Chapter 7 - The Desperate Move
With bankruptcy looming, Thomas Vance realized that legal avenues were closed to him. He resorted to the only tactic he truly knew: corruption.
He needed Clara impeached, or he needed the city council to override her vetoes and stop-work orders. He reached out to Councilman Davis, a man who had historically been friendly to real estate developers, inviting him to a private dinner at an upscale steakhouse outside the city limits.
“Davis, listen to me,” Thomas said, sliding a thick manila envelope across the white tablecloth. “There is two hundred thousand dollars in cash in that envelope. Another three hundred thousand will be wired to an offshore account of your choosing.”
Councilman Davis looked at the envelope, sweating slightly. “In exchange for what, Thomas?”
“I need you to introduce a motion of no confidence against Mayor Hayes. I need you to rally three other council members to override her building fines. She’s a rogue element. We need to take our city back.”
Davis slowly reached out and pulled the envelope toward him. “Half a million dollars. That’s a lot of money to betray the Mayor.”
“She’s a glorified janitor who got lucky,” Thomas sneered, sipping his scotch. “Take the money, Davis. Be on the winning side.”
May you like
“I think I’m already on the winning side,” Davis replied.
He unbuttoned his suit jacket, revealing a small, blinking black wire taped to his chest.
