Wisdom by Jesse J. Thoma

Author:Jesse J. Thoma [Thoma, Jesse J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781635558876
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2021-12-01T00:21:26+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

After hours of reading and answering email, Sophia felt giddy when she broke free of her office and exited the statehouse into the late afternoon sun. The weeknight evenings she had the design team made for late nights, but more and more she didn’t mind. She told herself it was because the work was invigorating and they were starting to hash out meaningful proposals, which was true, but a large measure of her anticipation was due to seeing Reggie.

While she was waiting to cross the street a couple of blocks from the meeting, the Zookeeper approached.

“Representative Lamont, always a pleasure.”

“Zookeeper. How are you this evening?”

The small talk felt awkward, but Sophia didn’t know what else, aside from the design team and the weather, they had to talk about. She didn’t want to admit there were probably plenty of politicians, businessmen and women, lawyers, doctors, and others she interacted with daily who had plenty to say to the Zookeeper. And probably more than a few who’d been her customers.

“I’ve been under the impression since the design team started that my presence has disturbed you. Is there some way I can set your mind at ease?”

The Zookeeper gave her a penetrating look that felt like it was as revealing as a Star Trek tricorder.

Sophia felt her face heat all the way to her ears, but she wasn’t used to lying. She could deflect questions, omit details, and redirect with the best politicians, but bald-faced lying wasn’t something she was comfortable with. “Initially, I wasn’t happy you were included as part of the design team. I made an unfair snap judgment, which I regret.”

“Your brother is David Lamont, is he not?” The Zookeeper put her hands in her pockets and strolled along as if she hadn’t casually identified the source of Sophia’s anger.

“He is, yes.” Sophia searched the Zookeeper’s unreadable expression.

“What happened to him was a miscarriage of justice. He was screwed by the system, by the police, and by his dorm mates. I, too, shouldn’t have asked him to take my wares to another customer.” The Zookeeper furrowed her brows and the tenor of her voice changed to something closer to menacing.

“I need to know, did you have anything to do with the prosecutor on Davey’s case seeing reason?” Sophia put her hand on the Zookeeper’s shoulder to stop her before she entered the building where the design team met.

“The prosecutor wanted to announce he’d gotten a drug dealer off the streets. We had one that needed to be cut loose. David wasn’t the type of criminal the overzealous prosecutor was looking for, even if he thought he fit the bill.”

“But why? Why did you help him? Why are you on the design team?” Sophia stepped aside to let other design team members pass.

The Zookeeper propped one foot against the wall and leaned with her back against the building. “The streets are an ecosystem like any other. There is a delicate balance holding everything in stasis, and like any ecosystem there is a hierarchy, a food chain, if you will.

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