Preamble
Today’s prompt is somewhat similar to yesterday’s in terms of random words and associations. The difference today is that we are associating a random character, a random situation, a random prop, and a random setting. It turns out there is a site that does just that over at Writer Igniter. I used the following character name generator.
Here is how I fared:
| Character | Situation | Prop | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local politician | Witness a crime | Underground passageway | Outdoors – natural waterfalls |
Day 5 Response
“Hello. May I speak with TJ now?” The man on the phone definitely seemed stressed and it appeared that he hadn’t realize that he had reached TJ’s direct number.
TJ smiled to himself. He knew that voice and could have picked it out anywhere. It was Councilman Anders. Of course, the six million dollar question was why was Anders reaching out to him. TJ had just been served with gag order when he’d attempted to reveal that the Councilman was tampering with the votes.
TJ cleared his throat and said “You are now, Councilman Anders. Did y’all lift the gag order or something?”
“Ok. Great. Good. Listen, I can’t talk right now. I need to meet with you but not where I might be recognized or overheard,” came the Councilman’s nervous response.
TJ chewed his pen. He had never encountered the Councilman in such a shaken state. His nose was definitely twitching at the political stench just beyond his reach. Whatever trouble the Councilman was having, he wanted a piece of it.
“Councilman, I will reach out to you and let you know where. I will make sure no else but you gets the information. The when will be in three hours.”
####
“Multnomah Falls, seriously? You made me drive all the way out here on the busiest day ever!” the Councilman fired at TJ.
“Shut up and follow me, if it is that important to you.”
TJ started walking and just assumed the Councilman was following and keeping pace. He had to get them onto the Wahkeena Falls loop for the much needed privacy.
####
“Speak,” TJ addressed the Councilman. He smiled at the insolent tone that he’d been able to get away with so far.
“Ok. Fine. So, the whole bridge building project. There is some serious corruption going on. OH PLEASE, don’t look at me this way. Hear me out. Yeah, so you’d figured out I had doctored the tallies and, of course, I was financially rewarded for that action. But what has happened now, it does not sit well with my conscience.
I was heading to my car where I usually park it and in the underground passageway connecting the office with the parking lot, I saw Robby Wade talking to Sammy Bernard except that he was holding Sammy across the neck and Sammy’s hip was projecting out.
I can only assume that there was gun pointed behind his back. Robby got the contract and Sammy is his supplier. I need you to sort out what’s going on.”
“So, you want me to dig around for you. What’s in it for me?” TJ asked. He turned his attention to his ringing cellphone. “I have to take this, Maggy only interrupts during emergencies.”
####
“So?” The Councilman asked. He did not like the frown that had settled on TJ’s face.
“Sammy Bernard was found dead. Two gunshot wounds. His body had been dumped into the trunk of his car.” TJ replied slowly taking in the Councilman’s full reaction.
“Shit. Sammy was one of the good ones. Sort this out, please. Look, I need to know how much cleaning up Wade will be up to. Damn it, I don’t care. I mean figure it out and when you do I will come forward and confess to doctoring the tallies. Listen, I’ll do my time. I need to know my family will be safe.”
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