by Amy Kyle
Lalena couldn’t help it she was born looking the way she did. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her blonde hair was up in a bun, but it was long when down, it hung below her shoulders about half way down her back. Her piercing blue eyes would catch many people off guard as well. She was petite but strong; she had caught a few men off guard during her police training. She laughed at the memories of long ago.
But she hated being stuck in the same job day in and day out, when she tried for promotions, turn downs were the normal thing. So she had instead tried to try for new assignments.
“Maybe this mayor thing will come through.” She pumped herself up and tried to get her thoughts out of the funk. She really did love the idea of being a police woman, and the differences she could make.
“Guarding the mayor?” She wondered out loud. She thought about the things she knew about their great mayor, Rico Zess. “He’s definitely a ladies man for sure.” She laughed.
Lalena had seen more than one picture of the dashing mayor in the paper. He always had a new lady on his arm, never the same one in a row. But the mayor was also very handsome.
“Hey Swan, how’s it going?” Dan Murphy asked her as she walked over to her desk.
She looked over at Dan; he was a decent guy, but just not her type. He had asked her out a few times, and eventually she had gone out. Their personalities hadn’t mixed, and thankfully they both could tell. She shivered at thinking what a bad office romance would have done for her job.
“I got passed over; they gave the job to Jackson.” She shook her head as she whispered the information to him.
“What, Jackson? Isn’t that some serious bullshit?” Dan commented.
“I know I let the Cap know how I felt about it too.” She stated.
“Yeah I could hear you.” He stated.
“Oh shit, so how many people heard it do you think?” She asked.
“Enough, you’ll hear a few things I’m sure later on in the night. Just wait though; Jackson will be the biggest prick about it, if he hears.” Dan said.
“He’s a prick anytime of the day. He doesn’t need to get a promotion to be that way. Fucking Jackson as the communication liaison with the woman’s hospital though, how fucked up is that shit?” She laughed.
“Right, I think he’ll piss someone off on his first day on the new job.” Dan laughed.
“Hell yeah, he’ll make some sort of racist and sexist remark for sure. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him go a full hour without something being said that was wrong.” She commented.
“Oh I know I can’t believe the Cap could even keep a straight face telling you he was picked over you. I mean what better person for the job then a woman? Nothing sexist meant by it, okay, so don’t go chopping my head off.” Dan held up his hands in defense.
“I agree with you Dan, don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you. If they didn’t pick me though, why him, that’s such a slap in my face. I really might go to a private security place. I mean it. One more time and I’m out of here.” She promised.
“Oh don’t say that, I’m sure sooner or later something good will come up and you’ll get it.” Dan tried to cheer her up.
“Well the Cap did say something about a new assignment for the mayor; he might be able to get me on it.” She informed him.
“Guard duty isn’t all that fun, but with the mayor it might be quite the challenge. You know he’s pissed off groups of people during his time in office.” Dan stated.
“Right, plus the fact that he is pretty sexy wouldn’t hurt either!” She commented.
“Oh look who’s being all sexist now. Plus he’s quite the playboy would you really want to be with him?” He laughed.
“I’m just saying what everyone else says. You have to admit even as a guy the mayor is sexy. Just because he’s sexy doesn’t mean I’ll fall into bed with him.” She laughed.
“Never will I admit another guy is sexy. Maybe he is good looking, but sexy, never. I can’t see you even going near him with the amount of women he’s been connected with.” Dan laughed.
“That Spanish heritage sure has helped his looks a lot. I tell you what just give me two minutes in a room looking at him and I’d be happy. I didn’t say I would sleep with him, but maybe, you never know!” She commented.
“Sounds like someone might have a bit of a crush on the mayor.” He said.
“I just appreciate men who are good looking. Why do you think I still talk to you all the time?” She stated.
“But you didn’t say I was sexy, just good looking, there is a difference!” He stated.
“Dan you know we just aren’t good as a couple. But you are a really great friend.” She stated.
“I know it just sucks being stuck in the friend zone.” He admitted.
Lalena shook her head, she didn’t have to have this conversation with him often, but sometimes it was such a pain. “I’m sorry Dan, but we tried and you know it just wasn’t something that was going to work.” She commented.
“I would have changed to please you. I swear no one would ever love you as much as I do.” Dan said.
“Please Dan; let’s not do this, not today. It’s been a really bad day for me so far, and I just don’t want any more drama.” She pleaded.
“Fine, we don’t have to do it now. But you still owe me the time to give my side of the argument.” He added.
“Some other day, okay?” She said.
He shook his head and finally said, “Yeah that’s fine. Sorry about the job.” He said and went back to his paper work.
Lalena was happy that he let it go so easily. Perhaps it was the look on her face that warned him, she wasn’t sure, but it was nice nonetheless.
She hoped that the Captain would come through on the other assignment and that it might be soon. At least if she was out of the precinct Dan wouldn’t see her all the time, and that distance might do him some good.
Chapter 2
Mayor Rico Zess looked into his mirror and straightened his tie. He was getting ready for another big dinner in his honor. “It’s tough being the big guy in a town!” He chuckled to no one else. He was the quintessential playboy; he always had a new girl on his arm wherever he went.
He thought through his list of escorts and wondered who would give the perfect statement on his arm tonight. “I think I’ll go with Jasmine, she’s the exotic sort!” He rubbed his chin and thought.
“Sally, pull up the list with pics on my computer for me please.” He yelled out to the other room. Sally was his secretary, the one person who controlled the hub of details for everything. He was lucky she was a cousin of his, or she might make problems for him.
“Tonight is the cancer dinner presentation award for your support. You want to have an attractive girl who is intelligent. Someone if asked a question won’t make you look as if you are simply screwing a blonde bimbo.” Sally told him through the door.
“Do we have any on the list that will work?” He asked her.
“I’m looking right now. Just give me a second.” Sally yelled back at him.
Rico combed through his hair with his fingers. He smiled and checked to make sure no food was in between his teeth. He was very proud of the way he looked, and he knew he was sexy. Many women had thrown themselves at him in the past, once he became mayor, it had been even worse. Not that he minded having different women on his arm; he didn’t want to settle down.
His life was full of sex, power and money, three things he loved. He had even dabbled with drugs here and there, simply because they were handed to him. Who was he to pass up something that was put in his way, as a gift? That was how the list of women had been made in the first place. Each girl on the list he had been with before, and they had been special in one way or another. Usually it had to do with their sexual expertise, but there were a few who were on the list for other reasons. Though honestly, he wasn’t sure how many there were. That was Sally’s area of expertise!
“I think Janesa is a good c
hoice.” Sally came around the corner and said. “She’s the one you went with to, that one event two months back. It’s been long enough so she won’t get the wrong idea either.” Sally stated.
“Which one was she? There have been a few who’ve gotten the wrong idea, thought I was going to make them my wife, as if!” He laughed.
“She is the one with the long black hair, those dimples on the cheeks, beautiful smile.” Sally stated.
“So you’ve hit on her?” Rico asked.
“I’ve slept with her a few times, but nothing serious!” Sally laughed. “You know I’m just like you cousin, I love my freedom and fun!”
He laughed hard. “That’s why I hired you, you’re just like me and you understand me! So tell me more about Janesa and why you feel she’s the right choice. Or is it simply because you hope to get a piece of ass from her tomorrow?” He asked.
“Well maybe a little bit, but mostly because she is kind of smart. She’ll be able to answer something intelligently if need be, and you won’t seem like you only date airheads.” Sally commented.
“I don’t just date airheads. In fact I don’t date anyone really; I strictly try to stay with one night stands. When you get more dates than 5 in a row some women swear they are your next wife.” Rico said.
“I know, but pick Janesa; I’ll call her if you want me too.” Sally answered.
“Sure tell her to be ready at 6:30 sharp; we’ll swing by in the limo. I take it you’ll be coming along too?” He asked her.
“I was thinking about it. If you happen to find another woman at the event and want to leave Janesa alone with me, feel free to do just that.” Sally told him.
“Alright I just might do that, though it might look a little bad in the press to come with one and leave with another one.” He rubbed his chin wondering of the repercussions.
“You’ve done it before; all it does is adding to your playboy appeal. You’re top in the polls among single women and men. They love you right now!” Sally reminded him.
“But I’m taking a bit of a beating in other areas. I don’t think those boys on the north side are too happy about those new business taxes. Have you set up that security detail to cover me, just in case?” He asked her.
“I’m working on it. We’ll have the officer’s assigned later on in the week. We are trying to make sure none of the one’s that we get have connections to those “businessmen”. Otherwise your security detail will be the one that gets you.” Sally told him.
“Well just get me the best you can find, you can figure out the logistics of it. I think I’ll go and grab lunch, do you need anything?” He asked.
“No I’ll set up Janesa for tonight.” Sally said as he left the office.
Rico strutted out to the restaurant next to his office. The girls in there always flirted with him, and he did his best to make sure he gave them all attention.
“Hey honey, I’ll take my usual.” He told the little brown haired waitress who came up to his table.
She smiled at him broadly and walked off with a swing of her hips. They weren’t dumb in this restaurant, the more they flaunted in front of him, and the larger their tips were usually. Sometimes he would take one of them in the back room and let them suck on him. He knew it wasn’t really a smart thing to do, but honestly it felt too good for him to stop it! He studied the waitress as she walked away and thought maybe he’d let her slob a bit on his knob today!
Chapter 3
Lalena headed out of the precinct for her shift. As she was going through the doors she ran into Jackson. He smiled at her broadly. “Hey I hear you should congratulate me!” He laughed.
“I would if I thought you deserve it.” She sneered at him.
“Oh is that any way to be with your fellow officer who is just moving up?” He asked, playing the hurt face all too well.
“Jackson, you know as well as I do that you didn’t deserve the promotion. But when you mess up, I’ll try again and this time I’ll get it.” She said lowly as she moved closer to him.
“Be careful you get too close people will think your hitting on me and trying to move up. Don’t want everyone to see you rubbing those breasts on me now do we.” Jackson said and stared at her ample chest freely. “I would love to see them though, tell you what you show them to me and I’ll get you on my team.” He offered.
“Fuck you Jackson; I don’t need to do that to move up in the precinct.” Lalena stated.
“I don’t know seems like you’ve been stuck in the same position for some time now, you might want to think about it.” He stated.
She walked away before she punched him. It wasn’t worth talking to him; he was a Neanderthal among humans. “Good luck not fucking up that new position.” She yelled over her shoulder as she walked out the door.
Lalena could hear him muttering something as she left, but she didn’t care about it. She really wanted to get out of the office right now. Maybe she would stop by and see a few friends later on that night. It could help her cheer up quite a bit. Then she remembered she was assigned to be security at the cancer event. “Shit, guess this day just keeps getting better and better.”
These events were a pain to work, you had to wear your dress blues and look all dressed up. However, if something popped off you also had to be able to move. Dress blues weren’t the most comfortable things in the world, and they definitely weren’t great to run in, or do much else.
She had to go home and check to make sure her blues were ready for the night. Lalena wanted this day to end, to be able to go home and grab a cold brew and just relax. Maybe talk to a few friends online or on the phone, she wasn’t sure. But definitely her idea of relaxing was not being security for the cancer event. In past years they had hired private teams, but not this year, she wasn’t sure why. Maybe it had something to do with the mayor and all the uproar in the underground mob arena. He had imposed some pretty strict taxes that had hurt a lot of people who didn’t like it. They had some power, maybe a lot more than anyone knew, and they would use it.
Though perhaps there was more to the story than the press was saying. Because she would think that if he had pissed the mob off too much he would be dead by now. So maybe it was all just ways for the good mayor to grab more press time.
There had been a joke when the mayor was first elected, and honestly it fit him. His name was Rico Zess, but many of the papers had called him Rico Suave. After the popular 80’s one hit wonder sexy Spanish singer. Lalena had to admit that he was pure sexiness for sure.
She hadn’t been joking when she said she would love just a few minutes with him in a room. There was something charismatic about him that drew females and males alike to him. Maybe that was the only real reason he was still alive, he had some connections among those mobsters who thought he was too important to knock off.
She didn’t really care honestly; maybe the only good thing about tonight was to see the mayor and maybe something else. Where the mayor was usually something would happen that was unusual.
Laughing she remembered the one time that a date of his had supposedly been married. The mayor claimed to have no idea about it, but when her husband showed up at the event, it had been quite the show. The husband had pulled a gun on the mayor and threatened to use it on him. Claimed the mayor had ruined his marriage by going out with his wife several times.
The press had dug up the story and had found out that the woman had claimed to be separated when first asked out by the mayor. He hadn’t seen her but maybe two times in a few months though. The husband was unstable and was placed in a psychiatric hospital for evaluation.
“That’s what we call the problems of being a playboy.” She laughed. “I wonder how good he is, why do all these women want to be with him?” It had made her wonder more than one time. Besides the sexy look that he possessed, there must be more under it. Lalena would love to know if he was the Spanish lover that he came across as in pictures and stories.
Her shift was slow and she barely made
it home in time to get ready for her security detail that night. Thankfully her blues were clean and she simply took a shower and dressed. Lalena walked out of the door upset she was going, but at least it would hopefully keep her mind off the rest of the day.
Distraction was always something she had used to keep sad feelings at bay in the past. Tonight she needed the distraction of this cancer event to make her forget about Jackson and all of the other bullshit that had taken place today.
She walked out the door running late and hoping she didn’t get in trouble when she got to the convention center.
Lalena got there with barely enough time before the event began. She got a look from the lieutenant that was in charge, but at least he didn’t make any comments to her. She might have said something to him about this. She had after all actually volunteered for this night, right now she had no clue why, but the fact was it had been her choice.
She stood around and watched the people who walked in the door. She was looking for anyone who looked a little suspicious or acting too nervous. It was one of the classic signs that they were up to no good.
As she watched the people filter in she noticed the mayor. He was looking stunning in a white suite that made his dark skin tone stand out even more. On his arm was a beautiful dark haired goddess. Lalena knew she was good looking, but compared to that woman she was nothing. She immediately felt inadequate for even having the thoughts of the mayor at that moment. If he choose women who looked like that she would never even be recognized by him.
As the couple walked past the mayor looked at her and smiled.
“Good evening sir, I hope you’re having a great evening.” She commented. Lalena was shocked when he stopped in front of her.
“How long have you been on the force?” He asked her.
“I’ve been on the force for 10 years now.” She answered.
“I would think a 10 year veteran wouldn’t be here, did you do something to make your superiors put you on duty tonight?” He questioned her, his eyes studying her closely.
