Free A Reason To Breathe by C.P. Smith Page A

any rash decisions; I needed more energy to think clearly, and coffee seemed to be in order. So I made a U-turn and headed back towards Gunnison and The Bean.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    Game On
     
     
     
           “All right Mayor, what can I do for you?”
    Mayor Hall was standing at my window looking at the street when I came back to my office. He didn’t turn at my return, just kept facing the window looking out.
    “She’s a very attractive woman isn’t she?” He observed.
    Crossing my arms over my chest, not surprised by his comment, I knew this afternoon when we spoke on the phone he was interested in Jenn. I didn’t bother answering his stupid question. Jenn was beautiful and soft in all the right places. A face that made you think of an innocent girl with those big brown eyes, so yeah, she was attractive, but what really stood out was the light that lit her face when she smiled. That smile could make you do just about anything.
    “You’re not here to talk about Ms. Stewart, Mayor, so let’s cut to the chase.”
    “Indeed, Jack, I’m here to find out how the investigation is going?” I moved to my desk and sat down, then laid it out for him.
    “Still waiting on Drew at the morgue, Shannon Davis was caught off guard; we’re hoping to find something on her body. There were tracks in the mud near the river, but we have no way of knowing if the killer made them.  Plaster casts of the prints were collected, and we have them in evidence. Grady is searching phone records; Phil is looking through files of shoe treads, trying to find a match, and Barry is out canvassing the area looking for any witnesses. FBI has been notified, and all of our evidence and notes have been copied and transferred to them for a profile, and last-known’s are being worked up.”
    “Impressive, you seem to be on top of the matter it seems.”
    “As I said on the phone, John, we’re all putting in overtime.” The asshole was still standing at the window with his back to me. So I waited for his next move. I didn’t have to wait long.
    “Jack, I’m counting on you to bring this guy in, but if your priorities are elsewhere, I’ll know, and I will bring it up with the City Council. Next year is an election year for both of us; I’d hate to see your chances of re-election hindered by an untimely “sowing of your oats,” as they say. My advice to you, move on from the reporter and keep your head in the game.”
    And there it was; the threat of my job if I didn’t back off Jenn. Stupid sonofabitch thought he could control me with that threat?  I’ve been Sheriff for seven years and have run this office with a firm, but fair hand. My arrest rate is one of the best in Colorado, and my office has a great reputation with the people, the same people who vote. How this asshole thought he could threaten me with my job, when it was the people who voted me in or out, was beyond me. Short of a complete breakdown of the office or some sort of scandal, the City Council, had no authority to fire me, only the people could by casting a ballot.
    With his back still turned to me, as if I were insignificant, I answered that sonofabitch.
    “John, appreciate the heads up, but if you’ll excuse me I have work to do before I head out.”
    “I see you’re going to ignore my advice?”
    “Yup, my record speaks for itself, if the good people of this county want to vote me out, that’s their prerogative.” The Mayor finally turned and stared at me for a long moment, then moved away from the window, put out his hand to shake mine, so I gave him my hand.
    “Give my regards to Jennifer when you see her, and remind her of our lunch date on Thursday.”  I felt my hand tighten on those words, his grin told me even though I staked a claim with the “my woman” comment; he wasn’t going to back down. So I smiled at him and tightened my grip even more.
    “I’ll be sure to pass on your message.”
    “You do that, Jack,” John