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That’s why he’s been mayor four times.
“What did you need? It sounded important.”
“Isn't it enough that I wanted to see my son? We miss you around here.”
I put on that shy smirk and shrug my shoulders up around my neck.
“Uh, yeah. It's good to see you, too.” My voice drops lower, shaky. Unsure.
“Since you're over here, your mother was wondering if you wanted to stay for dinner. We’re having some Himalayan bullshit. Your sister’s always insisting we try new things, you know.”
“No, no, I don't think so. I have… um.” Looking uncomfortable is way too easy.
“No need to explain. I thought as much and told her you would want to get home. I understand, boy.” He’s so ready to let me play this person. To keep me conveniently accessible, but just as conveniently absent.
It’s why I developed the version of myself, one that had so little use to him in public.
Tyler Jr. the recluse. Tyler Jr. the quiet, pensive, neurotic computer nerd. He’s who I was as a child.
He's all of my flaws, mashed into one.
My dad only has one use for Tyler Jr. “You, uh, you think you could check on something for me, Son?”
“Sure.” Ah, yes. Tyler Jr. the hacker. The one who can alter documents, delete private emails. I do it to maintain my place in his hierarchy, to keep tabs on all of his people and the city council members. “Who do you need me to look into?”
“Well, the council and I are concerned that there's something brewing between the big two. They’re getting noisy. They’re getting brazen, bold. Do your thing. For the good of the city.” He swaggers up to me, an arm around my shoulders like we’re partners. Like he’s a father instead of a tyrant.
“The usual?”
“Yeah, whatever you need to do. Surveillance, emails, phone calls, texts. Just don’t let it get traced back to me!” He laughs, too loudly.
“I’ll be careful.” I pull away, ready to leave. “Um, Dad? Do you think we’re in trouble?”
“Yes.” I’m shocked he gave me a straight answer. “And no. Because I have a plan. Don’t you worry. If they think they can build their little armies, they’ve got another thing coming.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Build a little army of my own. Get me the dirt I need on both of them. The Ghosts and the Block. It’s past time that I shut their shithole operations down. Especially with the campaign coming up in the fall.”
“Yessir.”
“It’s up to us to keep Sanctum Harbor safe, the people. To make sure those shit for brains keep suckling at our teat, looking to us for guidance, for saving.”
I widen my eyes, nodding vigorously. Like I'm in awe of all his intelligence.
After a sickening hug and pat on my back, I slip out the back door, back into my shitty car. I need a shower. To scrub until I turn red. Until I can’t smell his breath and his cologne on me.
My hand twitches, begging me to turn off the car, turn it on again.
No. I won’t be a slave to the urge.
I need to change, shift myself out of this persona before it eats me up. Tyler Jr. protests as I push the little car to its limit, speeding toward my stash, another vehicle, another name.
It’s so much easier to breathe once I’m out of that outfit, my hair out of my face.
Not that I love who I’m changing into.
Jack is a real son of a bitch.
