Passing the long line of wrecks on the interstate, Grey drew his attention back to the weather. Something wasn’t right in Memphis. Something wasn’t right in the world. For as many years as he could remember, there had never been such severe weather. Normally, it wasn’t even cold yet. Now, fender benders lined the streets, because drivers weren’t used the roads being slick. The shelters were full of displaced veterans and other homeless; the government had to give emergency funds to clear out storm beaten communities, and his father had to be on top of his game to make Memphians feel safe. Juggling unpredictable situations was supposed to be the Henderson family’s strongest trait. Now, only time would tell.
*
“Looks like hell finally froze over, boys,” Mayor Henderson said as he walked briskly in front of his large entourage out to the iced-over front steps of City Hall where an eager group of reporters waited impatiently in the snow. As the doors swung open, his million-dollar smile appeared and his political face was on. Politicking was such fickle business, but he was consistent and unchangeable. They had labeled him Hard Ass Henderson, and he had stayed true to his name for eighteen years.
Standing behind the podium in front of the masses and below the American and Tennessee flags, Mayor Henderson cleared his throat and began in a powerful baritone voice, “Thank you for coming this afternoon. Today is the new beginning of a new era for the citizens of Memphis. We have fought long and hard in this city for equality and justice. We have been victims of prejudice and hatred. But we have in the past and will continue in the future… to prevail. It is our conviction to achieve greatness not only as individuals but as a cohesive city, state and country, which will make us an awesome force.”
Mayor Henderson took a deep breath and continued. “This cohesiveness will once again prove to be a weapon against unjust actions. I have not come before you today to celebrate a winning basketball team, a new architectural muse or even a new business venture. I have come before you today to announce that Memphis will once again be free from the strong hold of sadistic bloodsucking drug dealers and able to see a brighter day with a better purpose very soon.”
Henderson’s gallant voice faded for a moment while he made sure to pose where the cameras would get his good side. “If it is the last thing that I do as your mayor, I have taken on the charge to rid Memphis of drug infestation with the sincerest of passion, and I will make it happen.” The crowd behind the reporters cheered briefly interrupting his speech and allowing a few good shots with the other major players present for the press conference.
“Today, Director Billings, Major Hamilton, Lt. Agosto of the Special Units-Narcotics Division, Lt. Brooks of the COBRA SWAT Unit, and I concluded the last of eight meetings that have taken place over the last two weeks. The fruit of our labor will be evident in the new specialized unit that has already hit the streets of Memphis to fight head on the war on drugs. We have taken twenty-three of our finest narcotics and SWAT officers and combined them into one unit with the skill, expertise and Intel that will send a message nationwide. The Citizens of Memphis want drugs, drug dealers and drug abusers the hell out of Memphis. And so this is the final warning for those who mean to disrupt the lives of Memphis further with drugs. Twenty-three expertly trained officers of high rank specializing in everything from high-risk search and seizure to lie detection along with the entire Memphis Police Department at their beckoning call are ready with the backing of a $18.5 million budget allocated through tax payers, and the seizure of drug dealer’s undeserved wealth have equipped us in a manner that has never been seen in the city of Memphis. We are taking back our streets one house, one corner, and one person at a time through a citywide effort called Operation Check Book. The reason that this operation has been dubbed check book is because each drug dealer has written a check in this city that has cost us our children, mothers, fathers, brothers, wives, best friends, teachers, preachers and leaders. And it’s time to cash in on what you owe us.”
As Mayor Henderson ended his powerful speech, he felt an overwhelming calm in his heart. Yes, he had been politicking for a long time, but this was something different. This would bring real change. Turning around, he caught a glimpse of the pride in his son Grey who nodded approvingly.
Standing behind his father, Grey smiled into the cameras as he listened to both Lieutenants and the director of the Memphis Police Department give praise to his father and his administration for their hard work and due diligence. This was just the kind of exposure his father needed in his fourth term. And this new unit would be just the vehicle to drive their family into a new arena of political monopoly, as he prepared for his own race in the approaching mid-term election.
*
It was almost ten thirty that night before Ivy was finished at the library with her report for class and her research for a client. Determined not to be out of the loop too much at the office, she volunteered to take on smaller projects from home. It was pride that made her push herself to new heights. Not the pride in herself, but the pride of having a wonderful job and a loving family.
