“It’s a holding agency. Which links to a dummy corporation. And behind that dummy corp is JLR Inc.”
“I don’t know them either.”
“No one does. It’s well hidden. But they started getting involved in St. Louis, buying real estate, and funding city council elections about ten years ago. The same time a company youdoknow arrived in town.
Aiden’s mouth dropped open at the only company it could be. “Pruitt Incorporated.”
“Yep. They’re the evil shadow corp funding the Purity Alliance on this operation.”
Amina whistled. “I’ll be damned.”
“Why is Pruitt getting involved in East St. Louis?” Mike asked. “Is he not happy with the chunk of St. Louis he’s taken over?”
“Megalomaniacs like him are never satisfied,” Amina answered. “They always want more.”
“But why the Playground in particular? There’s plenty of other spots up for grabs. Entire blocks of abandoned commercial properties he can purchase. Why come after us when we’re our own little island of fun?”
“Maybe he doesn’t like fun.”
Caleb shook his head. “Or he likes it a little too much.”
“What does that mean?” Aiden asked, frustration at the entire situation churning in his chest.
“It means I know what his plans are for the Playground. An attempt was made to hide them,” Caleb said with a smirk. “But I slid into their files like a thirsty dude slides into a pretty woman’s DMs. He wants to take it over and replace the strip clubs and casinos with more highbrow and family friendly entertainment.”
Aiden jumped up from his seat. “He wants togentrifyour red-light district?”
“In a nutshell, yes. You all did such a good job revitalizing the area that it must have caught his attention. And now he wants it for himself.”
Aiden’s outburst drew Strong from his office. The older man came out and listened to Caleb’s explanation.
“Pruitt plans to take it over. But he can’t just waltz into the Playground and start buying businesses. Even using holding corporations to hide the buyer’s true identity, people probably wouldn’t sell—not after all the work you all did to gain control of the area. And if Pruitt did manage to obtain a few locations, if he started changing them over to kid-friendly arcades and high-class jazz lounges, people would raise a stink. And that would be the end of his buying spree.
“He needs you all out of the Playground, so that there’s no one there to protest his machinations. Step one to achieving that is stirring up fear and unrest in the Playground. Make it a place people don’t want to work. Shame guests for being there and scare them into not coming back. That’s where the Purity Alliance came in. With their no sex agenda and record of violence, they were a natural choice for him to use in his scheme. He’ll use the chaos that they create to turn public sentiment against you—pointing out how dangerous the area is.”
“That part is Alice Iverson’s role—the blonde woman in the link you sent me.”
“Exactly.” Caleb nodded. “After the white shirts have run enough people out of the Playground, and Iverson has worked up her coalition of citizens who want to bring wholesome values to the area, Pruitt will swoop in with his plan to make it a family friendly location. And everyone will rally behind him. Once that happens, city government will get involved and it’ll be only a matter of time before the entire island is re-zoned.”
“Damnit!” Aiden cursed. The plan was smart and had a high probability of success. Sex work, gambling, and marijuana might all be legal now, but there were plenty of people who didn’t like it and wanted to turn back that clock.
“This isn’t a problem that’s going to go away,” Mike said. “It’s bigger than the Purity Alliance versus sex workers. Much bigger.”
Aiden’s temper flared white-hot. “I won’t let him steal our district to put up some goddamn bed and breakfast inns and a mom-and-pop banjo show! People can go to fucking Branson if they want that kind of entertainment.”
Strong crossed his arms over his chest. “Stopping this means going up against Pruitt.”
“I know you didn’t want to set the ACG against Pruitt Inc.,” Caleb said. “But if we don’t step up, theywilltake over the Playground.”
Aiden yanked one of his sai from its holster, hand tight on the grip. “I’m not letting that happen! I’ll stop it even if I have to fight every white shirt and P-Bot by myself.”
Strong turned to face him. “You won’t be fighting alone. The ACG will be by your side.”
“Yeah, all of us,” Amina added.
A hand landed on his shoulder. It was Mike, gently squeezing his shoulder in an attempt to draw him back from the edge of rage. It worked somewhat, a little of the tension draining from his body before Mike pulled his hand away.
“Thank you.” Aiden was glad to know that his team would be with him in this fight. But that didn’t stop his urge to run out and put a stop to Pruitt’s scheme at that very moment.
