask me why I would run an organization like this.”

I bunched the loosened bindings in my hands so they wouldn’t fall to the floor and give me away, sighing lightly as I felt circulation begin to return to my freed fingers. “I’m sorry, Judith, I still don’t understand how the underrepresentation of women in our government could possibly justify the things you’ve done to young, defenseless girls.”

“I’ll spell it out for you, since you’re clearly not intelligent enough to put it together yourself,” she said, her eyes coldly excited — as much emotion as I’d ever seen from her. “The answer is simple. Power.”

As she spoke, I was beginning to realize she wasn’t just a shrewd, unfeeling businesswoman — she was totally unhinged. Now that I was free from my bonds, I could make my escape at any time. But I knew the element of surprise was the only thing I had working in my favor. Plus, if I wanted to hear her motives, I needed to bide my time.

“I control Labyrinth, which means I control every secret that goes on inside its walls. I know about every major business deal and political decision before it happens. I know which senators prefer the underage brunettes, and which congressmen most enjoy the busty blondes.”

Her voice dropped to an impassioned whisper.

“There may never be equality for women in positions of power, and I may never be elected to office — but what does that matter, if I can pull the strings of the most powerful men in this country? I’m the puppeteer — the female puppeteer — who holds the end of all their chains.” She laughed. “Perhaps, if they’d been able to keep their peckers in their pants for more than twenty minutes, they wouldn’t have found themselves in this situation.”

“But… you’re talking about women’s rights. About the need for gender equality….” I shook my head in disbelief. “And, all the while, you’re snatching girls from their families and selling them to the highest bidder. How is that remotely sane?”

The smile dropped off her face. “What are the lives of a few immigrant girls in comparison to women finally, finally, having some power in this country? I shape national policy. I make sure your right to vote, to choose, to work in a professional field stay in tact. And you have the audacity to question that.” She glared at me. “You should be thanking me. Not working against me.”