Page 93 of Fierce-Colson

EYES ON US

“Hello, Mayor Donaldson,” Marly said on Wednesday morning. “What do I owe this visit to?”

It wasn’t the first time it happened, but coming on the heels of running into the councilman, part of her was waiting for another lecture to ensue.

“Just wanted to stop in and see how things are going,” the mayor said. “Been a few months now and you seem to be settling in well.”

“I only had to move my office down the hall.” She smiled and looked around the room her mother had occupied. She’d kept a lot of the decor the same. Not that she had the time or the ambition to do much more with it.

She wasn’t here to make it feel like home. She was in here to do a job.

“You know what I mean.”

The mayor walked around her office, looking at things he’d seen dozens of times before. He was new to the office himself. Just a year. Young. A few years older than her. He’d clawed his way to win the election.

“I do. Is there a case you’re interested in or just a general question?”

He knew she couldn’t give specifics. “Just want to make sure you’re on your game for the narco case.”

She blew out a breath. It felt as if this was a weekly question. If not the mayor, then the deputy chief who was heading this up. And when she didn’t give him the right answer, then the chief came in.

“I am. They are still gathering the rest of the evidence. The detectives are closing in the best I know. Check with the chief if you want specifics there.”

They had some small-time suppliers. But they wanted the big guy. She was ready for trial with what she had, but it’d help to get more. Get a few more people to turn. Maybe get one of them to turn on Jose Sanchez, who was the main target and why the trial was being put off multiple times.

Soon could mean a lot of things. It could also mean nothing.

She knew well enough by now that nothing was guaranteed and it was her job to make sure she was set for trial with the facts she had and the charges related to it.

She was out for the win, not a “wait and cross your fingers.”

“He’ll be my next stop.” Mayor Donaldson went to her door and shut it. “But I want to make sure you’re ready for it. You and me, we’ve got a lot of eyes on us. For a lot of reasons.”

She kept her smile in place. “We do.”

“I, for one, plan on keeping my position. Making my mark and proving to everyone I’m the man for the job. I worked hard for you to be in this position next to me. I believe we could make a great team.”

“We could,” she agreed. She liked him well enough.

As much as she liked any political figure.

It could and did change so much that she learned to ride the fence while standing her ground when it was time.

Now wasn’t the time.

“So it bothers me that Councilman Gray was in my office on Monday morning.”

She refused to acknowledge that her heart was thudding in her chest. “And what about his visit bothered you?”

“He’d seen you out on what he considered a lunch date.” He held her stare, but she refused to flinch. “He’d asked if I was aware that it was a detective.”

“Where are you going with this, Mayor? My personal life is just that.”

“Not going anywhere. Nothing more than looking for a denial or an agreement.”

“Again, my personal life is just that,” she argued. “You’re single. At least I’m assuming that. How would you like to be questioned on who you keep time with off the clock?”

“Ahhh,” Mayor Donaldson said. “This was on the clock.”