Thanks to everyone who's been reading my story! This chapter is extra long to make up for the shorter ones I've posted lately. Please don't be afraid to send me a review!
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"Hamilton has been increasingly difficult, hasn't he?" Burr basically spit. Madison swiveled in the chair beside him. They were waiting for Jefferson, apparently he had something to discuss with the two of them. It was uncommon for just the three of them to be getting together, so Madison and Burr truly had no idea why Jefferson had called them there.
"I don't particularly like the boy," Madison said as Burr chuckled at his use of the word boy, "But you seem to have a fire of hatred inside you directed toward him." Madison was calm; he had to be. If his blood pressure rose too high he would have more than just an anger issue, he would have a medical issue as well.
"I've hated him ever since he stepped off of that boat," Burr grumbled, "Immigrants…" Madison was genuinely perplexed. He didn't like Hamilton because of his political views, but as a person, it was hard to deny how hardworking and committed Alexander was.
"Why?" He questioned, digging into Burr's subconcious.
"He always seems to be one step ahead, doesn't he?" Burr said with a sly face. Madison nodded, but before he could answer, Jefferson swung the door open, interrupting their conversation.
"Gentlemen," Jefferson said as Madison and Burr stood to greet him, "Please, be seated. We have much to discuss." Then, he flipped up his coat tails and took seat as well.
"What is it Jefferson? My daughter will be expecting me home soon," Burr stated.
"Ah yes, Theodosia. How is she?" Jefferson smiled. He obviously had something up his sleeve. Jefferson was rarely this filled with glee.
"She's fine, Thomas," Burr answered with a bit of an edge in his voice.
Ignoring him, Jefferson began, "Gentlemen, I have found something interesting," he stood up and began pacing the room as he could not contain his excitement, "Hamilton is not the man the world percieves him to be." Burr and Madison glanced at one another. Jefferson sounded truly mad.
"Well we've always known that," Madison mumbled, rolling his eyes. Burr nodded in agreement.
"Ah but my dear Madison, here is why," Jefferson said, the words basically falling off of his tongue. "Our friend Alexander has made some unexplained payments to a man named James Reynolds." Madison's eyes widened, but Burr just scoffed.
"So? What does that matter?" He sneered.
"Burr, do I have to spell it out for you?" Thomas seethed, he was regretting inviting Aaron to this meeting every second. He and Madison could've easily defeated Hamilton by themselves.
Before Jefferson attack Burr, Madison stepped in with an explanation. "If Hamilton has unexplained payments, that could mean that he is embezzling funds from the government."
The joy returned to Jefferson's face and he exclaimed, "And even better, he's an immigrant!" The country was already apprehensive to trust somebody that wasn't born in America. This could tip that distrust over the edge.
"We'll have to confront him," Madison proposed and Burr and Jefferson agreed.
"Alexander's office. Noon. A man's legacy will be ruined," Jefferson smiled.
When the three arrived at Alexander's office, they paused for a moment at the door before going in. Burr was fired up; you could tell that nothing was going to stop him. Jefferson seemed collected yet excited. Hamilton had made him seem like a fool for a long time and now it was his turn. Madison, on the other hand, looked almost solemn. He didn't exactly like what was happening, but he also knew that it had to be done. So, with a glance of affirmation, the three of them entered the office.
Not surprisingly, Hamilton was busy with his quill when they walked in. Startled, he looked up to see the three men standing in front of him. In an attempt to seem casual, Alexander set down his quill and leaned back in his chair a bit. "Jefferson," he began. "Madison, and mister Burr. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Here, standing in his office, were three people that have come to hate him at one time or another. Hamilton knew that the reason could not possibly be pleasant.
Taking a seat in front of Hamilton's desk, Jefferson said, "Alexander, we have found something most troubling. Check stubs from separate accounts and different amounts that totaled to over a thousand dollars." Alexander's eyes squinted, as if trying to figure out whatever ridiculousness was spilling from Jefferson's mouth.
Not allowing Alexander to intervene, Madison followed suit of Jefferson, taking a seat as well, and then said, "They were addressed to a Mr. James Reynolds back in 1791. You could see why we would be concerned." Alexander's thoughts began swirling around in a million directions in his head but on the outside he kept a calm stature.
He looked to Burr, expecting him to say something as well but when he didn't Alexander questioned, "Is that what you have? Are you done?" Madison was startled at his response. He at least expected Hamilton to deny the allegations.
"You see, Mr. Hamilton, you are in a position in which you could easily have financial gain from your own nation," Madison tried to say as politely as possible. He knew Jefferson would be rude enough for the two of them.
"Alexander we're only questioning you because we care about our country," Jefferson sarcastically said. Madison shot him a look. He didn't want Alexander to challenge him to a duel right here in this very office.
"Especially due to the fact that you're an immigrant, something such as this could ruin your career," Burr stated in a snide fashion. Alexander had been taking the remarks quietly, but after Burr's comment about his heritage, he could no longer sit still.
"Ha!" He exclaimed, rising from his chair and slamming his hands on his desk. "You don't even know what you're asking me to confess. You have nothing." The three men opposed to him raised an eyebrow at one another. They had no idea to what Hamilton was referring. Suddenly, Alexander had realized his mistake. He told them there was something else to find; something that they weren't accusing him of. He knew they would only dig deeper and deeper until they found what he was really trying to hide. Alexander was tired of playing games. He had been a pawn in them for too long. Slowly sitting back down his chair, he continued, "If I can prove that I never broke the law, do you promise not to tell another soul what you saw?"
Once again, Jefferson, Madison and Burr were speechless. But, a few seconds later Madison took the lead and said, "Yes, if you show us proves to be true and worthwhile." Jefferson didn't like this promise, but he knew that most of them were empty anyway. Besides, he would trust James with his life.
Carefully, Hamilton reached for the handle of his desk drawer and pulled out a box. He flipped through papers until he found the letter he had been searching for; the one from James Reynolds that demanded money in return for his wife's 'services'. Hesitantly, he handed it to Madison. As they were reading, he whispered, "As you can see, Reynold's extorted me and I paid him quarterly. I never spent a cent that wasn't mine. Check the accounts."
In haste, Jefferson grabbed the letter from Madison's hands and threw it on the desk. He was disappointed that he wasn't tearing down in the way he hoped, but even more so he was disgusted at the man he knew. He had met Alexander's wife, Eliza. He had no idea how someone could be so unkind to such a gentle woman.
"Gentlemen, let's go," Madison said as he exited and Jefferson followed behind him. There were no other words to say. Burr, being the man that he was, stayed in the office weighing his options.
"Burr do you promise that you won't use this against me?" Alexander questioned when he saw Burr's hesitance. But, Burr could only think of one thing. Alexander had children! Children that were the same age as his Theodosia. He could never look her in the eye again if he did something as foul as what Alexander had. Something like this could truly ruin him.
"Alexander," he paused, "rumors only grow. We both know what we know."