Spenser pulled her phone out of her pocket and connected the call.
“Song.”
“Spenser, it’s Maggie.”
“Hey, Maggie. We’re at the—”
“You need to get down to City Hall right away.”
The serious tone of the mayor’s voice sent a cold ripple through Spenser’s heart. She knew immediately that Rafe Johansen and Alex Ricci were responsible for whatever was happening down there and the cold ripple in her heart turned absolutely frigid.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Emergency meeting and I think you want to be here for it.”
She looked at Ryker, the pangs of frustration and regret mixed in with the anxiety swelling within her. And when he gave her a look that said he understood, Spenser felt completely unworthy of the man.
“I’m on my way,” she said and disconnected the call.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“They called an emergency meeting. Not sure what it’s about, but I think Rafe and Alex are making their move and coming for my job.”
“Sounds like it’ll be an exciting evening.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry. Tonight is just so—”
“Like I said, there’s nothing for you to be sorry about. I knew what I was signing up for when we got involved,” he said. “I’ll get the pups home. You go handle your business.”
“I’ll catch up with you when this is done.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
She leaned forward and gave him a long, lingering kiss, trying to convey everything she’d wanted to say but didn’t get the chance to.
“Kick some butt and take no prisoners, Song.”
“See you soon.”
Spenser walked into City Hall wrapped in feelings of dread and trepidation. There was a healthy crowd already there. She spotted Johansen, Ricci, and Kyra Foster on the far side of the antechamber conferring and surmised they’d managed to rally their troops in time to fill the chamber for this emergency meeting, making sure they had the home field advantage. It only increased the anxiety that had her wrapped in its iron grip.
“Good, you’re here.”
She turned as Maggie emerged from the crowd and stepped over to her. The woman’s stout body was taut, her hands clenched into fists, and she had a scowl on her face which wasn’t doing anything to reassure Spenser.
“What is this about?” Spenser asked.
“Johansen invoked an obscure rule to demand an immediate council vote on your impeachment,” she told her.
“You’re kidding me?”
“I’m pretty sure they’re doing it to blunt the good press you’re sure to get after closing the Hamill case. It’s underhanded and downright disgusting.”
“Why is the council going along with this?”
“They have no choice,” Maggie explained. “The rule is clearly part of the town’s bylaws. Their hands are tied, Spenser.”
“Wonderful.”
“People are going to see this for what it is. It’s a craven power grab.”
“That’s definitely not how Kyra Foster is going to spin it in the Dispatch.”
“Nobody reads that garbage.”
“Everybody keeps saying that, but the simple fact that it’s been around as long as it has suggests there’s a sizeable core readership.”
“Don’t be such a fatalist.”
“Sorry. It’s just my nature,” Spenser replied. “Do you have any idea which way the council is leaning on Johansen’s motion?”
She shook her head. “No. Everybody’s keeping everything close to the vest right now.”
Spenser scoffed. “A little fatalism sounds appropriate right about now.”
A rueful smirk touched Maggie’s lips. “Come on. Let’s go inside. We’re about to start.”
