TWENTY-THREE
The feds subpoenaed Steve and Caroline Moss’s bank records and computer and home files, and compiled a yearlong timeline of human trafficking that would allow full prosecution under the law. The town was in shock: two pillars in the community, a husband-and-wife team, arrested for charges involving trafficking, rape, and murder. The local radio and newspaper ran little else for weeks, and the Hot Tamale was too consumed with gossip for Josie to even enter for a lunch burrito.
Selena Gomez organized a local fund-raising drive to pay transportation expenses for the four women to receive safe passage back to Guatemala. Selena was establishing herself as a local leader for grassroots mission efforts. The work she was completing had a different focus than the highbrow work of Caroline Moss, and Josie was curious to see how the change might affect the town.
Four weeks after the Mosses’ arrest, Smokey Blessings came to the police department and asked to speak with Josie and Otto. They sat with mugs of coffee around the conference table and talked about the cold weather driving down from the north that was threatening a December frost that night. The change of season seemed appropriate to the conversation when Smokey finally got down to business.
“I’ve come with a huge favor to ask, both personally and as an elected official for the community.” He looked directly at Otto. “With the trial looming ahead of us for months, and maybe even years, we won’t be able to heal and move forward until we have a new mayor in place. The city council believes you are the perfect person to step in as the interim mayor. You’re the former police chief, a longtime respected member of the community, and you’ve served on a dozen different community boards through the years. You’re the right choice.”
“I have a job,” Otto said, looking at Josie as if she should have told him.
“I didn’t know anything about this,” Josie said. “I’m as surprised as you are.”
“That’s why we’re meeting together. Obviously we’d like your blessing, Josie. With Otto taking the job as interim, you’ll have to hire a temporary officer, and we all know that’ll be a tough position to fill.”
Josie sighed and folded her hands on the table, knowing Smokey was right. Otto still seemed too shocked to say anything, so she spoke. “Obviously I’ll support whatever decision Otto makes. As much as I hate the idea of losing him, I can’t imagine anyone better for the job.” She looked at him. “You are the person with the integrity and experience that we need right now. You can lead us out of this mess.”
“This department barely gets by on three officers,” he said. “You’ll be totally overwhelmed until you can find a replacement. And how many people want a temporary assignment for a job that takes months, even years, to feel competent in?”
“We’ll deal with that,” Josie said. “And you’ll be close by to help train.”
Smokey stood. “You go home and talk to Delores. Come see me at the courthouse tomorrow and we’ll talk it over. Bring Delores along if you’d like.”
Smokey left and Otto and Josie both sat quietly at the table, reflecting in silence on the conversation as only old friends can do.
Josie finally said, “My mom has hired a moving van.”
Otto raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Moving to Texas?”
“She is. I found a small house for her to rent downtown. And she’s going to work full-time as a clerk at the gas station.”
“I think that’s great. I really do,” he said. “Families are a giant pain in the ass, but in the end, they’re all we have for the long haul. I hope it works out for you.”
She nodded and brought the conversation back around to the issue at hand. “What do you think Delores will say about you taking the mayor’s job?”
Otto rubbed his hand across the stubble on his chin. “She’d like me to retire. She says she’s tired of worrying about me being a cop after all these years, but I don’t think that’s it. She’s used to being a cop’s wife. She knows I’m careful.”
“So why the push?”
“I think she’s lonely. She’d like me to stay home with her and work around the farm. She’d like for us to go visit Mina and the grandkids more often.” Otto lifted a shoulder and gave Josie a miserable look.
“You’d like to take the job, wouldn’t you?”
“I would.”
“You’d be a great mayor,” she said, grinning. “Mayor Podowski. Has a good ring to it.”
“So many times through the years I’ve thought, if I were mayor, I’d do this or that. Now’s my chance. I’d regret not taking it.”