Page 123 of Wild Card
I snapped my jaw shut. “Fuck, sorry. Of course you don’t.”
“I’ve handled worse,” Chloe said. “But thanks for standing up to him. Men like Hale, they think they’re above the law.”
“Maybe he is,” I said, “but he’s not above consequence. Somehow, we’re going to make sure he doesn’t go on like a petty tyrant.”
Ava patted my arm. “You’d win a run for sheriff easily, Dalton. You think about that.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “But right now, I’ve got a call to make. No doubt the sheriff will be doing damage control. I have to move quick.”
“Go on, then,” Ava said. “I’ll clock out early and take Chloe over to Jerkers. Some sugar ought to do the trick, don’t you think?”
Chloe forced a smile. “Sounds just right.”
“I’ll hold down the fort,” Zach said. “Assuming Hale really doesn’t suspend me.”
“Nah, he’s all bluster,” I said. “He’s threatened to suspend me several times. There’s not enough staff.”
“Especially not with you quitting,” Zach said with a frown.
“Hang in there,” I said. “It always gets worse before it gets better, right?”
I walked out the door with Ava and Chloe, and then we parted ways in the parking lot. I should have gotten my stuff out of my locker, but I could come back for it some other time.
I unlocked my car, got in, then dug through my glove box for the mayor’s business card. He’d written his cell number on the back.
I dialed it, unsure if he would answer this time of day. Almost hoping he wouldn’t. I could leave a detailed message and then go home to lick my wounds.
It rang twice, then connected. “Hello?”
“Mayor Prince?”
“Yes,” he said.
“This is Deputy—” I stopped short. I wasn’t a deputy anymore. I cleared my throat, chest tight. “This is Dalton Harvey.”
“Harvey!” he boomed. “Have you come to your senses and called to tell me you’ll run for sheriff?”
“Actually, I called to tell you what’s going on over at the sheriff’s department. We’ve got problems.”
“Oh?”
“I know I’ve already called in favors with you,” I said. “And I know you’re only listening because you want me to run for sheriff.”
“Well, maybe that’s part of it,” he said. “But I can’t force you to run if you don’t want to do it. I wouldn’t want to twist a man’s arm.”
That statement made this easier. I let loose a big breath.
“I think I have to run,” I admitted. Finally saying it out loud. “But I can’t promise that until I talk to the important people in my life. Me being sheriff would affect them too.”
“Of course it would. Listen, Harvey. I think you’re a good candidate, and I want Hale out. But regardless of what you do, I care about this town. So, tell me what’s going on. If I can help, I will.”
“We’ve got the sheriff taking bribes to look the other way for his buddies, covering up his son’s crimes, and just now, I caught him harassing a deputy.”
“What kind of harassment?”
“Well, mostly intimidation, but the deputy was a woman, and there was a certain vibe in the room when I walked in…”
“All right, go on. Tell me everything. Don’t leave out anything. I’m going to write this down. If what you’re saying is true, I’m not sure we can leave this until the election.”
