Page 11 of Bullet Unleashed

CHAPTER FOUR

HOPE MOORE

“Let the blood lust begin,” Camille says snarkily.

I raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“This,” she says and waves her hand to the candidates on the stage, and the audience in front of them. “There’s no way he doesn’t get reelected again. He’s got everyone who’s anyone in his pockets. Marsh gets reelected and Sance goes on being the backwater town it is. It’s time for some new idea, some fresh perspective, but people won’t see it. They vote what they know, and they know Marsh.”

“So, where’s the bloodlust?” I ask with a frown.

“What do you mean, Hope? Open your eyes. You’re a journalist, you have to see deeper than the surface.”

“And you’re a campaign manager, Camille. Correction, you’re the campaign manager for Allen Lee, Marsh’s opponent.”

“Exactly why I’m talking to you.”

“How so?”

“You need to break the story.”

“What story?” I ask and smirk. Camille is full of it tonight.

“The story. Whatever you can find on Marsh to get this man out of office— “

“And Allen in? Come on, Camille. You’re better than that.”

“No, I’m not,” Camille scoffs. “But that’s my point. He is. Allen is the kind of man this city needs.”

“And what kind is that?”

“The kind to lead us into the future, not dwell in the present with thoughts of how to maintain past glories. Lee won’t corrupt the police and sleep with the daughters of voters.”

“And do you have proof of any of these accusations you’re making against Marsh?”

“The proof is in the pudding, Hope. How else do you think he gets reelected every year? Hell, Marsh probably has dirt on every person in the audience tonight.”

“If he’s so dirty, then why don’t you break the story? Nothing would help your candidate more.”

“Because he’s so dirty. I can’t find anything, and believe me when I tell you I’ve tried. No one wants to get near him, because no one wants to wind up missing.”

I can’t argue with her logic as we stand off-stage watching the two candidates go back and forth on the perceived issues of the town, and providing their own take on the best way to solve them. Allen Lee is incredibly well spoken and prepared for tonight’s events. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes as well. He’s tall and florid skinned with rosy cheeks and a wide face, square jaw and hooded dark gray eyes. Short, frizzy, dark brown hair with muscular arms and torso sit on top of long legs and give him a dominant feel. He’s a rising star for sure, but how far he can go challenging Marsh for his seat on the council is open debate.

“Listen,” I tell her. “You get me something I can take to Liam, and I’ll run with it. Other than that— “

“Other than that, you’re satisfied doing stories about pigs.”

Damn. That stung. Camille Barney is not one to pull punches and, why should she? She’s tall and husky for a woman, with brown skin, and medium-long, fine, brown hair. She wears expensive clothes and to know her is to respect her. I fold my arms across my chest and look out onto the stage.

“Don’t get defensive on me, Hope.”

“Then don’t insult me, Camille. I do my job just fine, and don’t need any input from you.”

“No, you do an outstanding job, and that’s why I’m coming to you.”

My head pivots to meet her gaze. We’re standing side-by-side but the height difference between us is noticeable.

“Hope, we’ve been watching you. You’ve got the drive, talent and ability to tell the story, the right story, and then the discernment to know what’s truth and what’s bullshit. So, tell me now. Am I bullshitting you, or do you believe me when I say Marsh is as dirty as one of those pigs you covered the other day?”

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