Page 21 of Need You
Chapter Five
“Pond is in your office and he doesn’t look happy,” Carrie Jo told Colt as he came through the door Tuesday morning.
It wasn’t even nine yet. On Monday, the mayor had been in Sacramento for a meeting and Colt missed him as much as a bad case of food poisoning.
“What does he want?”
“Beats me.”
Whatever it was it couldn’t be good, otherwise he would’ve just used the phone. Colt went into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee, Carrie Jo trailing after him.
“Go in there and get it over with,” she said.
Colt pinned her with a look. “I’ll go when I’m good and ready.” He leaned against the counter, sipping his morning caffeine.
Carrie Jo shook her head. “Do you want to fight or do you want to win? Because taking your sweet-ass time is bound to piss him off.”
“Do I look like I care?”
“You’re an obstinate man.”
He couldn’t argue with that. All Garners were. You didn’t make it up the mountain, ski the roughest courses, ride the biggest rapids, or jump off the tallest cliffs without being obstinate. Although he’d prefer to call it determination.
“What’s your point?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. “My point is, this”—she pointed at his languid position—“is childish. Go in there and meet him head on.” She punctuated her pep talk with a jab to his shoulder and walked out of the kitchen.
He finished the rest of his coffee and ambled into his office like he didn’t have a care in the world. Childish or not, Colt didn’t want the mayor to think he could push him around. There had to be some autonomy as police chief, otherwise there’d be no checks and balances.
“It’s about time,” Carter Pond said, pointedly gazing at his watch.
“I didn’t realize we had an appointment.”
“I’m the mayor, I don’t need one.”
Colt moved around his desk and sank into his chair. “What can I do for you, Mr. Mayor?”
“Because of your little stunt on the river walk Saturday, we’re getting sued.”
“What stunt would that be?”
“The spectacle you made with the couple from Southern California.”
“You mean the guy who socked me in the stomach after smacking his wife around?” Colt hadn’t known where they were from.
“They claim that wasn’t the case ... that you rushed in like a cowboy, caused a scene, and used unnecessary force.”
“And you’re willing to take their word over mine?” Not that he was surprised, but it still stung to be second-guessed by Pond, again.
“What I’m not willing to do is cost this city money because you can’t restrain yourself.”
The SOB looked so self-satisfied that Colt wanted to throw a fist in his face.See? I can restrain myself, he almost said.Otherwise you’d be flat on your ass right now.
“I want you to talk to Benjamin and work this out,” the mayor continued. “I don’t care if you have to apologize to the couple or offer them something complimentary from your family’s company. Just make this go away.”
Pond rose from his seat and stormed out of the office.
Colt shook his head, then picked up the phone and called the city attorney. “Hey, Ben.”
