Dishonoring Jack

Chapter Thirty Nine

With those words, Anita gave Jack the final piece of the puzzle. Oliver was obeying Max Slate's every command because Max had promised him this prestigious position in the state government, one Oliver would never have been able to achieve on his own. This was bribery and political corruption at its finest, and Jack would have been furious if this piece of information hadn't presented her with an idea.

"Deputy Attorney General?" Corrie exclaimed, her mouth gaping open. "Is he...is he qualified?"

"Of course not! Max Slate is influential," Jack said, imitating her sister. "And he's rich. He must have somehow contrived this so Oliver would hand Donovan over."

"This makes no sense!" Anita said, standing to her feet. "Why on earth would Max Slate go to so much trouble for one man?"

Silence fell, but Jack knew the answer. "Love," she murmured, her voice dark.

Even Corrie looked dumbfounded. How could something so pure be responsible for so much pain? But Jack knew what was driving Max Slate, and power, money, and land had nothing to do with his motivation.

"Love and revenge. Donovan killed his oldest brother, and I killed Clyde. Whatever kind of sick monster Max Slate is, he loved his brothers, and now he wants revenge. He wants Donovan to die," Jack explained.

"What can we do?" Corrie said. "With no evidence, how can we stop Father?"
Jack already knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to expose Oliver's corruption so the entire town could condemn him. She wanted Irvington rise against them both and save Donovan, but with one look at her sister, she knew she couldn't condemn her sister and nieces to a life of ignominy.

"I don't know," Jack confessed. "But I have some words for your father."

Jack stormed out of the room, leaving her sister and nieces dumbfounded. Jack may not be able to divulge Oliver's wrongdoings to the entire town, she could certainly express her own dismay at his crimes. Perhaps guilt would prove stronger than fear and convince him to release Donovan. With one hand on the balustrade, Jack dashed down the stairs and stormed into Oliver's office. She pushed Mr. Bricker who tried to stop her and rushed past him.

The mahogany door slammed shut behind her as she stood in front of Oliver. The pudgy mayor stood behind his desk, his cloudy eyes bulging and his face red. He clutched the edge of his desk with white knuckled fingers as Dr. Benjamin stood before him, his chair pushed behind him. Both men's gazes jumped to Jack when she entered, and Oliver flinched.

"I need to have a word with you," Jack said, her voice calm and steely even though she was seething.

"Jacqueline, Doctor, I'm afraid this is official government business," Oliver blustered, emerging from behind his desk to shoo them towards the door. "While I understand your personal interest in this matter, I must attend to this with the impartiality of a member of the government."

Refusing to budge, Jack let out a low laugh. "Don't pretend you are operating under a guise of impartiality. I know the truth."

The words stunned Oliver and his bushy gray eyebrows rose as he sputtered, "I have no idea what you're implying, Miss Harrison, but-"

"Don't play with me!" Jack yelled, taking a menacing step forward. Heat poured through her body as Oliver cowered before her. "Do you want to be responsible for killing an innocent man, all because you want a position in the state government?"

Oliver's face turned from red to white, and a bitter smile played across Jack's lips. She was right; Oliver was accepting a bribe.

"You--this is preposterous! I've done nothing wrong!" Oliver said, retreating behind his desk.