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“You didn’t have to grab me a coffee.”
“Yes I did. It’s been a rough month for you. I’m guessing you insisted on tagging along to get out of the house?”
I bring the latte to my lips and hum an answer. “Mhm. That’s exactly it.”
Lies.
“Well, it’s about to be a snooze fest. You’re forewarned. Councilwoman Dorothy Franklin is about as interesting as wheat toast.Lessinteresting actually, if that’s even possible.”
“You’ll find I’m a pretty patient person. Have you forgotten I worked here for almost a decade?”
“Right. How does it feel to be back on your old stomping grounds?”
I consider the question for a second. “Strangely nostalgic.”
“Let’s just hope you don’t run into Polk. Can you imagine the migraine he’d give you? I can hear his gloating now.”
Medjine scowls as we reach the elevator and pack ourselves in with the dozen-odd city hall employees on their way up.
I couldn’t agree with Medjine more, though it’s for different reasons than she thinks—the last person I want to run into during this city hall visitisPolk. But it’s not because I’m dreading the obnoxious bragging he’ll do as soon as he sees me.
It’s because I’m about to do something very,veryillegal.
Sasha finally told me what she knew about DA Polk. Though it’s unsurprising to learn of his involvement at the Mill, I’m more focused on the news that he has thousands of files that I should be able to use to blackmail him. Sasha says he was a regular and he often not only filmed his encounters, but he kept audio and text files on them.
It’s just what I need to turn the tables and gain an upper hand.
The elevator halts on our floor with a ding. We get off, leaving behind a crowd destined to go up to the top floor. Medjine tells me about how Councilwoman Franklin is worried about her public image among younger voters.
“The old windbag hired me to find ways to make her more relatable to today’s urban youth,” Medjine says, rolling her eyes. “In other words, the politically correct way of saying she wants to be cool with young Black and Brown voters.”
“A sixty-four-year-old White lady might have a little trouble in that area. Why not focus on the issues?”
“Beats me. These people have their heads too far up their asses. I don’t know how you lasted here so long.”
“I hid away in my office, working on as many cases as possible. When I did come out, I did nothing but piss everybody off. Especially Flynn.”
Medjine smirks. “Ah, Commissioner Flynn. I forgot about him. Our city leadership really has been dropping like flies, haven’t they? We’ve gone through two mayors, a police commissioner, and a DA in less than two years.”
Tell me about it. I was involved in almost all of those situations.
I let Medjine take the lead as we arrive in Councilwoman Franklin’s office. Her secretary fetches the councilwoman and informs us we can go inside. I check the time and decide how I’ll be sneaking off.
Medjine has a tendency to ramble when she’s with clients—I should know as a past client of hers—but in this situation, it’ll work in my favor.
The District Attorney’s office is at the end of the hall. I checked Polk’s public engagements calendar. He’s slated for several meetings and briefings this morning. His officeshouldbe empty.
Medjine launches into her introductory spiel with the councilwoman. Franklin’s skeletal fingers prod her bifocal glasses up her nose, her eyes the size of bugs, listening to every word Medjine says.
I pretend I’m listening by giving an occasional nod of agreement. Twenty minutes into the meeting, I rise out of my chair and announce I need to use the lady’s room.
Neither woman questions me. I’m able to flee virtually unnoticed. Even Franklin’s secretary merely shoots me a polite smile from behind her desk. Swamped with incoming calls and computer work, she has her hands full.
I enter the hall outside with careful footsteps, checking left and right.
DA Polk’s office door looms at the end of the hall like the finish line of a grueling race. Every step I take in his direction feels like that’s what I’ve embarked on—some kind of difficult journey that could prove dangerous.
I stop in front of his door, glance around, and then twist the knob.
