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“What makes you think that doing in-person appearances will change any of that?”
“People want to see the person they’re voting for. They don’t want to vote for a face on a screen. No matter how good my reasons for doing online appearances may be, it puts a distance between me and my voters, a distance that I can’t afford.”
It was a logical argument, but Alex had her own logical argument that trumped any concerns Elizabeth had. “I know it must be frustrating, but this is your life we’re talking about, Lizzy. Keeping you safe is more important than protecting the progress of your career. You can’t do anyone any good if you’re dead.”
“I know that, but I can’t keep hiding forever. It’s been weeks. The security around my house is top-notch, and if the person after me is watching, he must have seen that you’re with me all the time. I’ve become too difficult a target. He’s going to move on to easier prey. There are certainly plenty of liberal politicians for him to choose from.”
“Yes, but if he has a particular problem with the LGBT+ community, he’ll likely target you specifically. He could be biding his time, just waiting for security to loosen, and when it does, he’ll strike.”
“Maybe, but we’ll only know that when it happens. I’m not spending the rest of my life in hiding.”
“I’m not asking you to spend the rest of your life in hiding—just until the police catch whoever is after you.”
“That could be years! It would completely wreck my career to stay here like a hermit for that long.”
“Then your career gets wrecked. Your life is more important.”
“Some things are more important than personal safety, Alex!”
“No, they’re not!”
“Like you have room to talk. Tell me you wouldn’t willingly sacrifice your personal safety to protect me.”
“That’s different—it’s my job!”
“Well, this is my job!”
“Your job isn’t to throw yourself in front of a bullet, Lizzy, that’smyjob!”
“No, it isn’t! Don’t you dare throw yourself in front of a bullet for me, Alex. Your job is to protect both of us, remember?”
“Then let me do it! Stay here, where you’re safe.”
“I can’t, Alex.”
“Yes, you can!”
The two of them glared at each other. It was a weird feeling of déjà vu, and not one Alex liked at all. She and Elizabeth hadn’t really fought since the early days, before Elizabeth had understood better about what needed to be done to keep herself safe.
Now, it felt like they were taking a step back in time, and Alex hated it. She didn’t want to fight with Elizabeth, but she couldn’t just stand idly by and let the woman she loved put herself in danger, all for a job.
“I’m going to start doing public appearances again, and that’s final. I’ll keep my temporary office here in my lounge, and I’ll take your advice on which venues to choose and how to vet them, but making the appearances is not a debate.”
Alex clenched her hands into fists, trying to control her breathing. She didn’t know whether she was more angry or afraid—angry with Elizabeth for putting herself in danger like this, or afraid she would lose her.
“I’m not happy about this, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth softened slightly. “I wouldn’t expect you to be. If it was the other way around, I wouldn’t be happy, either, but it has to be done.”
No, it didn’t, but Alex knew that arguing further wouldn’t do any good. “Give me a list of venues,” she sighed in defeat. “I’ll have a look through them and eliminate any that have obvious sniper points, though so far this gunman seems to favor close-range shooting rather than sniper shots.”
“Thank you, Alex. I’ll take your security precautions into account. I’m sure we can make this work.”
Alex hoped she was right. She couldn’t stand to lose Elizabeth. She wouldn’t survive it. She had barely survived losing her unit. Losing Elizabeth too would take what remained of her heart and destroy it.
Alex planned Elizabeth’s first public appearance like preparing for a siege from an overwhelming army. She thought of every eventuality, planned for each possible outcome.
Unfortunately, practicalities got in the way.
