Ain't No Place for No Heroes - Taylor Lee Page 0,1

but I called her off. Zoe was convinced that she had the ingredients of a career-making prosecution—which was likely true. But given that the ‘ladies’ refused to call the mayor out, I decided I didn’t want to put my thumb on the scales of justice in the middle of a political campaign.”

“That was probably wise, Cole, although regrettable. As you know, the police commissioner serves at the pleasure of the mayor. Given that political reality, I don’t have to tell you that having Mayor Clarence Robertson as my nominal boss is the bane of what would otherwise be the most honorable position I’ve ever had.”

Hunter agreed. “To be truthful, that was one of the reasons I yanked my righteous ADA’s chain. I assumed that an election was the best way to take care of the peccadillo-conflicted mayor. Assuming that a decent opponent steps up.”

Garrett Drake grinned at the parade of noisy young people who’d entered the bar and declared, “I dunno how you define decent, but as long as age isn’t a factor . . . ” At Mathis’s questioning gaze, he explained. “You obviously haven’t heard the latest about the upcoming mayoral contest. Although I admit the rumors at this point are exactly that: rumors. Comparable to sticking a toe or two in the water.”

Studying the young people, Mathis frowned, wondering to whom Garrett was referring. Wade Spencer was the only man he recognized in the boisterous crowd. Arthur Spencer, Wade’s father, was a prominent attorney Mathis knew better than he wished. The Spencers occupied the most elite echelon of the city’s makers and shakers. Mathis was grateful that now that he was divorced he could choose the people he associated with. And Arthur Spencer was distinctly not among them. An additional blessing of his now-unmarried state was that he was not obligated to attend the exclusive events he found tiresome.

His ex-wife, Athena, had lived for those choice events and elite company. Yet one more reason that Mathis thanked himself for insisting on the divorce. He’d been surprised when Athena contested the divorce. It wasn’t about money. His ex-wife was independently wealthy, and he was more than willing to support his children. And it sure as hell wasn’t about infidelity. They’d both agreed that whatever had brought them together was long dead, and they could have cared less if either chose to stray. It was clear the only reason Athena had fought for custody of the children was to punish him for initiating the divorce. Apparently, his preemptive move embarrassed her in front of her exclusive friends. When the court granted them shared custody, she demurred. Indicating that she preferred her now unencumbered lifestyle, she declared the children could spend as much time with him as they wished. She didn’t much care.

Forcing his thoughts away from the ugliness of their divorce and the woman he despised, Mathis focused on Wade Spencer. He admitted the guy was exceedingly handsome in a foppish, cultured way. And given the cadre of young women hanging on him, it was clear that the entitled young man didn’t want for companionship. In the not-too-distant past, Mathis had arrested Wade for distributing cocaine and a host of designer drugs. If it hadn’t been for his parents’ wealth and influence, particularly his father’s relationship with the judge who ruled on the case, it was likely that the spoiled ne’er-do-well would have faced hard prison time.

Blowing out an annoyed sigh, he turned to the grinning police chief. “Please don’t tell me that Wade Spencer is running for mayor. If he is, I might have to vote for compromised Clarence. I don’t know how familiar you are with the Spencers, but . . . ”

“All too familiar. And like you, I would have to hold my nose and consider Clarence—unzipped pants and all. Fortunately, Arthur Spencer wouldn’t dare foist his degenerate son on the rest of us in an election. Too many skeletons in that particular closet, even for as despicable a guy as Spencer.”

Glancing at the gang of obviously trendy young people, Mathis spotted ADA Zoe Hamilton, whom he’d met at one of Cole’s election events. He turned to the DA and said with a shrug, “Obviously, I’ve met Zoe, and while I may question her choice of barmates, I know she is a principled young woman as well as a beautiful one. I admit it concerns me that she is hanging out with Spencer in that she was fierce about charging the current mayor . . .