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“The cream foundation I applied is covering the worst.” She reaches across and smooths her thumb along my jawline. “Only people who know you will pick up that something is hiding under there. To regular people, you have flawless skin and a splash of blush on today.”
“Mayor Lawrence noticed.” Taking a deep breath and centering myself, I look to the sky for just a moment, then I lower my gaze again and turn toward the mayor and the police chief.
“I want to get this done and over with.” I don’t have to glance back to know Aubree and Seraphina are following me. “I’m not here to be on television for the ceremony. I just need to be seen. So I’ll go say hello, smile, congratulate him, then we’re leaving.”
“Five minutes,” Seraphina confirms. “And I’ve declined all interviews regarding this.” She walks fast enough that her shoulder touches mine. “This day belongs to Lawrence, so to speak publicly about his appointment, especially on the back of the passing of the previous mayor, could be construed as petty and self-centered. We want neither, so I declined everything.”
“Good call.”
Cameras begin flashing when people notice my arrival.
As I move onto the steps at the front of the building, and the police chief turns to watch my approach, I discreetly wipe my sweaty palms on my coat and paste on a smile large enough to bring a twist to Justin’s lips. Then I offer a hand…and stumble forward when the mayor grabs on and pulls me in for a hug and a gentle kiss pressed to my cheek.
It’s entirely appropriate, but still, my spine locks straight.
“What happened to your face, Doctor Mayet?” He pulls back just far enough to show me a displeased scowl. “I know how a woman looks when she’s trying to keep a secret.” Finally, he flashes a smile so the cameras see only what we want them to see. “My daughters have tried the same crap with me. So don’t for a second think you can get something so obvious past me.”
“A minor mishap at work.”
“Mm?” He allows me to step back and looks to the cameras clamoring to take our picture. “Describe to me the mishap.”
“Fragile masculinity, a woman in power, and a formal announcement that a certain senior member of the George Stanley no longer has a job.” I smile for the cameras. “He didn’t like what I had to say, so he hit me.”
Justin doesn’t think my words are nearly as humorous as my smile would imply. “Has he been arrested for assault?”
“He has not. But guards escorted him out, I have revoked his security clearance, and he won’t be back ever again.” I pause and snigger under my breath. “I won’t write him a letter of recommendation, either.”
“Will this become an issue in the future?” He speaks past a grin and poses for the cameras. “Will he become a problem for you?”
“He’s weak and lazy. My guess is he’ll go home to live in his basement for the rest of time. Congratulations, Mayor Lawrence!” I speak a little louder, so the reporters catch my words. Then lower, “You’ll be pleased to know I’ve been working with my accounting team these past few days. I’m almost ready to discuss our budget with you.”
“How’s it looking so far? Thank you!” He says the last a little louder. “I look forward to working with your office, Doctor Mayet.”
“We might need a small bump in funds to cover the gaps. But with Chant gone, and now the second-most senior member gone—and with them, their money-wasting work practices, and Chant’s need for glitters in her office—I hope to redistribute those funds elsewhere. I intend to bring each of my staff members’ salaries up to industry standard… which will add strain to the budget, but industry standard is honestly the least we can do.”
I smile for Tiffany Hewitt’s cameraman and give a small wave. “To maintain quality inside the George Stanley, we must pay them, at the very least, what is fair. Anything beyond that, I’ll work out over the next financial season.”
“Sounds like you have a handle on things.” Finally, Justin releases me and turns to gesture toward the chief. “Doctor Minka Mayet, Copeland’s Chief Medical Examiner, have you formally met Police Chief Ryan Maron?”
“I have not.” I step forward and shake the man’s hand.
His is broad and strong, commanding and firm. But at no time does he squeeze or try to intimidate me.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Chief. I’ve heard good things about you.”
He snorts under his breath. “Then I suppose I should work on scaring my troops a little more.”
“Oh!” Justin’s voice changes, from the commanding, intimidating man I know as my boss, to something a little… squeakier. “Jen?”
“Jen?” I turn to face the direction he looks, only to find a beautiful woman whose nose matches Justin’s exactly.
“Peanut?” I’m last week’s trash as Justin dashes toward the woman and, beside her, a soldier-like man with a muscular chest and a devilish smirk. “What are you doing here?”
“My daddy is officially becoming mayor today.” Stepping forward, she wraps her arms around Justin’s neck and squeezes until they both grunt. “As if I’d miss it.”
“Is Tabby here too?” He looks around, then glares at the man beside Jen. “Where’s Tabby?”
“She had to stay home,” Jen snickers. “But she sends her love and swears she’s watching the news right now. She’s not missing any of this.”
