Ed Farrugia

Ed Farrugia, a character in the Open Heart series, is a Massachusetts senator. He makes his official appearance in Book 2, Chapter 9.

Appearance
Ed has brown eyes, black hair, and tan skin. He sports a full beard that appears to be graying. He wears a white dress shirt, red and gold polka dot tie, black blazer, and white handkerchief.

Personality
While Ed appears charming and personable, he only cares about what people can do for him and his image. He doesn't care when innocent people suffer as consequences of his actions. He is ambitious as well, rumors of him circulating that he will make a bid for the presidency in 2024.

Book 2

 * Chapter 9: Undetected
 * Chapter 10: The Senator
 * Chapter 11: Countdown
 * Chapter 12: Control (Mentioned)

Travis Perry
When Travis was approximately ten years old, Ed Farrugia was the mayor of his town. As mayor, Ed took cost-cutting backroom deals to line his pockets. He failed to replace aging lead pipes, which poisoned the town's water supply for years, and caused the deaths of three people, including Travis's brother. His brother's death destroyed his family and for years, Travis dreamed about how he would make Ed pay.

Years later, Travis has become now-Senator Farrugia's aide, building a professional relationship and one where Ed trusts him to handle his affairs. As you discover while Ed is taking phone calls in the team's office, Ed is not all he appears to be. Travis explains that while Ed's voting record is progressive, it only appears that way because he waits until the last second before voting on a bill that looks like it will pass. That way his success rate is high and he looks like the hero who pushed it over the line. If you call Ed a typical "politician", Travis says that while there are some politicians trying to do real good and make real change, Ed is not one of them. Travis tells you that he doesn't have to respect him to be a good assistant, and that working for him is a "means to an end" for him.

Your Character
You first meet Senator Farrugia at Mass Kenmore when you go to try to convince him to switch to Edenbrook Hospital instead. As Mass Kenmore's high profile patient, you feel bringing him to Edenbrook would help bring high-paying patients to offset the budget cuts. If you are honest and tell the senator that you're not a doctor at Mass Kenmore, Travis wants to alert security but the senator stops him and wants to listen to what you have to say.

In Chapter 10, when he enters Edenbrook, he turns his hospitalization into a publicity stunt. You are initially impressed by him when he speaks about an Addiction Rehabilitation bill. It is meant to lower crime rates and help addicts while also lowering prison populations and putting less pressure on the police. When you overhear him squashing his own bill in exchange for a hefty contribution to his campaign fund, you feel as if your trust has been misplaced. If you decide to accompany him on a television interview in a premium scene, you have the opportunity to tell the truth or force him to make political promises on air, which angers him and his donors (such as large pharmaceutical companies) afterwards.

Back at the hospital, you discover that Travis has been slowly poisoning the Senator as revenge for his brother's death. When confronted, Travis openly confesses to the attempted murder but before Bobby can subdue him, Travis whips out a black canister. He knows he will go to jail if he leaves, so he tells you that he would rather die and take Ed with him.

If you try to reason with him and talk him down, Travis still remains angry and in pain, wanting revenge against Ed. When Bobby reaches for him, Travis sprays Bobby with a blast from the canister. Instinctively, Danny tries to help Bobby but when you take a step to help Bobby as well, Travis raises the canister. Rafael tackles Travis and tries to grab the canister but Travis deploys the canister on both of them. They receive the brunt of it, but droplets land on Danny and you as well. In the confusion of it all, Ed escapes and hides inside a closet in the pediatric wing of the hospital.

Sienna Trinh
In Chapter 11's premium scene, Sienna believes Ed can help Ethan locate Travis and interrogate him about the contents of the canister. If Sienna chooses to make a deal with Ed, Ethan goes to question Travis. In the deal, she agrees to hype him up and make him sound like a hero to the people for helping them catch Travis and save your life. He says that after the interview, he never wants to see either Sienna or Ethan again. He blames Edenbrook for not having better security and preventing Travis from what he did, despite the fact that Travis had been his aide for years.

Baz Mirani
In Chapter 9, Baz tells you that he finds him fascinating and would love to discuss his stance on abolishing the electoral college.

Trivia

 * His character model resembles Joaquin from The Sophomore and Ned Mallory from It Lives Beneath.
 * His crimes include endangerment and accepting bribes.