Chapter 755: Scott Building
Friday, March 24th, Afternoon
There was a knock on the office door. She looked up from the papers on her desk. The local staffer looked at her with a painted-on smile. She nodded at the person, remembering why they were here and not in the District Office; they would be on the menu.
"Ma'am," The Staffer said.
"Yes," Izzy said.
"There's a Mrs. Adams wanting to see you," The Staffer said.
"I don't know any Mrs. Adams," Izzy said.
"A Kristen Adams, Ma'am, she says you're related," The Staffer said.
Izzy nodded and bit her bottom lip. This was unexpected: one of the few people she had never wanted to see walk through her office door. On the other hand, she was one of Izzy's constituents, and it wouldn't be good to turn away a voter.
"Do I have time for her?" Izzy asked in a measured voice.
"Yes, Ma'am, you have a few minutes," The Staffer said.
Izzy nodded, "Very well, send her in," she said.
"Yes, Ma'am," The Staffer said and left the door.
Izzy brushed her bangs out of her eyes and stood up. She straightened her jacket and stood behind her desk. In the door, The Staffer returned with a tall woman who obviously bleached her hair and had several piercings; she seemed to keep herself fit but had a haggard look. It was a sharp contrast between the two women.
Izzy walked over and extended her hand. "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Adams; how may I help you?" she said.
"Thank you," Kristen said.
"Leave us and close the door, please," Izzy said to The Staffer.
"Yes, Ma'am," The Staffer said and left.
"Please have a seat," Izzy said, sitting behind the desk. Kristen took a seat in front of the desk. "How may I help you?"
"Izzy, you don't have to be so formal," Kristen said.
"Why not?" Izzy asked.
"We are family," Kristen said.
Izzy nodded. "On the technicality that you married my sperm donor," she said.
"That's not kind," Kristen said.
"He's not a kind person," Izzy said.
"Neither was your mom. There are two sides to every story," Kristen said.
"But half of the time they were married, he wasn't around, correction over half of the time," Izzy said.
"From my understanding, your mom had her own issues," Kristen said.
Izzy nodded, "Fair point," she said.
"It's the truth; she admitted she's an alcoholic and a mean drunk," Kristen said.
Izzy nodded, "That she was," she said.
"There are two sides to every story," Kristen said.
Izzy nodded, "So, how is he doing?" she asked.
"Which he? Your dad or brother?" Kristen asked.
"Both, I suppose," Izzy said.
"Well, Noah is lost; he's looking for who he is and wants to connect with his sisters," Kristen said.
"I see," Izzy said.
"He's tried reaching out to Chase," Kristen said.
"But he's been rebuffed," Izzy said.
"Yes," Kristen said.
"Probably in Chase's oh-so-subtle way," Izzy said.
"Exactly, and he's hurting because of it," Kristen said.
Izzy nodded, "I see," she said.
"Now, as for your dad, you know he, a few years after you moved down here, he got into an accident," Kristen said.
Izzy nodded, "I was a senior at Yale," she said.
Kristen nodded, "Yes, you were a senior," she said.
"How is he doing?" Izzy asked.
Kristen tilted her head, "He suffered a traumatic brain injury, which has led to early onset dementia," she said.
"How bad?" Izzy asked.
"He has his good days and bad. The impact is we generally can't have people over the house, which isolates Noah even more," Kristen said.
Izzy nodded, "I see," she said; there was a knock on the door. The door opened, and The Staffer came in. "Yes?"
"It's time, Ma'am," The Staffer said.
"Thank you," Izzy said and turned to Kristen. "Thank you for coming."
Kristen stood up and nodded. "Thank you for your time," she said.
"You're welcome," Izzy said.
The Staffer escorted Kristen out of the office. Izzy went over to her credenza and poured herself a glass of water. After siping her water, she turned to see The Staffer at the door.
"Please send for Winter," Izzy said.
"Ms. Overton, Ma'am?" The Staffer asked.
"Yes," Izzy said.
The Staffer nodded. "Yes, Ma'am," The Staffer said and left.
Izzy took a sip of her water. She watched the door as Winter Overton walked into her office. The two women locked eyes.
"You wanted to see me, Ma'am," Winter said.
"Yes, Winter, I did," Izzy said.
"How can I be of service?" Winter asked.
Izzy put her glass down and walked over to her desk. She sat down, pulled out a piece of paper, and wrote something down.
"I need a discreet and accurate inquiry," Izzy said.
"Of course, Ma'am," Winter said, "Of who?"
Izzy handed Winter the piece of paper. Winter looked at it and nodded.
"Yes, Ma'am," Winter said.
"As quick and discreet as possible, Winter," Izzy said.
"Yes, Ma'am," Winter said, "Would that be all?"
"Yes," Izzy said.
"I'll get right on it, Ma'am," Winter said.
"Thank you, and as discreet as possible," Izzy said.
"Yes, Ma'am," Winter said and left.