“Do it. Ensure that the message is delivered.” Dennis Lee had studied all the angles. Taken into account what had been lost. One of his prime supervisors for his little side businesses had been busted two hours earlier. Dennis Lee was still reeling. He’d thought that angle was well-hidden. But that bastard Turner Barratt had one-upped him.
And gloated about it on the news conference.
It was the gloating Dennis Lee couldn’t stand. He never had been able to lose easily.
This was more than just a child’s game, though. This was his life. Everything he’d worked for could come toppling down if Turner Barratt and his special little task force hit just the right domino.
He looked at Collin. “We need him in office now. I don’t have time to worry about getting someone else in place. I plan to…in a few months, after things fall into place. But now isn’t the time. So just make sure our point is made.”
He fully intended to get Barratt out of office one way or another. Either by removing him permanently, or by rigging the election. Jenny really wanted the seat. And it would be convenient for him to have her in that office.
It would be another domino.
But right now…he had other things he had to focus on. And Jenny needed time. She needed things to settle down, needed her divorce to be finalized, needed to heal from the loss of her nephew. Time.
Dennis Lee was forcing himself to practice patience. It was a new skill he was learning, after all. Man was never too old to learn.
“Loud and clear…sir.”
Had that been a smirk in Collin’s eyes? Dennis Lee looked closer.
Something was different about the boy. Something that had his hackles standing on end. “You having a problem lately, Collin? Anything I can help you with?”
He deliberately laced his tone with a threat. Even though the boy was armed, he would understand.
Dennis Lee didn’t brook with no sass from the men he paid to do jobs for him. He was the king of Boethe Street.
Collin knew that. He just needed reminded. “Just see that it’s done. Tonight. I have big plans for tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it. Right away.”
“Good. See that you do. And Collin…this attitude you’ve been developing? Wouldn’t want me to think you were ungrateful for what all I’ve done for your…family…would you?”
“Of course not. I will always be in your debt, Councilman Arnold. I’m well aware of what I owe you.”