The September Outcome

Chapter 5: Intrigue

 At four forty in the afternoon Dwight sat in his office studying the various paperwork lazily, too busy thinking on the subject of Sloan and Donny investigating him. Dwight was unsure if he wanted to do this, as the backlash could hurt Audrey but he couldn't work any longer for somebody who'd bought votes for an election nine years straight.

 Dwight once had dreams that when Sloan was gone he would run in the election under honorable circumstances and if he won he would rein the town honorably also. They were unlikely dreams but everyone had to have dreams. He'd always known Sloan was dirty but he could never prove it. That was where Donny Brooks came into it. He contemplated their conversation in the dank cafe earlier that day. Dwight had just told Donny the task at hand and the reaction was mixed.

 ''The mayor! Dwight are you crazy? This town may not be so big but he knows some very powerful people. You and Audrey could be ruined if we go through with this,'' Donny protested. ''How would I even begin to get sources so close to someone so...out of reach? It's virtually impossible.''

 Dwight knew he would have reacted like this. Whenever the shit hit the fan in high school Donny would always be the first one to run away despite his likeable aura.

 ''I know, Donny but this man's been buying votes for years. The only reason he's cherished is because people think he must be great winning nine years in a row. I heard it from his very lips. And I am putting my foot down here. Also, you know how he converted that main street into a classy metropolis turning this dumpster town into a goldmine? A street fifty yards long full of shops, firms and businesses. How did that happen? Where did that money come from? And I'm his accountant, so there is no opportunity where this huge surplus money came from unless by illegal means. Sloan probably gave them land to build casinos!''

 Donny looked unsure. ''Dwight, I am privileged that you came to me for help on this matter so urgent. But I am afraid that I am not your man for this. I've never dealt with something on such a ferocious scale. I can't help you,'' Donny sighed and was about to get up and leave.

 Dwight sweated a little. Donny was the only way he was going to get anywhere and he couldn't let him walk away

 ''Donny, please help me here. I need you in this. I need to get evidence to support my claim against Sloan. Without you, I'll have nothing. I need you and your qualifications to do some snooping, dig the skeleton up because that's what you do. You take the skeletons out of the closet and show it to people. Besides, do you even know how much money is involved in this operation? So much that if I said it in this room everyone would look up at us.''

  Donny looked reproachfully at his friend, as if Dwight was absolutely out of his mind but remained still in the chair. ''Okay,'' he said. ''I am interested.'' Donny put on a determined face.

 ''Dwight, do you really believe in your heart of hearts that Mayor Sloan is corrupt. I want you to think very hard and very carefully and come to a conclusion. If you find that what you say doesn't make sense we can put this behind us. So, do you believe?''

 Dwight stood by what he said before. ''Yes, I do.''

 And the partnership was formed. Dwight would pick up whatever information he could get out of the office and Donny would dig up old files and documents revolving around the rarely seen Jeslop Sloan. From this they would try and pile their information together to come up with something. Donny told Dwight not to tell anyone about what they were doing as they would be blown out of the water immediately. ''Also, you're going to need to talk face to face with Sloan. Go for a coffee, become golfing buddies, you know the works. Get to know him a little bit.''

 ''Get to know him?'' Dwight protested. ''I thought the whole point was to tiptoe around him carefully and then as soon as we have what we want, kick him where it hurts.''