The Dead Land: Chapter 2

2
MINISTER FIELD'S LITTLE SECRETS
Two days ago, when Prime Minister Field was brutally murdered in his bed, it came as a great shock to the public, but last night, twenty seven year old politician, Agatha Redknapp, revealed the attack may have been by Joseph Field's wife, Jennifer. Earlier in the year, Jennifer was discharged from hospital after drug and alcohol abuse, with the warning that if she continued to harm her body in such a manner, she would suffer serious consequences. Jennifer was arrested late last night and having searched her bedroom, it is evident her mind has gone into major disrepair, with the amount of empty bottles of vodka and drugs found. The question is, could this have caused her to murder her own husband, the most important man in the UK?
Eye witness, Romeo Hunter, says he saw Jennifer at around eleven in the evening wondering around with a beer bottle in her shaking hands and crying uncontrollably just outside number ten Downing Street. Joseph was found just an hour and a half later, with a kitchen knife in his chest and burn marks up his neck, with a pair of heated straightening irons left nearby.
Agatha Redknapp, in a terrible state, told the story of she and Joseph falling in love, and Agatha believes that Jennifer killed her husband because of a kiss they shared that Jennifer herself witnessed. Mr. Field obviously kept his little secret to himself, and maybe if he had told someone he may still be alive at this moment. For Agatha it must be a terrible loss, but the good news for her is, it gives her a chance to run for Prime Minister, and rumour has it that she is the favourite to win the election which will take place next week.

Agatha threw the paper down on the table in satisfaction. Everything was going exactly as she had planned it. Now all she had to do was pay Jennifer a visit.
As she walked down the road to the police station where later in the day Jennifer would be questioned, passers-by stopped to ask her about Field's death, but she would just pretended to cry and they left her alone, apologizing and saying sorry for her loss. They should be congratulating me on my gain she thought.
In her mind, she tried to sort out which parts of her story had been true. The two of them had become very close in order for her plan to work. He had declared his love for her. Then he had tried to kiss her just as Jennifer burst into the room. Either way, Agatha would never have let his lips even brush hers.
Although Agatha had said Jennifer handled it badly, it wasn't true. She thought back to the way that Jennifer had shrugged and lit a cigarette.
"I don't care," she had said, when her husband tried to think of an excuse, "I married you for the money. You are a fat, sweaty man who is not worth my time."
Agatha recalled how she almost laughed at Jennifer's comment, and how Jennifer had flicked her blonde hair and walked away. If anyone else had seen this, they would have known for sure that she had not killed him.
Agatha smiled to herself. At last, she thought, a chance to run for Prime Minister. She had worked her way through the ranks over the years, but she had always wanted more. She had a wonderful house, which had three floors and eight bedrooms, more than enough for a whole family, except Agatha lived alone. She liked it that way. She only wanted power. Correction, power over everyone and everything.
The police let Agatha into Jennifer's cell with little persuasion needed. After all, Agatha had pretty much won the election. Soon she would have a lot of power.
Jennifer's cell was bigger than most, and she had quite a comfortable set up, but of course, Jennifer was far from happy. She looked tired and as though she had given up. She looked up at Agatha with dead eyes, and Agatha could see she was broken. Just the way she needed her to be.
She sat beside Jennifer on her bed, but Jen didn't stir. She just stared with her dead eyes. Minutes passed without them saying anything at all. Agatha just watched Jennifer with cruel amusement. Eventually, Jennifer spoke up.
"I know it was you."
Agatha smiled and yawned, as though bored of the topic of the Prime Minister's death.
"Not directly. Are we being watched?"
"No. I have been granted complete privacy."
Jennifer leaned closer to Agatha, with a sneering face "I suppose you want something from me. To taunt me more, perhaps?"
"Actually, I had a proposition for you, but if you don't want to hear it..."
"Go on. You have my attention."
And so Aga whispered her plans to Jennifer, as though they were best friends and it wasn't the most important secret Agatha knew of. Jennifer, who couldn't be shocked easily, clasped her hand over her mouth to stop herself screaming in horror.
"And what have I got to do with your barbaric plans?"
"Nothing, really." She stood up and looked down on Jennifer menacingly. Intimidated, but still strong, Jennifer glowered back. "All I need you to do is keep quiet."
"And what's in it for me, you vindictive bitch?"
"Everything you could possibly want." Agatha reached into the pocket of her coat and drew out a cigarette. She watched as Jennifer’s eyes grew wide with want.
"Can I have it? Please?" Jennifer pleaded, snatching at the air as Agatha pulled the cigarette from her grasp. In the other pocket, she held out some drugs. Jennifer fell to her knees on the floor.
"Agatha, please! I'm not asking a lot..."
"I want your word."
"I'm in misery, and it's all your fault, just help me out here..."
"I want your word."
"You have my word, I swear!"
Agatha laughed cruelly. "I'll believe that when I rule this country. Only then will you get what you want. When I am Prime Minister, I will make sure you are released, and you will have all the drugs and cigarettes you wish for."
She turned on her heel and left Jennifer moaning pitifully to herself. Finally, she had cracked through Jennifer’s hard shell. Now she was certain that everything would go to plan.