Free Alli by Kurt Zimmerman

a boring stakeout, watching some cheating husband at some flea-bag motel.”
    “I have a Head Investigator opening at our branch in Peachtree City, Georgia, but it would require that you move there.”
    “Actually, I think I’d like to stay in the District area, if you have something around here.”
    “I suppose there’s always some politician’s wife hiring us to watch some other politician’s wife, but I thought with your experience and credentials, a management position might suit you better. And the pay would be better, too.”
    “I appreciate that,” Randy said, “but I would rather stay in the area. I have some ties locally that might prove useful.”
    “You’re not still chasing after your mystery girl, are you, bud? You know, Michelle Miller might suit you better, and I have a feeling she has a little something going for you. She speaks fondly of you, you know.”
    “Trying to fix me up with your ex, huh? You must still be paying her alimony or something. Why Michelle?”
    “No reason, bud. Just saying. But your fixation with this Alli girl is starting to border on obsessive. If she wants to see you, she’ll call. I’m trying to look out for what’s best for you, that’s all. I’ll assign you a case, and we’ll see how you do, how’s that sound? Your paperwork should be through the proper channels in a week or two. In the meantime, there’s plenty of work around the office. I had your ID/swipe card made, with a duplicate of my clearance. You have full access.”
    The next couple of weeks passed by quickly, and Randy’s once constant thoughts about Alli were coming less frequently, as work at FrazTek and the daily routine took her place in his mind.
    At least that was the case until he came across a FrazTek payroll envelope in the outgoing mail, addressed to the Call Center.
     
    Chapter Seventeen
    Senator McGinty was moving uncharacteristically fast down the Capitol hallway toward Senator Williams’ office, when his aide finally caught up with him.
    “Senator, your floor vote on the bill is less than twenty minutes away. Do you have time for this?”
    McGinty brushed away his questioner and continued down the hallway without a word. He knew damn well what time it was. What really gnawed at Senator McGinty, besides the waistband of his trousers, was the fact that he was being forced to make this appearance in the first place. Williams was one of only a handful of Senators who actually read what they voted on. But like the others, Williams would vote whichever way got him the most in return, and McGinty was in a position to get him virtually anything he wanted.
    At Williams’ office, he strode past the secretary without comment. He was not accustomed to waiting for anyone, least of all a junior senator from North Dakota. As he squeezed through the inner office doorway, Senator Williams stood to greet the powerful McGinty.
    “Williams,” he began, “what’s it going to take to get this done?”
    “I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you, Senator McGinty, but the moral and ethical issues that are at the heart of my opposition will not allow...”
    “Dispense with the damned stump speech, you idiot, I am not one of your constituents. This bill is imperative to this country’s future, and I need your support. I am prepared to make it worth your while. Are you with us or are you against us? If against, need I remind you of the conditions surrounding the exit of this office’s previous occupant?”
    The young Senator looked around his office for a moment and swallowed hard. He knew what Senator McGinty was capable of. He also knew his constituents stood to gain greatly from the favor of the elder statesman.
    “I... I’m with you, sir. And I’m sorry for you having to come all this way to gain my...”
    McGinty was already squeezing back through the door and out of the office.
    The Junior Senator didn’t bother sitting back down. He collected his papers and headed toward the chamber floor.