“He’s a bully. He’s completely out of line. May I remind you I solved that murder investigation? I used the information from the witness statements to do it too. Where does Michael Raiden get off thinking he’s above the law?”
“He’s a very powerful man.”
“That should have nothing to do with my work. You must know that, Penelope? I can’t worry about hurting people’s feelings when I’m trying to solve a murder.”
“I know, but he’s not backing down.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
She blanched. “He… he’s already gathered all the signatures needed to move forward with a special election.”
Shock rolled through me. “What?”
She sighed, twisting her hat in her hands. “He hired people to canvass Rainy Dale and the outlying areas and gathered the needed number of signatures. Now the auditor’s office will verify the signatures, and if they check out, the special election will be held within ninety days of the verification.”
“Why am I just now hearing about this?”
Her cheeks were pink. “I was really hoping he’d fail to get the signatures needed. But he got them.” She sighed. “Rumor has it he might have bribed a few people to do it, but I have no actual proof.”
I gave a hard laugh. “I seem to recall you telling me not to worry about Michael Raiden’s threats about getting me fired.”
She winced. “Royce, the man is a bulldozer. I… I don’t know how to stop him. I swear I tried talking him out of it until I was blue in the face. Angela even threatened me withmyjob. She said if I can’t get on board, then maybe I’m the wrong person to be the mayor of Rainy Dale.”
I stared at her, feeling bewildered. “How can he get away with this? On what grounds would I be recalled?”
“This is why I’m so concerned about how you handle River Martin’s case.”
I scrunched up my face. “I’m not following.”
“Michael Raiden has been watching you like a hawk. He’s accusing you of playing favorites. He saysyou go easy on people you like and harder on people you don’t like.”
“That’s not true.He’sgot a personal grudge againstme. You know that.”
“That’s because he believes you had a grudge against him and his wife first. They insist you were biased against them during Archie’s murder investigation.”
“I’m aware they’ve floated that idea, but they were mistaken. Why would I be biased against them? I hardly knew them.”
She sighed. “Michael Raiden insists you bullied him and his wife. He says you were envious of their power and standing in the community. You wanted to put them in their place.”
Anger roiled in my gut. “Penelope, you know that’s a damn lie. I didn’t treat them any differently than anyone else I interviewed.”
“You were very adamant with them that no one should ever receive special treatment.” She pulled a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her sweaty face. “Even you admitted that was your stance.”
“Itismy stance. Everyone should be treated equally by the law. The Raidens didn’t think they should be questioned for Archie’s murder. Of course, that was nonsense. I had to question everyone close to Archie. I couldn’t let them slide simply because they thought they were too good to talk to me.”
Penelope exhaled harshly. “Royce, I understand what you’re saying, but apparently, it’s not just the Raidens who are complaining. There’s a rumor going around town that you give special treatment to people you like and throw the book at those you don’t.”
Shock rolled through me. “Excuse me? Who’s saying that nonsense about me?”
“Just people.” She swallowed hard. “TheTown Tattlerplans on running a story about you tomorrow.”
“What?” I scowled. “What in the world?Why?”
“Apparently, a clerk down at the DA’s office read your arrest report for River Martin and said it was completely sympathetic to River. She said you all but begged the DA to have mercy on River because he’s your friend.”
“I didn’t do that. That’s a bald-faced lie, Penelope. I simply suggested a lesser charge because River Martin is mentally ill. I’d have done that for anyone who seemed as psychologically challenged as River.”
“That’s not what she told the reporter.”
