Read Online The Incumbent by Alton L. Gansky - Free Book Online

to alarm you, but you should take measures to assure your safety. Lock your doors, be suspicious. A little paranoia right now wouldn’t hurt.”
    “You can’t believe they’re after me.” I said the words without conviction.
    “Who knows? If they wanted you, they would have gone to your place instead of Lisa’s. My guess is, they want something from you.”
    “Like what?”
    “I’m good at what I do, Mayor, but I’m not that good. We’ll know sometime but I need more info. You just be careful—very careful.”

chapter 5
    I ’m back.” I breezed by Randi’s desk and started for my office door. “You have company,” Randi said quickly. I stopped and looked at her. “Councilman Adler is here.” She made a face and motioned with her head toward my office. I felt the corner of my mouth turn down.
    “Thank you. Did you gather those . . . documents?” I could see several pages of letter-sized paper on her desk. They were facedown. Randi was a cautious one.
    “Yes, I’m just sorting them now and will bind them for you. How did your appointment go?”
    The last statement was for Adler’s benefit. “Fine. I’ll fill you in later.” I took a deep breath and plunged into my office with a determination I didn’t feel.
    Adler was sitting cross-legged in one of the guest chairs in front of my desk. He remained seated as I entered. He seemed calm, his thin hands folded in his lap. He said nothing but I knew why he was there. Adler was a short, thin man who compensated for his lack of physical stature with a self-serving, aggressive, mean spirit. He reminded me of one of those dust-mop dogs that yap and growl as if they can whip a pit bull. Adler was a heel-biter.
    I sat behind my desk and leaned back in my chair. “What can I do for you this morning, Councilman?”
    “Last night was very unprofessional of you.” Straight to the point. He offered the slightest of smiles, as if he felt a sudden pride in what he had just said.
    I stared at the little man for a moment, showing no emotion. His hair was a weak brown made weaker by an infusion of gray. His eyes were dark and narrow and his skin was pale, as if he had just come over from Siberia. I’ve heard he is a tiger in the courtroom, but I was pretty sure I could beat him in a fight, and at that moment I was willing to give it a try.
    “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
    I was on edge. I had received the shocking news of a crime against an acquaintance, had taken in an unexpected houseguest, had slept poorly, had endured an early-morning interview by a police detective, and had submitted to fingerprinting. My mood was dark and volatile. I gazed at the weasel for another moment, then asked a question of my own: “Why did I leave?”
    “What?”
    “Why did I leave?”
    “How would I know? You just got up and left, and a quarter hour later the clerk tells us you’re not coming back. No explanation. No apology.”
    “Is that what you want, Jon? An apology?”
    “One seems due.”
    “You’re not getting one, but I will accept an apology from you.”
    He uncrossed his legs. “I don’t owe you anything.”
    I locked eyes with him. “Chief Webb walks in, whispers in my ear, and I have to leave. Did something happen to my parents? My brother? My sister? Was there some pressing police business that I might be able to help with? What was it, Jon?”
    “I told you, I don’t know.”
    “Thank you for your concern.”
    “Did something happen to your—”
    “You went to college, didn’t you?”
    The change of subject took him off guard. “Of course.”
    “You spent at least three years in law school, Western School of Law, right?”
    “Yes, but I don’t see what that has to do with our topic of conversation.”
    “It means that you’re probably smart enough to be able to haul your fanny out of my chair and make your way through the doors without help.”
    He blinked several times.
    “That’s right, Councilman. I’m kicking you out. Beat it.