Culprit
G . . .
e . . .
o . . .
r . . .
g . . .
i. . .
a . . . Sands. Dies . . . at precisely . . . 7:13 pm . . . of . . . a heart attack.
The pen danced on the bone-white page, leaving the name of the former American vice-president in red ink. Forty seconds passed, and the writer exhaled. The job would be done.
"Two."
The writer turned to the miniature television in the small, dark room. The writer picked up the remote that lay beside the stolen Death Note and pointed it at the television. With a leather-bound finger, the writer turned the TV on.
The first thing the writer saw on the screen was worms. The writer'd left a documentary channel on. As the vaguely British commentator droned on, the writer had a brief, flickering memory
DIRTdirtdirtdirtDIRT
grossDIRT! Wormswormswormswormsmaggots dirt
wood? Wood dirt can't BReaTHe
helphelpHELPHELPpain
The writer blocked it out. It was history. Soon, there would be a new pace for the world. A new basis for civilization. With the writer secretly at its exact center. Circle. Pi.
"3.14159 . . ."
Click. Click. Click.
The time was 7:12. Soon. Soon . . .
7:13.
"Channel number . . . four, I presume."
The writer switched to Channel 4 and waited. Waverly Wednesday founds another school . . . UFO sightings around Roswell, New Mexico, yes yes yes . . . but where was the-
"B-Breaking news! Oh my . . . we're receiving reports that the recently sworn in Georgia Sands is dying . . . is dead of a heart attack!" cried the burly anchorman from behind his podium. He sat, clutching at his Bluetooth.
A creeping grin stretched across the writer's smooth face. But, just as quickly as it came, the smile left.
Mustn't dwell. I've had my fun now, and I will have it again, but for now it has to get serious. This isn't for fun, and it shouldn't be. He wouldn't approve. Back to business. The writer picked up the pen, turned to the Note, and proceeded to write down the name of the Speaker of the House, Vance Haddock. Then the President pro tempore of the Senate, Mary Miens. Then the Secretaries of State and Treasury, Caleb Cole and Nelson Jobe, respectively. Secretary of Defense, Farah Han. Attorney General, Gene Friedrichs. Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security.
Jacob Woo, Kate Harris, Neil Biggs, Daniel Leinad, Dress Dearly, Victor Tolv, Xavier Sable, Janet Lina, Raymond Fergley, Kara Krowe, and Malice Mayday.
Respectively.