I rolled over,silencing the alarm on my nightstand. The blackout shades filtered the sunlight from the condo. Aside from the internal lights from electronics, I was in total darkness. I patted around the bed, searching for my cell.
Sunday was rest day.
Business didn’t get handled. Calls went unanswered. The cell was onDo Not Disturbuntil Monday at eight sharp. Saturday had offered me nothing more than restlessness, leading me into the wee hours of today. I didn’t close my eyes until five this morning. Sleeping the day away wasn’t an option. I needed to burn some stress and calories in the gym.
10:01a
The screen was littered with notifications. One after the other, I swiped through them, face pinched and stomach in knots. An incoming call made everything vanish. All that was left was a choice I didn’t want to make at the moment.
Red or green button.
Answer or decline.
My mother’s name crossed the screen. Movement was beyond me. I was paralyzed with uncertainty.
Once the line rung out, the new notification appeared.
Missed call.
Pain ran up my spine. My thumb hovered over the screen as I contemplated returning a call I’d never missed. Not until today.
“Fuck.”
I tapped the screen, bypassing the message to open the text from Matte. It was followed by messages from Cameron, Julius, and Sarah in our group thread. As the phone rested in my palm, more messages filed in.
And then the phone rang again.
And again.
And again.
Matte.
Cameron.
Sarah.
One after the other, the calls flooded in. I ignored them one by one. Before I heard anyone’s voice from the office, I needed to educate myself on what was happening. I scanned the messages for the source.
The header from the first link made it apparent.
Mayor Hopeful Buying More Than the Voter’s Loyalty.
My skin grew tighter as my body expanded with despair.
Could the Mayoral Candidate, Ishmael Grayson, Be in the Center of a Prostitution Ring?
Ishmael Grayson Using Campaign Money to Fund Unshakeable Habits?
Mayoral Candidate, Ishmael Grayson, Picks Up Prostitute.
The headlines filled the screen.
Bold.
Big.
Lie after lie.
