An excerpt from Only the Dead Can Save You

She stood in the tunnel and prayed. She thanked God for blessing her with the day’s excitement.  Today was the culmination of a life’s worth of hard work. From the moment she had first laid eyes on Walter J. Cohen, she had seen today as the result. Many who had said that she harbored political ambitions had spoken in understatement. All those who continually derided her were now licking their wounds. Today, she stood above them all in victory. Today, she made history. Today was Inauguration Day and in mere moments from now, Hailey Rogers Cohen would be sworn in as the first female President in the history of the United States of America.

Hailey looked around and saw that her entourage of Secret Service agents were in place. She thought she had lived dangerously before back when Walter was President. She now realized those days had been a warm-up for today. Though she had triumphed in the election, it had been the most heated competition ever in American politics. Hailey was a polarizing figure and many still did not like her. There were a few who wanted her dead. Hailey hoped and prayed none of those people would rear their ugly heads today. This was her moment.

Hailey pulled out her compact and looked at the small mirror inside. Her bright blue eyes sparkled. Her blonde hair was cut in a short bob that perfectly framed her face. This face would be the face of America, the face by which the whole world would judge its greatest nation. She hoped people would look at her and see her strength. She wore a hunter-green pantsuit with a burgundy belt. Some famous men’s lifestyle magazines out there had actually been foolish enough to suggest that Hailey take her oath of office in a dress. It had amazed her to see that sexist attitudes continued to prevail even now. In fact, they would get worse. She had to expect that. After all, Barack’s election had done nothing positive for the state of race relations in the United States. At the least, Hailey maintained a short list of magazines that would not be receiving any interviews with her any time soon.

In the distance, Hailey heard the United States Marine Corps Band crank up. Her heart started to beat a little bit faster. It was go-time. In a few moments from now, everything would be official. She would be President of the United States.

She tugged on the edge of her blazer in order to smooth out her pantsuit. She glanced back at her entourage.

“Alright people, it’s time,” she said. And with that, President-Elect Hailey Cohen walked down the tunnel.

Would you like to read more? Well, you can buy a copy of “Only the Dead Can Save You” here…