one for this long. It's not
the type of problem that's confined solely to large metropolitan
areas."
"The idea surfaced several years ago when I
was a member of the city council, but nothing ever came of it,
despite the fact that Sam Nelson was behind it all the way. Money
was tight then, and neither one of us carried enough clout to get
it approved." Her tone was somber. "Even now the response has been
lukewarm. But if the endorsement for a new city hall comes through
and funds are earmarked for that, I'm afraid money will once again
be a problem."
For a moment she was torn between conflicting
emotions. Granted, the existence of a women's shelter at the time
of her marriage probably wouldn't have changed a thing. But it
might have made life a little easier if only she'd had someone to
talk to, someone who understood her confusion.
It was shame that held her back then, and it
was shame that held her back now. She despised herself for being so
cowardly. Her thoughts grew bitter as her gaze dropped. She stared
numbly down at her hands.
No, it could never be known that Angie Hall,
solid citizen, respected mayor of Westridge, had been abused by her
husband. She would probably be accused of a private crusade. But
wasn't that what this was?
In a way it was, she acknowledged silently.
But not completely. It was a community need, one that Matt
recognized, as well.
Taking a deep breath, she took her place
behind her desk once more. "So." Her tone was brisk, and she forced
a smile. "You don't mind if I quote you on that, do you?"
"Not at all," he said firmly. "I think I can
even manage to gather a few supporting facts and figures before
tonight. I can have Margie bring them by later this afternoon."
When he stood up, the warmth in her smile and
voice were genuine. "Thanks, Chief," she said softly. She gestured
at the remains of their lunch stuffed back into the paper bag.
"Next time lunch is on me."
"Bribery, Ms Mayor?" His voice feigned shock,
but his eyes were dancing. "Don't worry. I won't tell if you
won't."
Angie found she was still smiling after he
left. Oddly enough, the tension between them seemed to have eased,
although for the most part she suspected it had been rather
one-sided in the first place.
Her good humor didn't last more than a few
minutes after his departure, though. Todd knocked on the door,
then stepped inside, shutting it behind him. He was impeccably
dressed as usual in a three-piece camel- colored suit, starched
white shirt and polished leather shoes. Fastidious to a fault, his
brown hair lay neatly on his head, not a single strand out of
place.
"Well, I certainly am popular today." Her
welcoming smile faded as she caught sight of his handsome features
drawn into a tight-lipped expression. "You just got back from
vacation," she chided gently. "You're supposed to be all smiles and
full of news about the fun you had—"
"News? I'm full of news, all right. About you
and our new police chief." His tone, for all its quietness, held a
bitter note. "He moves rather quickly, wouldn't you say?" He halted
directly in front of her, placed his palms flat on her desktop and
glared at her. "I think I deserve an explanation."
Angie felt her temper rise at his flat demand
but kept her voice calm. "If Blair was anxious to start a fire, she
certainly succeeded, didn't she?"
Todd's eyes narrowed. "Dammit, Angie, you
know that you and I—"
"I know that you and I are friends, nothing
more," she stressed tightly. "That's the way it's been, and that's
the way it's going to stay." "Because of our new police chief?"
"Matt Richardson has nothing to do with this, Todd. And even if he
did, it wouldn't really be any of your business," she informed him
coolly.
He stared at her for a long time, then
straightened abruptly. "You know how I feel about you," he said in
a low voice. "You and I—"
Angie shook her head wearily. "Please don't,
Todd. We've gone over this before." The last time had been only a
few weeks earlier.
the type of problem that's confined solely to large metropolitan
areas."
"The idea surfaced several years ago when I
was a member of the city council, but nothing ever came of it,
despite the fact that Sam Nelson was behind it all the way. Money
was tight then, and neither one of us carried enough clout to get
it approved." Her tone was somber. "Even now the response has been
lukewarm. But if the endorsement for a new city hall comes through
and funds are earmarked for that, I'm afraid money will once again
be a problem."
For a moment she was torn between conflicting
emotions. Granted, the existence of a women's shelter at the time
of her marriage probably wouldn't have changed a thing. But it
might have made life a little easier if only she'd had someone to
talk to, someone who understood her confusion.
It was shame that held her back then, and it
was shame that held her back now. She despised herself for being so
cowardly. Her thoughts grew bitter as her gaze dropped. She stared
numbly down at her hands.
No, it could never be known that Angie Hall,
solid citizen, respected mayor of Westridge, had been abused by her
husband. She would probably be accused of a private crusade. But
wasn't that what this was?
In a way it was, she acknowledged silently.
But not completely. It was a community need, one that Matt
recognized, as well.
Taking a deep breath, she took her place
behind her desk once more. "So." Her tone was brisk, and she forced
a smile. "You don't mind if I quote you on that, do you?"
"Not at all," he said firmly. "I think I can
even manage to gather a few supporting facts and figures before
tonight. I can have Margie bring them by later this afternoon."
When he stood up, the warmth in her smile and
voice were genuine. "Thanks, Chief," she said softly. She gestured
at the remains of their lunch stuffed back into the paper bag.
"Next time lunch is on me."
"Bribery, Ms Mayor?" His voice feigned shock,
but his eyes were dancing. "Don't worry. I won't tell if you
won't."
Angie found she was still smiling after he
left. Oddly enough, the tension between them seemed to have eased,
although for the most part she suspected it had been rather
one-sided in the first place.
Her good humor didn't last more than a few
minutes after his departure, though. Todd knocked on the door,
then stepped inside, shutting it behind him. He was impeccably
dressed as usual in a three-piece camel- colored suit, starched
white shirt and polished leather shoes. Fastidious to a fault, his
brown hair lay neatly on his head, not a single strand out of
place.
"Well, I certainly am popular today." Her
welcoming smile faded as she caught sight of his handsome features
drawn into a tight-lipped expression. "You just got back from
vacation," she chided gently. "You're supposed to be all smiles and
full of news about the fun you had—"
"News? I'm full of news, all right. About you
and our new police chief." His tone, for all its quietness, held a
bitter note. "He moves rather quickly, wouldn't you say?" He halted
directly in front of her, placed his palms flat on her desktop and
glared at her. "I think I deserve an explanation."
Angie felt her temper rise at his flat demand
but kept her voice calm. "If Blair was anxious to start a fire, she
certainly succeeded, didn't she?"
Todd's eyes narrowed. "Dammit, Angie, you
know that you and I—"
"I know that you and I are friends, nothing
more," she stressed tightly. "That's the way it's been, and that's
the way it's going to stay." "Because of our new police chief?"
"Matt Richardson has nothing to do with this, Todd. And even if he
did, it wouldn't really be any of your business," she informed him
coolly.
He stared at her for a long time, then
straightened abruptly. "You know how I feel about you," he said in
a low voice. "You and I—"
Angie shook her head wearily. "Please don't,
Todd. We've gone over this before." The last time had been only a
few weeks earlier.
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