Ten minutes later, Fredericka returned and showed him to Thaddeus’ office on the top floor of the building. It was first time Kevin had been there and he was amazed by how plush it looked. He was even reluctant to take a seat after Thaddeus invited him to, feeling the large leather chair was too good for him to sit in and only important people were worthy of it.
“Beautiful day today, isn’t it?” Thaddeus said, with a smile.
“I guess it is for some,” Kevin replied, much to his own surprise. Immediately, he wondered if he’d insulted the DPM.
Though somewhat taken aback by the response, Thaddeus didn’t let it show. He cleared his throat, stretched his arms out on the desk in front of him and interlaced his fingers.
“Kevin, I’ve given some thought to what you mentioned to me the other night at headquarters.”
Kevin wondered what the let-down line would be this time.
“I’d like to help you and your family out,” Thaddeus continued. “How’d you like to work here with me at the office?”
Kevin’s eyes widened with shock. He wasn’t sure he’d heard right. “Me? Working here?”
Thaddeus nodded. “Sure. Why not?”
“What… what would I possibly do?”
Kevin knew he had no office skills. He was a blue collar guy, familiar with back-breaking work in the hot sun.
“You can be sort of like an assistant to me here in the office. I know this isn’t the type of job, per se, that you’re used to, but the way I see it is, you can always be trained.”
What Thaddeus was proposing still hadn’t hit home. “Why would you do this for me?”
“Well, given the obvious fact that jobs out there are difficult to find and there currently aren’t a lot of jobs in your field that we have any influence over — at least not me — I decided it would probably be best to take you on here, at the office.” He raised his hands slightly. “If you’re not so keen on office work, perhaps I can find you something in Maintenance. But to be honest, we don’t really have a need for any more persons down there. However, an extra hand here in the office, I’m sure, would be useful. I’m willing to pay you a good salary with benefits like health and dental insurance, pension, that sort of thing…”
Kevin didn’t know when the tears had slid down both of his cheeks. He only found himself drying them with the back of his hands.
“You’re crying?” Thaddeus was shocked. “My God, it must’ve been really difficult for you, huh?”
Kevin shook his head slowly, drying more tears that had escaped. “You have no idea, sir. No idea at all.” He thought about Mark again and could see him sitting there in the corner of that pediatric unit, wheezing and struggling to breathe. He also realized that if Thaddeus was serious about what he was proposing, it meant he’d be able to afford health insurance for his son. He knew that’s why the tears were flowing incessantly. The thought that life would finally be better for him and his family was almost surreal.
Thaddeus went on to discuss the salary he had in mind and Kevin was very much accepting of it. Thirty-five thousand per annum was a really good start for him, considering he was currently bringing in less than half of that.
“I cannot thank you enough, sir,” Kevin said after he finally managed to compose himself. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“I’m glad to be of some help to you and your precious family, Kev. I remember what it was like growing up in a single parent home. My mother struggled to raise me and my two sisters. We never got new clothes, only hand-me-downs from relatives, and some days my mother didn’t know how she’d put food on the table. But she always managed to. I always wished someone would come to our rescue so we could have nice things like other people did, or that somehow our situation would change.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, no one ever took us up out of that depressing situation and it only changed after I received a scholarship for college. At least, that was the beginning for us. Real change in my family’s financial situation didn’t come until I got my LLB and started working at a law firm. So, I said all of that to say this: Even though no one came to our rescue when I really wished they did, I see where I have a chance to help someone else. This is why I entered politics: I wanted to be able to create the change that people needed. Of course, I know I can’t help everybody and it’s a fact that a lot of people out there depend on me, but I know for sure that if anyone out there deserves my help, it’s you. You’ve been a faithful member of the CPP for longer than I’ve been a member and I, for one, appreciate you.”
Thaddeus’ words touched Kevin’s heart. At that very moment, he was glad that he stuck with the party in spite of being disappointed by their leader. To him, loyalty and commitment was everything. “Thank you, sir. I truly appreciate that,” he said.
Thaddeus leaned back in his comfortable leather chair and crossed his legs. “So, how do you think it will go with this next election?”
Kevin gave it some consideration, then arched his eyebrows and sighed. “I have to be honest with you. I think we’re losing the people — many of our own supporters. I think this is gonna be a tough one.”
“You think so?”
Kevin nodded.
“The NDP is being financed by that mobster guy, Alba; everyone knows it,” Thaddeus returned. “They’re using underhanded tactics to convince the masses that we’re the villains.”
“You might be right, but I really believe the people feel betrayed, sir. I hear it all the time - that we’re not living up to our promises and I kind of understand that. I, myself, was feeling the same way, although there’s no other party for me.”
Thaddeus quietly entertained his thoughts. “What can we do then?” He clasped his hands together again.
“I’m not sure there’s much we can do at this point, unless we’re going to employ more people in the public sector, at least to decrease the unemployment rate…”
“That’s not possible. The public sector, for the most part, is already overcrowded.”
“And the taxes… the new tax laws are in effect and people are hurting. I’m not a lawyer, but maybe lowering the taxes or removing taxes from certain items might work,” Kevin suggested.
Thaddeus stood up and turned toward the window behind his desk. He had a great view of the city below. “To make adjustments on those taxes would only make us look stupid — like we never knew what we were doing in the first place,” he replied. “We told the people it was all necessary. Although we could make a few amendments, we’d look like the liars they say we are because they’d think if the taxes were truly necessary to begin with, how come we can now remove or lower them?” He shook his head in frustration. “I don’t know what we’re gonna do. I don’t want us to lose the next election. When I started out as Deputy Leader, it was with the intentions of serving at least two terms.”
Kevin could tell that Thaddeus was seriously worried. He wondered if the pension which took effect after two terms in office was his main concern. “What does the PM think about this— that is, if you’re free to share it with me?” he asked.
Thaddeus turned and faced him again. “Well, you are my assistant now. Certain things we can discuss confidentially.” He took a few moments to collect his thoughts. “Jackson doesn’t seem to be worried. He thinks that despite all the noise in the market and how the people claim they feel, they’ll be right back again marking their ‘X’ across CPP. I personally, am not sure about that. Like you, I’ve been hearing the cries of the people out there. I paid attention to the results of the recent survey; I’ve seen the unemployment figures; the homes that are up for foreclosure; the people standing in line for food stamps — only the line has gotten longer in recent months. I have all the facts and stats, Kev, and I agree, it doesn’t look good for us.”
“I hate to say this, but a lot of people despise our Prime Minister,” Kevin reluctantly told him. “Hate is probably a better word to use. They don’t see him as being in touch with the people.”
�
��Wow! That is a strong word.” Thaddeus sat down again. “Well, there’s nothing we can do about that. He’s our elected leader and whether people support our party or not, the fact is, he’s the commander-in-chief.”
“I agree, sir.”
The conversation continued for a few minutes more until Fredericka reminded Thaddeus about an upcoming meeting with another government official. Kevin was told that Fredericka would have a contract prepared for him by that afternoon and if he agreed to the terms, he could start work at the DPM’s office the following Monday.
He left there feeling like a new man as he walked toward his old Camaro. And he knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d be able to afford a new car and many other things he and Sheri always longed for.
TEN
“You’ve gotta be kidding!” Her eyes were filled with excitement after her husband broke the amazing news.
Sheri had run off to a corner of the restaurant where she could speak privately on her cell. She’d been a waitress for ten years at the Roucle Ambassador Hotel. Although she enjoyed her work, the salary was not as attractive, but it was something that helped to keep the roof over their heads and to pay Fiona, Mark’s part-time caregiver.
“I’m not kidding, sweetheart,” Kevin said. “I start on Monday.” How he wished he could see her face right then! The happiness in her voice was something he hadn’t heard for what seemed like ages.
“Kev, that’s awesome news! I’m so happy that Mister Sherman is looking out for you this way. Finally, someone came through. God bless him!” She started to lose control emotionally, but quickly fought back those tears of joy.
“Once I sign the contract, I want you to quit the hotel and stay home with Mark. You should be there with him; not some stranger.”
“I’d love to stay with him, Kev. You know I’ve always wanted to, but we just couldn’t afford it. It’s not like the government’s giving any assistance to us for him.”
“I know,” he agreed, “but things will be different now. You’ve finally got your wish.”
Sheri was smiling from ear to ear and so was Kevin.
“I’m so proud of you and…” she hesitated briefly due to the awkwardness of the moment, “…I love you.”
He hadn’t heard those words for the longest time and he savored them. “Love you too, honey. I’ll see you later.”
That night, the Clarkes celebrated over dinner and a bottle of red wine Kevin had picked up on the way home from work. He only put in four hours that day at the construction site, and thought they were lucky he showed up there at all.
With soft music oozing from the nearby stereo, Kevin lovingly took his bride’s hand at the dinner table and led her into the center of the living room. Wrapped in a warm embrace, they danced slowly to their favorite love song. Kevin had found the CD in the nightstand drawer; he wanted to make that evening with Sheri a special one.
With her head nestled on his shoulder, she reminisced on the good times they’d spent together — those earlier years when it was just the two of them loving each other without a single care in the world. She missed those days and hadn’t realized it until that very moment.
As Kevin held her soft body close to his, he felt an indescribable relief he’d craved for the longest time. He wanted so badly to be with her again in that intimate way—not just physically, but emotionally as well. He knew she was sad and stressed out, and that she blamed him for all of their problems, but now, he had the chance to change all of that — to make her happy again and to give her the financial security she wanted and deserved.
They danced for what felt like hours, as Mark slept peacefully in his room. That night turned out to be a special one for Mark and Sheri — one they greatly relished and would never forget.
ELEVEN
“I don’t think you said more than two full sentences at dinner last night,” Nick said to Steve as they drove toward the conference site.
Nick was slated to speak to all top officials of the Royal Haston Police Force. At least three hundred officers were expected to be in attendance, including the Commissioner. The venue was the Roucle Ambassador Hotel, downtown.
“Man, they’re lucky they even got two words outta me,” Steve replied coolly. “Just didn’t wanna be disrespectful to the madam sitting there, you know? She’s the only thing that makes that Jackson Cunningham look halfway good.”
“You really don’t like your PM, don’t you?”
“That’s putting it mildly, bro.” Steve soon thought of something. “You know what just came to mind?” He glanced Nick’s way. “Ever since I picked you up from the airport, all I did was complain about this government and everything that’s wrong in this society. I’m sorry, man. I’m surprised you didn’t get fed up and reported me already.”
“Reported you? Don’t you have a code around here?”
“A code?”
“Yeah - that cops don’t snitch on other cops,” Nick clarified.
“I guess you could say that, but you’re not a part of this here community. So no disrespect to you, but you’re not one of us.”
“As long as I’m here, I am. And as long as no cop around here commits any felonies. Apart from that, mums the word, brother.”
Steve thought Nick suddenly sounded like a black guy, who could easily relate, but then he realized being able to relate had nothing to do with race. A cop is a cop and their mission to fight crime makes them unified.
“So, complain on. It’s no bother to me,” Nick continued. “But I tend to like the guy. Think he has a good attitude and not stuck up like other men in his position.”
“You feel that way about him because of the way he treated you. When it comes to his own people, that’s a different story, for sure.” Steve sought to enlighten him.
“That’s really sad.” Nick looked out of his window in contemplation, then he spotted something of interest. “What’s happening over there?”
Steve’s eyes followed Nick’s stare. Without a second thought, he pressed the accelerator and zoomed toward a side street, just off the main road. The instant the vehicle stopped, both men jumped out and made their way over to the angry crowd. One guy was being pummeled by a group of men in blue tees with the name NDP on them, while a fight was breaking out on the spot between two other men. Nick dashed one way while big, bad Steve dashed the other. He headed toward the unfair fight as he knew, if necessary, he could take them all down. The detectives managed to separate the guys and attempted to quiet down the crowd. Thankfully, the guy who’d been outnumbered in the fight was not seriously injured. He seemed to have withstood a lot of blows due to his physique and had been landing some good ones on a few of his attackers as well. The scene was chaotic: two groups comprised of around twenty to thirty people each, had converged through a narrow road off Millie’s Way. One group were wearing the blue tees while the other wore purple, the color of the CPP. Vicious insults were still being hurled about by men and women against whom they perceived were the “enemy party” even while the detectives struggled to bring order.
“I’ll have every single one of you arrested if you don’t settle down!” Steve shouted at the top of his voice. He turned to an elderly man wearing blue. “What went on here?” Several people proceeded to give their views, but Steve insisted they be silent.
“We were just through this neighborhood doing our early door-to-door campaigning, and while passing that crew over there,” he pointed, “some wise guy hurled some insults about one of the ladies here and her guy stepped in to shut him up, I guess.”
“That’s it? That’s why all this commotion started?” Steve pressed.
“Well, that started it, but we all knew when we saw them they were looking for trouble. Soon, it was clear why that remark was made because they then started calling our leader all the nastiest names in the book and some folks here took offense to that. One thing led to the other and … bam! Fight broke out.” The old man had a youthful way about him and he seemed fearless.
&nb
sp; “Ridiculous!” Steve said, looking around at the people. “That’s it for the day, folks. Y’all be on y’all way now.”
“You have no right to tell us that!” a woman in purple blurted. “We’re doing a public service!”
“By arguing and fighting in the streets, lady?” Steve looked at her as if she was stupid.
“Go home or you’ll go to jail — every one of you. That’s it!”
It didn’t take long for the crowd to be dispersed. Steve and Nick remained at the side of the road until they’d all left.
“The nerve of them disturbing this quiet neighborhood!” Steve was clearly annoyed.
“These people are surely heated, huh?” Nick remarked. “And many seem to share your sentiments about your PM.”
Dangerous & Deadly- The Nick Myers Series Page 21
