I didn’t really want to practice law after several internships in all the various specialties. No, I wanted to make an actual difference to more people. To be in charge of creating and implementing policies that would make people’s lives better.
But before I can do anything worthwhile, I have to go against a very well-known and liked former chief of police.
Most people would tell you that my chance of winning is slim. I would tell them all to get out of my way and kiss my ass.
Cannon
As soon as I get home, I head for the shower to wash away the dirt and sweat from a hard day’s work. Once I’ve cleaned up, I pull out my laptop and start doing a little research on Madison Monroe.
There’s barely anything about her other than a graduation announcement from Providence School of Law in Charlotte, North Carolina from several years ago and a photo of her pictured with a state senator and a big group of people, her face so small I can’t tell much about it.
There are no social media pages or anything else personal about her, making it obvious that I won’t be able to find any dirt on her by looking online. Hopefully the man currently calling my cell phone can.
“Reece?” I answer when I recognize the number of the original Emerald Isle Savage Kings’ clubhouse. “Were you able to find any dirt on Madison Monroe?”
“No,” his deep, grumbly voice responds. I wait for him to say more, but he doesn’t.
“No, you didn’t find anything?” I ask as I take a seat on the edge of my bed that is, unfortunately, empty again tonight.
Reece gets right down to business with no small talk. “I emailed you everything I found on her. She’s squeaky clean; her parents are both lawyers in good standing with the bar. She had a private school education before undergraduate and law school, graduating at the top of her class. Her family has a ton of money. She has a decent sized trust fund, but her campaign barely has two pennies to rub together. She’s barely started her run for mayor; she’s just been getting the basic permits and organizational shit accomplished. There are no dirty hands in her campaign at least, since it’s not even off the ground yet. She just got a permit for her official announcement tomorrow at noon in front of City Hall. There’s nothing on social media, not even one single goofy photo shared by one of her friends, or any sort of inappropriate comments.”
“So, that’s it?” I say when he stops talking.
“That’s it.”
I don’t bother asking if he’s sure since I know he would take that as an insult.
“What’s going on, Cannon?” Reece asks. “She causing problems for the MC or something?”
“No. Nothing like that. We’re supposed to cause her problems.”
“Why?”
“Long story,” I say with a sigh.
“That long story have anything to do with how your chapter’s lost millions in revenue in the blink of an eye the other night?”
“Yeah, that,” I respond. Should’ve figured he knew all of our dirt.
“What’s going on? Anything we need to know about?” he asks, referring to our mother chapter.
“There’s been some drama with Bailey, the former police chief, and my brother Conrad.”
“Oh yeah? I hadn’t heard that part.”
“That’s because it’s nothing on the record. Bailey doesn’t want anyone to know that he blackmailed my brother for a favor involving his daughter. Now she’s pregnant with Conrad’s kid.”
“What’s the rich bitch got to do with all of that?” he asks, and I assume he’s referring to Madison Monroe.
“Bailey’s decided to give up being chief to run for mayor.”
“Ah,” Reece says in understanding. “He asked you to try and find dirt on Monroe because he’s filthier than a pig rolling around in its own shit.”
“Basically,” I agree after that colorful description of Bailey. In fact, it’s one I plan to imagine whenever I see him. Conrad recently had Reece start looking into the former chief’s background, and he’s warned us there’s so much shit it’ll take days to get it all down to us.
“He’s not going to be happy about her being clean, is he?” Reece asks.
“No, he’s not. Which means Conrad could be going to prison for assault on a police officer if I can’t get her out of the race. According to Bailey, I’m to do it ‘by any means necessary’.”
“Shit,” Reece mutters. “I’ll keep looking into his records; but in the meantime, well, you know what they say – the enemy of my enemy can make a damn fine friend.”
“I want Bailey to lose,” I agree. “If he becomes mayor with all of his ties to the police department, he’ll make the Kings’ lives hell. He won’t stop until he runs us out of town!”
“Then you need to make sure he loses.”
“Yes, we do. But I also want to keep my brother out of prison.”
“Since it’s in our best interest to make sure our biggest South Carolina chapter doesn’t go under, I’ll talk to Torin and see what we can do to help.”
“What did you have in mind?” I ask.
“I’ll try and get Miss Monroe a big fat check to help her beat that sleazy son of a bitch.”
“That’s a good start, I guess. What about Conrad?”
“Did he assault Bailey?” Reece asks.
“Yeah, he did, but he deserved it.”
“I have no doubt about that. Doesn’t mean Conrad will get out of it free and clear. But I’m guessing that your brother wouldn’t want you to go after an innocent woman just to keep his freedom.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” I agree.
“Sounds like you’re stuck between a rock and hard place,” Reece says. “Let me know if you think of anything else we can do to help. I’ll be in touch.”
“Okay. Thanks, Reece,” I respond.
