Page 153 of In These Hills

Josephine stared. Clearly he’d meant no offense. This young man was obviously intelligent, yet his demeanor bordered on strange. But he was her appointed attorney. “No offense taken, Mr. Thacker. Now please, continue.”

“Miss Dunham, I will explain this plainly. Not because it is simple, but because confusion wastes time.” He lowered his voice. “There are three men who determine whether you leave this building today—or die in it.”

She stilled.

“The first is the judge. The second is Mayor Darden. The third is a group of men who do not wear titles and do not appear in court records. We will call them . . . the organization.”

“The organization?” she repeated softly.

“Yes. It is a group of men in this city affiliated with an Italian family and with deep ties to New York, New Orleans, and Chicago. Now, listen carefully. These men advanced a great deal of money to Clay Darden. When young Darden died, his obligations did not. They passed, as such things always do, to his father. Mayor Darden has refused to pay.”

“Because he believes himself untouchable,” she said.

Thacker nodded once. “Precisely. Power has a way of convincing men that rules apply only to others. This refusal makes Darden the enemy of this organization, and though they conduct their business quietly, they collect their debts unfailingly. And they never forgive.”

Her stomach tightened. “But . . . what does all this have to do with me?”

“I’m coming to that. They have decided Mayor Darden should be removed from office. Now they simply need to demonstrate he no longer commands control.”

She frowned.

“If a mayor cannot compel a judge,” he continued, “then he is not truly a mayor. He is merely a man occupying a chair.” He leaned forward slightly, intent sharpening his voice. “By granting your bail—against Darden’s express wishes—the judge demonstrates that Darden’s reach has ended. Quietly. Efficiently. Without spectacle. And that greatly weakens the mayor.”

“It will also enrage him.” She drew in a breath. “And the judge? What is his motivation in this?”

“The judge assigned to your case,” he continued, “is in debt to the same family—financially and morally. Enough that he cannot repay his debt without assistance. He requires relief. We provide it.”

“So I am—” She paused. “The instrument.”

Thacker considered this. “You are the occasion.”

“So the judge will be offered a bribe?” she whispered.

“A repayment disguised as one,” he clarified. “In exchange, he grants bail in your case—over the mayor’s objection.”

“And if I make bail,” she said slowly, “I’m released.”

“Temporarily. Long enough to disappear.”

Her head spun. “But the judge has already denied bail.”

“Which is why it must now be granted in a way that appears lawful.” He leaned forward. “The bail will be excessive. Five thousand dollars. High enough to satisfy public outrage—and wound Mayor Darden.”

“Five thousand dollars! I don’t have—”

“We know you don’t have those funds, Miss Dunham. However, it’s being gathered.” His eyes flicked past her. “Quietly. From people who remember your family with great admiration and gratitude. Someone who fights for another’s freedom isn’t soon forgotten. We have three thousand dollars thus far.”

Her throat closed.

“However, the bail amount of five thousand is not all that’s needed,” he continued. “An additional three thousand is required to settle the judge’s debt and satisfy the Italian interest.”

A cold wind blew through her. “Eight thousand dollars . . .” A staggering sum. Dodge didn’t have that amount of money either, she felt sure. And even if he had received the proceeds from the sale of his land—and assuming it brought that much—she could never expect him to just hand it over. Mr. Daniel was wealthy, yes. But she doubted even he had that much in ready cash. And if he did, again, she could never bring herself to ask. “And if, by some miracle, Mr. Thacker, we gather that amount . . . What if the judge refuses the bribe? And refuses to set bail?”

“Then you will remain here until your trial,” he said evenly. “And you will not survive it.”

A shiver stole through her, and she rubbed her temples. “So to be clear . . . Mayor Darden does not wish me to be freed, and usually, the judge would agree with him. But this judge is beholden to the organization, and the organization wishes to see the mayor weakened. And granting me bail accomplishes that while also paying off the judge’s debt.”

“Well done, Miss Dunham! And what’s more, Mayor Darden will understand at once what has been done—and who has done it.”