Page 92 of Nixon’s Promise

Damn, it still felt good every time Nixon praised my work. I’d always loved my job, some parts more than others. Network security had always been my favorite, the challenge of breaking into a system, finding the holes, then patching them was a challenge. Writing applications and code was fun but less difficult. The work Nixon was passing my way was meaningful and complex.

So, I’d loved my job in the past, but I now knew what I had been missing all the years I’d done it. While the companies I’d provided my services to benefited from the extra protocols I’d put in place, they had no significant impact.

The information I was finding now could help save lives. It was important, and failure had deep-lasting consequences. I’d taxed my knowledge and enjoyed every minute.

I sent the information Alec had asked me to and packed up. Zack and Mandy were already home from school and the rest of the work I needed to do, I’d do from home.

I checked my speedometer and verified I was only going fifty-five. My heartrate jumped when I checked my rearview mirror and found the flashing lights now directly behind me. I pulled over, careful not to go into the ditch but far enough off the busy road I wouldn’t get clipped.

Sheriff Dickhead exited the familiar SUV and approached.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” he started.

I didn’t know, but I could guess it was to harass me.

“No, Sheriff, I don’t.” I tried my best to keep my temper in check but the mere sight of him made me want to rage.

“Don’t even know how this piece of shit is considered road worthy, but you have a tail light out.”

“Right,” I sassed, unable to hold the insolence from my tone. “I’ll get that fixed.”

“You do that. I got a message—”

“Nope. You got something to say to Nixon, you find him and tell him yourself,” I cut him off.

“I ain’t lookin’ for Swagger. You tell that sister of yours she better stop running her mouth, spreadin’ lies about my son.”

“Lies? Your son, the grown man that he is, had my underage sister pressed up against a car. He was in her personal space. This is after he was texting and calling her. Again, he’s a grown man. How about you and your son stay the fuck away from me and my family. Most especially your son away from my sister and I won’t report him.”

“You got nothin’ to report,” he sneered.

“We’ll see.”

“Is that a threat, ma’am?”

“Ma’am? You’re shittin’ me. You pull me over to harass me, and you’re asking me if I’m threatening you? You’re unbelievable. I have no idea how you get away with the shit you do in this town, but anywhere else, you’d be out on your ass, and your piece of shit son would be behind bars. I’m not threatening you, Sheriff, I’m warning you, if Deputy Richard Dillinger contacts my sister again, I will make such a fuss, people will have no choice but to listen. And if you ever pull me over, have one of your men do it with the only intention to intimidate me, I will spread that, too. I’ll scream it. I’ll take out an ad in the KC news and put you on blast. I’ll remind everyone in this county what a shit sheriff you really are.”

I was on such a roll laying his ass out, I missed it. The change in Sheriff Dillinger. I should’ve been paying more attention to his face turning red and temper slipping. But I was too busy blathering away, so when he got closer and shoved half his body through my unrolled window, I was so shocked I didn’t move. Not a muscle.

“You think because you’re Swagger’s, you’re untouchable. You’re not. As a matter of fact, you’re fucked.”

He pulled his overweight body from my window and sauntered back to his SUV. He pulled away, but I didn’t. I sat on the side of highway 213 for a good long while, trying to get my breathing under control.

Shit.

I’d gone too far.

I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

I drove home thinking that, and that I wished Nixon was home. He’d know what to do. But he wasn’t. He was working. And his job was important. More important than some stupid sheriff in a middle-of-nowhere-town who was going to be pulling me over for any reason he could find from now until eternity.

Damn.

36

He’d heard it the second she’d answered her phone. Something was off.

“You okay?” Nixon asked McKenna.