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Story: The Maverick

“How do you know?” I asked.

She smirked. “I know a few things.”

When everyone left, my mom stayed behind. “Do you need anything else besides blueberries?”

“No, thanks.”

“How aboutAtropa belladonna, the berry from the nightshade family?”

How could she know what I was thinking? I was going to find them in the woods later.

“You have some?”

“No, but I know who grows them.”

“I’ll take some then. Thank you.” That would save me time.

She patted my hand. “I’m glad you’re using your botany knowledge for this.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY

VANESSA

Vivian had bookeda suite in the Silver Cloud Hotel using a false alias. All the girls accompanied me except our pregnant friends. They would arrive when the event started, even though I’d told them to sit this one out. I didn’t want anything to happen to them in case my plan didn’t work, but I had stubborn friends who didn’t listen to me.

Audri, Natalie, Vivian, Michelle, and I woke up at six in the morning to get ready. The event was scheduled to start at noon, but we wanted extra time in case we had to adjust.

The painting was in storage beside the banquet hall. I had alerted the hotel staff that I didn’t want to risk the First Lady seeing her portrait. I wanted her to be surprised. The manager understood and told me to ask the front desk for a key when I was ready to transport the painting to the banquet hall.

After my friends and I freshened up, they dressed in jeans and T-shirts that read We Love the First Lady. I wore a skin-colored leotard and tossed on a First-Lady T-shirt over it with knit pants. I’d seen videos of Madeline’s supporters wearingthese shirts to her events, and they made it easier for us to maneuver around the hotel.

Natalie carried my makeup bag, and Audri held my garment bag. I carried two plastic containers. One had strawberries and raspberries. The other containedAtropa belladonna—a poisonous berry that looked exactly like blueberries. To a person who wasn’t familiar with this deadly nightshade, it looked safe to eat. But theAtropa belladonnacontained tropane alkaloids, which increased the heart rate and caused delirium, vomiting, hallucinations, and respiratory failure.

I didn’t want the President and his wife in prison. That was too easy. What if they paid someone off? Or what if they escaped? I couldn’t risk that. They deserved all the pain before death came for them. I’d always been a kind person, but I’d learned that some people didn’t deserve kindness.

Audri got the key and told the staff we were moving the painting to the banquet hall, prepping for the event. It took two of us to transport the giant painting safely. Natalie locked the door as soon as we entered. A wide-screen TV was mounted on the wall at the front. Two more TVs were secured to the side walls. The hall didn’t have any windows. Musical instruments were already set up in a corner for a local band. About twenty tables with white linen tablecloths and chairs were scattered around the room. A flower centerpiece and reserved name tags sat on each table. A few tall tables stood beside the refreshment area. We carried the painting to the front of the room near the TV and leaned it against the wall beside a table reserved for the First Couple.

I took off the T-shirt and draped it over a chair, revealing my nude leotard. I opened the makeup bag and painted my face to match how Madeline looked in the painting. It disgusted me, but I was doing this for Attikus, me, my mom, the boys, my girls, and all the people who had been hurt by Madeline or The Trogyn.

Natalie helped me dress in the poufy gown made of canvas fabric. I’d painted the gown to match the floral background. All I had to do was position myself how I’d painted the figure of the First Lady. I would be a three-dimensional figure with a floral dress popping off the surface.On any other day and for any other reason, this would be an innovative art piece for a museum. But today, I was using this method to capture my enemies.

I positioned myself. “What do you guys think?”

Standing farther away, Natalie squinted. “Move one inch to the right and tilt your head a little.”

I did as she directed.

“Perfect.” Natalie walked up to me, adjusting the gown.

“I don’t know how you do it. You, the dress, and the painting are aligned perfectly,” said Michelle. “It’s impeccable.”

“Thanks.” I smiled warmly.

Michelle and Natalie attached sections of the dress to the Velcro pieces that were hot glued to the painting. This helped keep the dress in place.

The long hem hid my feet, which were in flats in case I needed to dart to safety.

Audri placed the pretty bowl ofAtropa belladonnaberries at the front table, where a sign read Reserved for the First Lady. She also added bowls of strawberries and raspberries.

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