Page 21 of Reptile Dysfunction
12
MASON
“Probation?” I ask.
“Yeah, she took it way too far this time,” Eddie sighs. I can hear the exhaustion in his voice even over the phone. “Tried to give me an anonymous tip on complete bologna in the hopes I’d research it myself and find the whole sandwich. I’m just calling to let you know that if she comes sticking her nose in your business again, she’s not doing it as a member of the press now.”
I close my eyes and squeeze the bridge of my nose. That is certainly a long way to go to try and find dirt in a sterile environment. I’m hurt, genuinely, that she would try so hard to find something wrong with me. I think I’d be hurt by anyone so determined to slander my name, but it seems to sting more because every other part of her surface seems almost…perfect.
She’s a smart, intelligent, driven, ambitious, strong, beautiful woman. Why does all of that have to be directed with pure hatred at me? People like her are the reason I always knew I had to stay squeaky clean, even if I hadn’t already gone into politics determined to maintain a strong ethical core.
I know her kind all too well. Simply itching to tear down someone who isn’t like you, because you cannot comprehend that they might be as innocent as they say they are. They have to prove everyone around them is bad so they can show off how good they are. I dealt with enough of this in Sweetwater. It was baseless then, it’s downright insulting now.
But even so, I can’t help but feel sorry for her. She must have thought she needed to prove herself in order to fit into this community. Or maybe she’s so single-minded about her career that the setback made her feel the need to overcompensate, to prove she’s worth the title she worked so hard to achieve.
And, well, I can certainly empathize with that.
“I hope you weren’t too hard on her, Ed,” I say gently. And I mean it. The man is known to be tough and fair. He has high expectations for his staff’s behavior and ethics, but he’s also aware that people need to make a living.
“Are you kidding me? After everything she’s pulled, you’re out here going to bat for her. Mayor Wendall, you sure are something. And that something is way too forgiving. Still, the rest of the world could learn a little from your example. Not me, though. She’s in timeout until she learns to play fair.”
I chuckle at the vision Eddie put in my head, imagining pretty Charlotte pouting in a chair in the corner. Maybe it’s fair by his standards, but it still seems a little harsh. After everything she’s been through, she has to be hurting. I’ve been put in the spotlight, judged unfairly, and tossed aside before. Perhaps I’m lending her more empathy than she deserves, but that’s my decision to make.
And as much as I can empathize with her, I’ve also never had my heart so furiously trodden on before. To have everything you care about ripped away so callously has to do something to your judgment. I can’t imagine the pain she must be in. Of course, she’s going to lash out at anyone she perceives to be in power!
Eddie was a fool for thinking he could rein in someone so thoroughly determined to take back control of her life. And maybe so was I.
“I just hope you’ll give her a little grace. It’s hard to start over in a new town. I know that all too well.”
“Eh, you’re a softie. Anyway, about the whole breaking and entering deal. Concerns about ethics are one thing, but breaking the law is another. I’ve given my statement to the police. I’d be happy to forward a copy to you. Basically, I had nothing to do with it.”
“I know you didn’t,” I say. Why would he? Eddie would have come up with a much better plan. “And for the record, I don’t intend on pressing charges.”
“What? Wendall, come on. You’re the mayor. The little blue cap of the law! You don’t think it looks bad refusing to allow the justice system to work its magic?”
I shake my head. “I think it would look worse to wage a personal vendetta against a member of the press. Even if the town is on my side.” That would only make Charlotte feel more isolated, which usually leads to more lashing out. “I’d prefer to extend my sympathies to her. Maybe let her get to know me, see how her narrow-minded ambition has clouded her senses.”
“Heh, real poetic there, Wendall. See, that’s why you’re the one in charge and not someone like me. Chaos in the streets, I’ll tell ya. Anyway, about all that ‘getting to know you’ stuff, I might be able to arrange that. We’ll talk more. Have a good one.”
“And you as well,” I respond before hanging up the phone. I have only a moment to close my eyes and center my thoughts before Deborah’s signature knock comes on my door. “Come in.”
My assistant opens the door, flanked by two familiar police officers. “They want to speak with you about the incident,” she says sharply. She’s not too happy about it herself, considering she now has to go through every piece of paper in the filing cabinet drawer and take inventory of what’s missing, then refile everything in order by date.
If Charlotte suddenly goes missing, I know who to look at first.
“Officers,” I say. I gesture to the two chairs in front of my desk, asking them to take a seat. They do, and Deborah closes the door slowly. I know she’ll be eavesdropping during this conversation. There’s really no way to stop it once she gets it in her head to cast the enchantment.
“Thanks for meeting with us,” Sergeant Adams says. He seems pretty pleased with himself. Officer Kelly, on the other hand, looks like she’d rather be anywhere else right now. “All the paperwork is ready, nice and legal. We just need your official statement of intent and we’ll arrest Ms. Lieberman.”
My eyes go wide in shock. “Statement of intent?” I ask.
“Yeah, standard procedure. Just need the go-ahead to proceed with prosecution.”
I smile and shake my head. “That’s unnecessary, Sergeant. I’m going to decline to press charges.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Officer Kelly says. She seems to let out a breath she’d been holding onto for too long.
Dylan looks between us like our heads just disappeared into thin air.