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Rep. Angie Parker: 436 (18.8%)

Marston Gunn: 47 (2.0%)

35 delegates did not cast votes for any candidate.

Marston Gunn, a businessman best known as the former chief of For Real TV and brother to disgraced financier Douglas Gunn, of the notorious Granny Gate scandal, has seen his support increase in recent weeks. Based on polling results, his “gravitas” appeals to voters, likewise his ideas to tackle the California housing crisis. His more popular stances include banning hedge funds from buying residential units, stricter restrictions around flipping homes, and raising taxes on billionaires to fund the voucher program.

Although these plans have resonated with voters, insiders say Gunn intends to back off on housing and instead focus on Congress’s ineptitude. It’s a significant change in tack and one wonders whether he’s shooting himself in the foot. Notably, Gunn was a no-show at the weekend’s events.

“He got a bit over his skis,” says independent Democratic strategist Theo Lemke. “Gunn put a stake in the ground without thinking through the repercussions and now he needs money from the very people who profit from an unjust system. It’s an odd choice to skip the convention, which would’ve given him the opportunity to reframe his change in position. I guess he got lucky with the norovirus outbreak.”

Gunn could not be reached for comment, though his spokesperson notably didn’t refute the rumored change in position. Whether this is a fatal mistake remains to be seen.

Chapter Sixty-Six

Talia

Talia sat in the rental car, staring at the hospital. Gabby and Ozzie waited near the entrance. Dad was out of the ICU, and Talia needed a moment to collect herself before going inside.

The past forty-eight hours had been a blur as they processed their new reality while attempting to rid themselves of a violent dinosaur-bird. Talia gave her sister a ton of credit for dealing with her PBS alone for so many years. Gabby showed her the tattoos, and there were a lot of them. Talia hadn’t been aware of any screaming hairy armadillos or swamp rabbits.

After dispatching the cassowary, the three Gunns combed through the doctor’s instructions, stocking the kitchen with the right food and briefing Dad’s traveling physician on the new protocol. Honestly, what had he been doing all these months if not making sure Dad stayed healthy?

“He’d visibly lost a step lately,” Gabby said as they broke it all down.

“Yeah, and he was super wheezy at the volleyball game,” Ozzie agreed.

Talia thought he definitely seemed older—paler, thinner, worn out—but had chalked it up to the campaign, and losing FDG. They’d all sensed something was off but no one spoke it out loud and now it made Talia wonder whether maybe, justmaybe, Mom’s downward spiral was obvious only in hindsight.

Would Dad stay in the race? The answer remained TBD, and Ustenya threatened to poison anyone who asked him directly. If he did keep going, they’d need to devise entirely new messaging. Talia couldn’t believe he’d jettisoned the housing angle without telling her. Then again, this was also a man who’d harbored a secret heart condition, so who really knew. She worked hard to tamp down her anger about his change of position because you weren’t supposed to be mad at an old man in an ICU.

“There go my plans to change the world,” she’d half joked to Raj last night, as they sat beside the outdoor fireplace, sharing a bottle of wine. She didn’t know what they meant to each other, or what would happen in the future, and maybe that was okay.

“He wasn’t going to change the world,” Raj said because he understood her joking was something less than “half.”

“Yeah, my expectations were high, but if changes don’t come from above, how will anything get fixed? It’s quite demoralizing. Even Gabby’s packing it up and going home!”

“If you’re expecting a politician to save you, you’re screwed. You’ll only ever be let down. You need to start smaller, and accept that if you can make things a little easier for one person, then it’s a win.”

“But is it a win? You can’t move anyone higher up on the list,” Talia said. “You’ve personally put hundreds of hours into LASD, and you’ll put in hundreds more, but every problem you run up against is ultimately unsolvable.”

“True, but I can give them hope, and the knowledge someone out there gives a shit. Sometimes it’s enough. You have to remember who you’re doing this for. And the answer isn’t, you know, society.”

“I didn’t saysociety,” Talia grumbled as his words began to soak in.Remember who you’re doing this for. Raj was right, of course. Talia came to California to help Dad, not help other people through him. That she’d have to do on her own.

Suddenly, somebody rapped on the car window. Talia almostjumped out of her clogs. It was Ozzie, motioning for her to hurry up. They’d driven all the way to the hospital, and she should exit the car at some point. Gabby was already inside.

Talia kicked open the door. “Sorry,” she said, stepping out. “Just pondering some stuff. Also, procrastinating. I’m nervous to see him. I’m not even sure why.” She weighed this for a beat. “Maybe I’m afraid of how he’ll look, or what he’ll say. Maybe I’m afraid of whatI’llsay. Like, what the fuck, Dad?”

Ozzie chuckled. “In reference to...?”

“I dunno, take your pick!” she said as they stepped up onto the curb. “This campaign. His platform. The heart disease.”

“And he’ll be like, counterpoint, ‘the fuck happened with Spencer?’” Ozzie said, a devilish glint in his eyes. Talia groaned. “Did I hear correctly? Were you caught fucking Raj in the Jacuzzi?”

“Oscar!” Talia shrieked, slapping him with the back of her hand. “I was notfuckingRaj in the Jacuzzi.”

“Somewhere else, then?” Ozzie said, and Talia punched him this time. “JK, JK. I donotwant to know the details. But God, what a way for the guy to find out. Sorry, sis, I love ya.” He rumpled her hair. “But I’ve gotta be Team Spencer.”