Breaking the Chains. William T Blake
him. Cathy had no knowledge or real interest in politics but she was very attractive, presenting as a lady of breeding and poise. She matched every criterion for his standards and expectations, a perfect match for a future high profile politician. Ken, being aware of the manipulation taking place was determined to make up his own mind. He did, and happily married Cathy eighteen months after their first encounter.
It was following his marriage to Cathy that he caused the most controversy amongst his family and the political party. He resigned from the party and immediately joined the opposition ranks. At that time he was a relative unknown to the people, but his defection was a coup for the opposition who had struggled to capture any real talented candidates for some years. Many others followed Ken seeing his defection as the new trend in politics. He would rise rapidly through the party ranks, win a seat in parliament and eventually be elected party leader.
Ken had fulfilled his father’s ambitions for him albeit with the wrong political party. His father was proud of his son but never forgave his defection and he himself retired fully from public life as a result of Ken's actions. A retirement that was described as a great loss to the party and to the public he served. Ken was oblivious to the pressures his actions placed upon his father or for that matter from where and whom they came.
While Ken still often thought of Sarah he never made the mistake of personally contacting her at any time. That was then, now is now and he knew they would both have changed in the pursuing years. He did, however, continue to send money, a risk he knew could cause him grief if ever discovered by the wrong people. He had no doubts that his motives were above board and right. Sarah had opened his eyes to the real world and she had been instrumental in his maturity, taking him from his place of self-interest and helping to make him the man he was today. Feeling he owed her a great debt he would remain grateful to her for as long as he lived.
Cathy, who had been supportive throughout the long months of electioneering, had remained at home during the final days leading up to the poll. This allowed Ken to concentrate on the various activities that would consume him over these intensive, hectic days and relieve him of having to worry about her or her needs.
Ken should have felt like he was the most blessed man alive, Cathy, attractive, intelligent and well educated, a woman whom he believed was totally committed to both their marriage and his ambitions. He felt without doubt that she would never betray his trust and that she would, no matter what always stand beside him. However, something always nagged at him, a doubt, a feeling of uncertainty. There was something that just wasn't right, something that was out of place and he couldn’t put his finger on it. The party hierarchy, the public relations people and his support team considered Cathy to be the perfect wife for a politician with ambition, and so, he dismissed these thoughts and doubts from his mind as silly nonsense. They simply had no logical foundation.
Gathering his thoughts back to the present, Ken drove his BMW into the hotel basement and entered the parking bay reserved for him. Turning off the engine, he slowly got out of the car and walked towards the elevator where he was approached by a man in dark clothing, wearing a cap that half covered his face. “Oh no,” Ken thought, “not another time waster, not at this time of night.”
As the man came closer he reached into a bag he was carrying and pulled out a small flat package, handing it to Ken he said, “This will make interesting viewing for you before you go to bed tonight. Enjoy and have a good night's sleep. We’ll be in touch in a few days” and with that the man turned and hurriedly walked away.
Ken stood uncertain, bewildered for a few moments, concerned that the man had, despite the security measures in place been able to approach him so easily. After a pause he considered throwing the package into a nearby bin. However, his curiosity got the better of him and he opened it. The parcel contained a video addressed to his personal attention and, what seemed odd; it was marked as 'Strictly Confidential'. The doors to the elevator opened and without thinking Ken entered, pressing the button for the lobby. Walking through the brightly illumined foyer, acknowledging with a wave and smile those he encountered, he came to another set of lifts which would take him to the accommodation suites. He exited at the 11th Floor, walked down the passageway wearily opening the door to his room.
Chapter 6
-In that moment a shudder of desperation enveloped him, he felt himself shrink into an abyss so deep that all light and warmth left him. With time seeming to stand still, disbelief and desolation consumed his soul. -
The hotel accommodation had been selected by party officials. Apart from offering high level security it included a meeting room, sitting room with a large television and a spacious well laid out bedroom. Ken went to the amply stocked drinks cabinet where he selected a light drink then he switched on the television and player. Once ready, he inserted the video. Pressing the play button the picture sprang to life; it was obviously a low quality recording but proved sufficiently clear to make out the features of people in the audience. The opening scene was that of a packed, smoke filled noisy venue.
The video scanned around a room which appeared to be filled almost exclusively with men, eventually settling on a brightly lit centre stage. The sound of amplified music caused a sudden hush and everyone's attention focused onto a beautifully adorned young woman as she made her entrance. She slowly danced to the centre of the dais. Ken felt a shiver of concern as he wondered to himself what this was all about. Had some of his people been caught out, compromising the morality and family issues he had campaigned on?
His first reactions were to turn it off and dispose of the thing, but he knew that he had to know what it was all about and exactly how it concerned him. It may affect the party, the election and his future.
The woman danced as she slowly removed her clothing to the howls and hoots of the crowd, once totally naked she performed a series of poses that left nothing to the imagination. “What the hell,” Ken said softly to himself as she performed other acts to the loud cheering and egging on of the mob. Ken felt utter disgust and despite the urge to turn it off, he couldn’t. Somehow he knew this woman, her shape, the movements she made, her hair seemed all too familiar and he felt a quiver of concern run down the length of his spine. Surely he had never known anyone like this in his entire life?
Several men then joined the woman and each in turn carried out obscene acts to the obvious delight of the audience. It was during one of these that the woman turned to the camera and it zoomed in with a close up view of her face.
In that moment a shudder of desperation enveloped him, he felt himself shrink into an abyss so deep that all light and warmth left him. With time seeming to stand still, disbelief and desolation consumed his soul.
He uttered just three words “My God, Cathy!”
Chapter 7
- "We need to find this woman, whoever she is and we need to do it fast." -
With a feeling of devastation, Ken sat encased in the stony quiet of the darkness, knowing his whole world had fallen in on him. Watching the video over and over again in the hope that perhaps it was the poor quality? He earnestly prayed that it was someone who looked like Cathy, however, to his utter despair the more he watched the more certain he became. He could not deny his recognition of her.
Ken spent the rest of the night considering his options which resulted in a number of crucial decisions.
At 6.00am he ordered a room service breakfast, hardly consuming anything apart from the welcomed pot of hot coffee. Slowly setting down his empty cup he reached for the telephone, calling his key advisers and supporters. He requested they immediately make their way to his hotel to join him for an unscheduled meeting. It was obvious he was highly distressed and each in turn questioned what was wrong. Ken would only say that he would explain once the whole team arrived.
He showered and dressed. Making his way into the sitting area he elected to sit at the desk while waiting for the team. More to occupy his mind than anything else he read the morning newspapers which, ironically, were full of rave reviews of the previous night's event.
Once all of the team members had assembled he thanked them for attending, acknowledging the early