The Lives Between Us Read Online Free PDF

it’s a viable solution or not.” He looked to the back of the room and pointed to a woman reporter. “Margaret.”
    “Do you think that it was your pro-life stance that got you re-elected—rather, gained you a healthy lead over Mr. Levinson?”
    “Among other things.” Edward’s mouth twitched in amusement; it took more than a single issue to get elected to the United States Senate. When reporters weren’t stirring the pot, they were trying to simplify everything and wrap things up in a tidy bow.
    “Don’t you think it’s unfair to force your personal religious beliefs on the rest of us?” a husky female voice to the side asked.
    Edward schooled his face not to frown as he zeroed in on the unfamiliar reporter. She had curly brown hair, delicate facial features, red-rimmed eyes, and a rosy nose—like she had Noelle’s nasty head cold, but she didn’t sound congested. She looked to be in her mid- twenties—the perfect age to fight for any and every cause. She stood with feet spread apart and arms crossed over her chest in a defensive posture. Her raised chin matched the challenging gleam in her eye.
    How the hell did she get through? His staff had done a poor job of spot-checking the crowd tonight.
    “And you would be?”
    “Skylar Kendall, Detroit Chronicle . Your pro-life stance is a personal moral choice—one that compels you to block life-saving stem cell research. Don’t you think it’s unfair to impose your religious beliefs on Michigan citizens?”
    Skylar Kendall? The unusual name didn’t take him long to place—the reporter who never passed up an opportunity to not-so-subtly gut him in every article she wrote.
    “I support stem cell research. I do not support creating embryos for the sacrificial purpose of taking their stem cells.” He turned to the opposite side of the room to call on a familiar reporter. “Wendy?”
    “Come on, Senator,” Ms. Kendall blurted out before Wendy could open her mouth. “It’s your job to represent the will of the people, not further your own moral agendas.”
    Edward stiffened and returned his attention to the irritating reporter. He chose his words carefully and modulated his tone. He forced stiff facial muscles to relax. “It’s also my job to uphold the Constitution. The right to life is a constitutional entitlement. I encourage ethical lines be drawn in a way that respects all human life.”
    “What constitutes ‘a life’ is a notorious gray area, but what is crystal clear is that over two million Michiganders voted for lifting the ban on stem cell research. In passing Proposal 2, Michigan people spoke loud and clear, yet you persist in trying to undermine this progress by creating bills that increasingly limit and regulate stem cell researchers.
    “This regulation costs money, time, and could lead to Michigan’s brightest scientists moving to more hospitable states. Stem cell research is predicted to be an eight billion-dollar industry by 2016. How can you possibly justify your stem cell position when it’s handicapping Michigan’s economy?”
    Anger vibrated off the young reporter in almost visible, palpable waves. This was personal for her.
    “Michigan gained 44,000 jobs so far this year and unemployment rates have dropped to 6.3%—rates not seen since 2002. Professional and business services, manufacturing, education and health services all continue to show robust growth. With Detroit’s emergence from bankruptcy, we’ve a chance to be a part of a spectacular restoration.”
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ben’s circling index finger indicating that he should wind up.
    “Thank you again for this warm welcome, and I look forward to serving you.” Edward smiled and nodded, then turned from the microphones and cheering crowd.
    Annoyed that he’d allowed Ms. Kendall to goad him into a defensive response, Edward stalked to the waiting cars.
    Well, that was hardly smooth . Thank God the election’s nearly over.
     
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