Page 72 of What We May Be

“Because you, our esteemed mayor, covered it up. You and Thomas Teller up to your old tricks again.”

His attacker was still in the shadows, not close enough to glimpse, to confirm who they might be. Either way, he had to try to negotiate for his life. He knew the camera was rolling, that he was admitting his guilt, but between certain death and a jail cell, he’d take the cell.

“What do you want? Money? Restitution for those girls? We can handle this quietly. I’ll talk to Thomas. I’m sure we can make some sort of deal. Just tell me what you want and let me go. Whatever you want, just let me live.”

“Would you give up the mayor’s seat?”

He’d hate it, relinquishing the power of city hall, cutting off the future career path for his son. But right now, his attacker had all the power, and he had none. “If I have to.”

“Not good enough. You have to pay for your crimes, Craig. For the wrongs you’ve committed and the tragedies you’ve caused.”

“Please,” he begged. “Whatever you want.”

Arms snaked from around him, hands on the cinder blocks. “I only want one thing for the lives you’ve destroyed, for the lives lost because of your crimes.”

He gulped. “What do you want?”

“For you to get what you deserve.”

“Please,” he whispered a final appeal. “You don’t want to do—”

The cinder blocks fell and dragged Craig Rowan into the water with them.

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