Buck took a call from Jessie.
"Buck I've just received a hand-delivered letter from the council's external attorneys on behalf of the city manager demanding you publicly retract your recent statement that if elected you'll fire the city manager for not having the exterior of City Hall renovated within your imposed deadline."
"The letter states you had no authority to make such a statement, that it would take time to investigate such a proposal and produce a budget and get approval for any such work to proceed and further, the city manager's position could not be changed to the mayor alone; any question over the terms of employment of the city manager was for the mayor and full council to consider."
"This issue could flare up and expose you to claims of faulty judgment over administrative procedures Buck."
"Oh I don't see it that way. The city manager is totally responsible for the maintenance of City Hall, not the mayor and council. I knew I couldn't fire him alone but when I take over the mayoralty all the duties of councilors will be up for review including chairmanships. This is politics baby. I would call for the firing of the city manager BEFORE we discuss duties and the plum jobs of responsibility. And guess what?"
"God you are ruthless."
"Yeah it could be viewed that way but I prefer to call it being knowledgeable about management of administrative procedures."
"Well I must say after hearing that I can't fault your thinking. So what is your instruction?"
"Just write back and say have a nice day, that your client advises he will address this matter within two days of taking office."
"God that's inflammatory."
"So be it. Jessie now this is confidential. Please don't even tell Katie and I'll tell Brett. Our latest opinion sampling of around 5% of randomly selected voters registered at the last election indicates a landslide victory for me. Comparing it with our last survey indicates voters are deserting Black in droves."
"Omigod."
"And Jessie this is also confidential. The new mayor will be asking the council to appoint a new firm of external attorneys. I imagine I'll be talking to you about becoming my preferred nominee."
"Oh Buck."
"In you I trust Jessie. That means a lot to me. Now be a good girl and get that letter off. It will cause mayhem at City Hall."
"What something that simple?"
"Jessie think politically rather than legally. That reply will be interpreted that I'm more than confident I'm going to win. I have heard a whisper that Saturday's Guardian will publish its pre-election opinion survey results for the four council seats up for grabs and the mayoralty contest. Those results, if they even very roughly follow our polling, will put the cat among the pigeons at City Hall."
"Yes right. Omigod this is exciting. I'll have that letter off within the hour. I believe what you are saying."
"Yes that simple letter will upset council senior executives who hear about it. The one great fear a bureaucracy is the arrival of a new guy exercising muscle and willpower who'll sweep with a new broom through their cozy comfort zones."
"God I had this idea you knew nothing about local government and I bet Mayor Black has made the same mistake."
"When doing my degree I took the option to add public administration as a specialist study. You may have noticed I've overlooked telling anyone that."
"Buck am I to understand you won't consider our firm as the next choice of external solicitors for the council if I continue pressuring you for sex?"
"Oh Jessie, I can see why you are a top attorney in this city."
"That is so grossly unfair Buck and I mean that."
* * *
Gloria had settled in well at the dealership and reported to Buck with a smile that attitudes toward her had become warmer since staff had found she was the boss's fiancée rather than just being his hot bit of fluff.
Buck had grinned saying wasn't she both, his fiancée and his hot girlfriend.
"Oooh," she'd replied, advancing towards him and lifting her skirt but he'd been forced to say, "Jesus Gloria, back off. We're in the supermarket."
Next morning he received a legal letter from Mayor Black's personal attorney. It expressed concern about an allegation that when questioned about Mayor Black at a meeting of the Catholic Women's League, Buck had said Mayor Black would be remembered as the laziest, most over-weight, policy-deficient and grumpiest bastard that had ever donned the mayoral chain in the city's history.
Jessie remained seated and didn't attempt to kiss Buck on this occasion and left him to close the door. She held out her hand for the letter and read it.
"This suggests you have libeled our esteem mayor?"
"I reject that opinion."
"Okay so which part of the allegation isn't true?"
"Black's spy planted at that meeting is lying saying I used the word bastard. American gentlemen don't use such a word, at least not in public."
"So you think you can prove beyond all reasonable doubt you didn't use the derogatory term bastard," Jessie said and hoisted her reading glasses, "as well as alleging that Black is the laziest, most over-weight, policy-deficient and grumpiest mayor this city has every had?"
"Probably not but he'd just have as much difficulty proving that he wasn't all those things."
"But with the city's First Citizen being the aggrieved plaintiff, I suggest there's a high risk that a judgment by the court could go against you."
He smiled, "Oh bad boy Buck."
"Yes and any successful claim for damages could empty your pockets. Can you honestly assure me you didn't use the word bastard?"
"Yes absolutely and the only person I'd dump that word on would be Mayor Black's personal attorney."
"That comment is not helpful."
"Sorry."
"Thank you. I shall write a legal letter denying my client used the word bastard or even asshole in that context and if any of the other claims in the allege statement have caused offence to the complainant then my client apologizes unreservedly."
Buck looked at Jessie grimly. "You are serious about that aren't you?"
"Very much so Buck. My objective is to avoid you having to fork out money, perhaps several hundred thousand dollars in damages if any action against you is successful."
"Well okay, please proceed."
"Thank you Buck," she said, coming around her desk.
"Drop by on Wednesday evening. I'll be alone with only Katie until very late."
"That's a definite no Jessie."
"God you are difficult. Jess asked only this morning had you gone away."
"Oh in that case I'll call socially when Brett is also home."
"That's fine," Jessie sighed. "I really don't know why I was given a pussy."