A few of the officials were thrown by Solomon’s admission. In part, he knew, because he’d never allowed anyone to bring his personal life into any professional conversation. It was one of his unbreakable rules the last time he’d worked for the city, and he’d begun the meeting by tearing that wall right down.
The mayor hadn’t flinched. In fact, it seemed he was having a difficult time keeping the smile off his face.
“If you were trying to dissuade us, Finn, you haven’t seen our latest polling data. The amount of pushback the community is giving us since Miller’s been in place, and for that matter, the recent recall of that bigoted AG that was trying to fight our own state legislation on LGBT issues tells me everything I need to know about where this city’s heart is.”
“I’m not going to be a poster boy for your political ads, Jim. I still consider my private life my own.”
“I never doubted it for a minute, Solomon. But you’re right, it will come out and you will have detractors. Still, I can offer you the full support of this office and your resume will do the rest. I think we’re all in agreement that we need to do whatever it takes to stop this power hungry little tyrant from causing anymore chaos.”
That’s when he’d been given the file on the ongoing internal investigation of Chief Miller’s activities. The more he read, the more his head ached.
Not only was he dismantling every program Solomon had put in place over the years, but he had a history of verbal abuse, including specific complaints about racial and sexually degrading slurs going back to the beginning of his career. He also had a habit of going his own way and grandstanding for shock value and press attention.
By the time he’d gone through the information, he might have lost his temper, asking what the hell the mayor had been thinking. To his credit, he took it well, patiently answering all of Solomon’s questions with as much honesty as he could.
When he finally wound down, he was given four files and a choice.
“We are fixing this problem, Solomon, one way or another, and we need your help. Those are potential successors. I’m asking for your expertise and allowing you to request the help of your brother’s fiancé, to seek out any missing or less than factual pieces of information. Your recommendation will carry invaluable weight with us and our constituents. Be aware, we unanimously believe that you’re the right man for the job. Our first and best option is your return to that position for which you are the most qualified. We can give you two weeks, but we’d prefer your answer sooner rather than later. I’m sure you understand our need to resolve this swiftly and efficiently.”
He understood. He’d brought the files home, contacted Brady and Ken and then left a message for Hugo, wanting his input before he made any final decisions. But Hugo hadn’t had time for long talks about the future that night.
A week later, and Solomon was still waiting.
“So I get this call about you from Fiona.” Brady’s voice startled him, and he turned his head in time to see his brother slide his large body onto a stool.
Ken Tanaka leaned into him, smiling over at Solomon. “Which was fate, as far as I’m concerned, since I wanted to talk to you about what I’ve learned about Miller and the four potentials. Have you talked to the mayor today?”
Unlike Hugo, the mayor called every day. Every. Single. Day. “That man is a pit bull.”
“Cuddly and loveable? That’s why I voted for him.” Fiona said as she set down drinks in front of the men she was obviously expecting. “Or, oh, you mean stubborn.”
Solomon stared at her until her smile started to waver. “I think someone needs a drink on the other side of the bar.”
Brady frowned. “That was rude, Younger. Fiona’s practically family.”
“I know it. I’m just not in the mood tonight.” For anything.
“Then let’s get the business end over with before Rory and his boy band shows up to distract you.”
“Rory’s coming? Who called him?”
Brady snorted. “Doesn’t take the Scooby gang to figure it out. Fiona’s phone is connected to Wyatt’s gossip bone.”
Ken smirked. “I thought it was connected to his dick bone.”
“Dicks tell no tales.”
Brady started laughing. “I say we make that t-shirt and give it to Trick for Christmas. Detective. Dick. Right?”
Solomon shook his head. “I say this family stops with the damn t-shirts already. It’s getting old.”
He set down his beer and turned on his stool, staring steadily at the wealthy hacker his brother loved. “Tell me.”
Ken nodded, instantly all business. “No skeletons found for our alternates. At least, not the chasing secretaries or secretly wearing diapers in the bedroom kind of skeletons. And any one of them would be a better option than the motherfucker currently stinking up your office in my opinion.”