Two men in suits walked around the second level of the Rotunda.
“Senator, I just want to prepare you,” said Jameson. “The Capital is mobbed with press downstairs. Ever since the story broke about Blackridge, well… I strongly advise you not to make any comments. Now, if you’ll just take a look at this press release our office…”
“I never bother to look up anymore,” mused Senator Mertle, cutting off his young colleague.
“What?” asked Jameson.
“The frescos in the dome. When I was first elected, I used to marvel at their beauty. I felt like I was a part of something larger. I felt like I would make history.”
The old man sighed.
“So much has changed.”
“Yes, right. Now they’re going to eat you alive on this scandal if we don’t do some major damage control so I suggest…”
* * *
Jameson woke the next morning to the gruesome image of his client’s body, swinging from a rope tethered to the balcony railing in the Capital building. The figures painted in the frescos looked on at the remains of the disgraced politician.
Jameson closed his eyes. Senator Mertle had made history, just not the way he ever intended.
[This is my entry this week into the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers challenge, hosted by Priceless Joy. A photo prompt is given and writers are encouraged to create a short story of 100 – 150 words, + or – 25 words.]
~V
The Well of Fiction 
Wow! Quite the little twist at the end. Nicley done!
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Thanks Meg. I can’t imagine why I would have crooked politicians on the brain. You just never see those anymore. 😉
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Hahaha! 😃
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Yikes – Unexpected to say the least!
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Wow, what was Blackridge??? Whatever it was it sounds like it puts Watergate to shame. Great story, I love political thrillers.
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Thanks Jenn. I’m kind of curious myself about what happened there. It’s quite possible we haven’t heard the last of that scandal. 🙂
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That’s a very good story that goes in a completely different direction from the one that I was expecting! Very nicely done 🙂
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Excellent story! How sad that he hung himself at the end. The story reminded me of many politicians that have been disgraced. Great story!
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Thank you. I don’t know where the original picture was taken and I’ve never seen the Capital building in Washington, but we have one in Madison that’s similar. Once I pictured that, devising a political scandal wasn’t too hard. (Sadly). Glad you liked it, PJ!
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LOL! After listening to the news for the past 10 years, it isn’t too hard to imagine a political scandal. Hahaha!
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A gruesome history. Suicide or hung by a mob? Either way, he’ll make the news for quite a while combined with the scandal. Well written Chris.
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Thank you. I appreciate the comment.:)
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When dreams of changing the world succumb to the reality of high-level politics…
Great story!
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That’s it exactly! I think politics does tend to attract a certain type of person, and while many may start with great ambitions of making the world a better place, the inherent corruption takes it’s toll and even the most well intentioned can turn bad.
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What a gruesome and tragic end to a career in politics! It’s true that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. There must be so much sadness in so many people who began as idealists in politics (or in any other field, for that matter)!
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Thank you. This is why I support term limits on Congress. I think after a time, even those with the best intentions fall prey to the extensive corruption that seems to be inherent in our system. Thanks for the read and comment. 🙂
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You’re most welcome!
I like your reasoning.
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A really great and moving story, by the way – I hit “Post Comment” before I’d finished commenting!
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