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“Oh no,” Merrick returns. “Consider me a concerned friend. I just want to make sure you know what could happen if you decide to poke that bear.”
I press stop, but Dana motions for me to continue. “There’s more leading up to that part.”
“Who is the other guy?” I want to be able to put what I’m hearing into some kind of context.
“Keith Jespers.”
Dana blurts out the name with no hesitation whatsoever.
“Jespers Pharmacy?” I clarify.
She nods. “One and the same. It sounds like a threat, doesn’t it? Although, I can’t for the life of me figure why anyone would threaten that nice old man. Let alone our own mayor.”
I wouldn’t put it past Merrick though. He seems like the kind of guy who would do anything in his power to get his way, even a little blackmail. But what are they talking about here?
I rewind the recorder to the beginning of the file.
“Don? I’m surprised to see you here. What can I do for you?” I hear Jespers greet the mayor.
“Checking in on an old friend and making sure loyalties are in the right place,” Merrick’s voice is clearer, indicating the recorder was probably on his body somewhere.
“What do you mean by that?” the second man asks sharply.
“Well, we have some big decisions coming up that could impact all of our futures, and I need to know I can count on you.”
“You mean you want me to sell out my town and my neighbors,” Jespers returns angrily.
“Don’t be so dramatic. We’d all stand to gain in the end,” Merrick can be heard placating the other man. “Friends standing together, helping out, like I supported you not that long ago, no questions asked.”
“That is not the same.”
“Isn’t it? Seems to me you weren’t too concerned doing the right thing then.”
“My wife was in pain,” Jesper discloses. “The stuff the doctors prescribed her wasn’t even making a dent. I didn’t hurt anyone by giving her something stronger. It was only to ease her last days, and you know it.”
“Maybe, but it obviously burdened you enough to share with me.”
“That was in confidence when you caught me in a weak moment after Margaret’s death.”
“I realize that, but I did you a favor keeping that information to myself now, didn’t I? You wouldn’t want that story to get out, now, would you?”
Holy shit. If that information came out, Jespers could stand to lose his license.
But what the hell is the mayor hoping to gain by blackmailing the man?
“What big decision is Merrick talking about?” I ask out loud.
“I don’t know,” Dana admits before suggesting. “But Keith Jespers is an elected county commissioner, and the board has to make big decisions for the county and the town all the time.”
No wonder the mayor was so gung-ho getting his recorder back.
Dana
* * *
It’s nice, working side by side with Rick.
After he came back from booking the recorder into evidence at the station, he has been focused on his task, not feeling the need to fill the silence with constant chatter, which I’m grateful for. I like the quiet space in my head while my hands stay busy. People often refer to it as mindless activity, but for me it’s an opportunity to sort my thoughts, contemplate options, and process information.
