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“As an admirer of your work, as someone who classes you guys as friends, mark my words that I will do all I can to help you. Give me twenty-four hours to reach out to a few acquaintances I know. We’re trying to find a needle in a haystack here. It isn’t going to be easy.”
“We’re used to hard work, Mayor,” I say.
“Don’t I know it. I’ll be in touch.”
When the mayor and his assistant walk out of the office, everyone turns to me and starts talking over one another. I don’t understand one word.
“Shut up!” I yell. “I’m good, but I got none of that. One at a time. Where do we go from here?”
“I think the mayor will try to help us as much as he can, but after the run around Shay’s family have got, and you this week, I doubt he will get much more from the army,” Amber points out and sits back down with her iPad.
“Chris has got the helpline set up. It will go live at 1300 hours. Armand has run the story today, that if anyone has any information about Shay or negligence they’ve faced from the army, they should contact us. I think we’ll get a lot of sob stories, but we might just get something to run with.” Caleb leans against a desk and sighs. “We’ve opened a big can of worms with this negligence claim, we just need to back it up now.”
“And we will. We’ll leave no stone unturned, boss,” says Amber.
“Now we’ve got that all sorted, can you take your ass home and get some sleep? We’ll come for you if we have any news, I promise.”
I won’t settle until my brother takes me up on my offer to sleep. He’s worn out. But he’s a stubborn asshole at times. It’s the Shawland name.
“If you don’t listen to him, I’m calling Mom,” says Chris, and I smile at the backup.
“Okay. I’ll be back in the office this afternoon. Don’t do anything stupid in my absence. Please.”
“We’ll keep an eye on him,” says Amber.
“Yeah, that doesn’t leave me feeling hopeful.” Caleb curses under his breath.
“Cheeky.”
And just like that, the atmosphere has lifted a little and Caleb walks back into his office to grab his cell and keys. I walk into my office and close the door. I need a few minutes to reflect on everything that was said this morning.
I know a lot of people will see Shay as ‘some woman’, but she’s my fucking woman. Not a day goes by that she isn’t my first and last thought. She plagues my memories, my dreams, and my life. I won’t have anyone dissing the love I have for that woman, even the Mayor of fucking Chicago.
I hate this waiting game. I’m usually the first to act. I like to be kept busy, dissect every piece of evidence we have, and make a plan of action, but with Shay, we have nothing. I’m at a loss. I’m going to end up driving myself crazy before we have any answers.
