Page 4 of The Beachside Cafe 4
“Oh,” he responded with a smirk. He shook his head and gestured with the phone. “It’s a business investment I made. I’m losing money and we’re trying to figure out why. Someone might be interfering with our servers and rerouting business documents, emails and money.”
“That does not sound good,” Jaymee said. “In fact, that sounds very ominous.” She hesitated, not wanting to say what was on her mind. “You don’t think it has anything to do with our investigation and IDL… do you?”
He pressed his lips together and gave her a solemn look that told her he didn’t have that answer.
THREE
Stepping into the small crowd, Jaymee looked around for the councilman.
“You think he’s even going to talk to us?” she asked. “There’s a lot of people here and they’re probably all big fans.”
Cameron leaned to talk into her ear so no one around them could hear him. “I’ve got a name to drop to start the conversation, don’t worry. I’ve done my research.”
They mingled for a bit and Jaymee didn’t feel at all out of place next to Cameron. Even when he obviously didn’t know someone, he smiled and drew them into conversation. By most accounts, the councilman did seem well-liked.
“I’ve just moved into the district,” Jaymee heard Cameron say under his breath to one of the other guests. The man glanced over at him. “What can you tell me about O’Rourke? Is he to be trusted?”
The man glanced at the podium at the other end of the room where the councilman would be giving a short speech. “I don’t know if I’m the one you want to ask,” the man responded.
Cameron blanched. “What do you mean? You aren’t a fan?”
“Not a fan, no,” the man responded.
“Well, I’m not looking for his followers. I’m looking for honest opinions. What can you tell me about him?”
“I can tell you this,” the man responded in a cold voice. “He’s passed a lot of policies he knows no one likes. Pretty sure he’s pocketing some money somehow. I’ve been watching him pretty closely, the way he manipulates the media into making his lies seem believable. You’ve got to keep your eyes open or politicians will take everything you’ve got right out from under your nose and laugh at you all the way to the bank.”
Jaymee was surprised to hear such strong words. The revelation that Doug had ammunition to blackmail the councilman with was the first time Jaymee had ever heard of anything bad about O’Rourke. The newspapers made him out to be one of the people, a politician people could trust.
Now she knew differently. O’Rourke had been siphoning money from the city coffers into special interests that were against what the constituents wanted. Doug found out that he was taking money from IDL, as well, and every other special interest group he was supposedly helping. One way or another O’Rourke came out with money hand over fist.
“Really.” Cameron shook his head. “I never would have thought that about him.”
The man grunted before saying in a cold voice, “The media isn’t gonna tell you the truth. You have to look between the lines.” With that he strolled away in the opposite direction of the podium. He didn’t stop until he went through the front door and disappeared on the other side.
Jaymee didn’t understand why he’d done that. She looked at Cameron to see what he thought but he’d stopped giving the stranger his attention. He was focused on the man who had just come into their view. He was shaking hands with the people around him.
“Mr. O’Rourke!” Cameron called out, lifting one hand as he went across the room. He looked like he had great authority, probably because he had more money than he knew what to do with and carried himself that way naturally. “It is good to meet you, sir. Cameron Smith. I’m a local businessman. Businesses all up and down the west coast.”
“It’s good to meet you,” the councilman said, taking his hand and shaking it firmly. “Will you be staying for my speech? I’ll be asking for donations to the cause, you know. Can’t get anything done without the money we need, isn’t that right?”
“I’m actually not here to donate, sir, though I have before. Well, not to your particular campaign. But to others.” Cameron purposefully avoided mentioning his political party. He wasn’t there for a debate. “Anyway, I’m here because Arnold Green told me you’d be here and might be able to spare just five minutes to talk to me and my colleague, Jaymee Mason.”
When he mentioned her and gestured at her, Jaymee smiled wide, though she was suddenly very nervous inside. On the outside, O’Rourke didn’t look at all dangerous. He was a larger man, yes, a bit on the portly side, but he had a friendly face and a warm smile that looked genuine to Jaymee. She didn’t want to believe he could be as corrupt as the documents Doug had recovered stated he clearly was.
When the councilman heard the name Cameron mentioned, he stiffened slightly and a look came to his eyes that Jaymee recognized. It looked like guilt. She was glad to see it. At least that meant he had some kind of conscience.
“I think I can spare five or ten minutes for you, Mr…”
“Smith,” Cameron reintroduced himself. “Cameron Smith. I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”
O’Rourke looked around him, nodding and smiling and telling everyone he would be right back. He put one hand on Cameron’s arm and directed him toward a door on the other side of the room.
“Right here. We can talk in here.”
They walked into the room, where a long oval desk had chairs for twenty people, ten on each side, took up most of the space in the middle. Instead of sitting, O’Rourke perched on the edge of the table and rested both hands on one leg that he crossed over the other. Jaymee noticed him kneading his pant leg nervously.
“So, please, tell me what’s happening?” the councilman asked in a voice Jaymee could tell was nervous. He was looking anxiously at Cameron.
