knew about the dirty politicians of Chicago, and he sat amongst two of the filthiest.
“My suggestion, cut the wild card loose from the unit and let I.A. do to him what they will.”
Jax Thornbird had a privileged life and, as far as Julian could see, the douche bag merely enjoyed the game of cops and robbers.
He had given his squad explicit instructions to make Thornbird’s life a living hell. It hadn’t been enough to scare the boy off. “He was at the scene of a grisly murder. “If he’s involved in any—”
Mayor Ryan held up his hand. He hated anything that resembled actual work. This visit must be killing him.
“Many of Thornbird’s relatives and close personal friends are big donors. We all have the same goal in mind. Every one of us would like our city to continue running in pristine fashion.
“It frees our pockets up for the conventions and the summer festivities. To cross one of the wealthiest families in Chicago would not be conducive to what we are trying to accomplish here,” Mayor Ryan finished with a tight smile.
Both men stood.
“I.A. can handle Thornbird,” the commissioner needlessly added his two cents..
“Excuse me, but if Internal Affairs had dealt with this properly, Thornbird would’ve been arrested for the junkie killing on Madison a few months back,” Julian seethed with contempt. Thornbird was damn near untouchable.
“Don’t want to point fingers,” the commissioner said. “But an open and shut shooting is what you promised.”
Julian winced at the flat-out accusation.
“You’re a shoo-in for the city’s Top Cop, son. Don’t blow it,” Mayor Ryan threatened before the two men walked out of the door.
Julian ran through his options and found he had few where Jackson Thornbird was concerned. He hated the punk and promised to make the asshole pay.
Chapter Nine
With only an hour of sleep, Jax sat on a park bench not too far from the Lincoln Memorial. He had spent the last five hours from Chicago to Washington hashing out a plan. To say he was dog-tired was an understatement.
He had dropped Lane off at a private airport with explicit instructions of what to do if he didn’t show up at the scheduled time.
“This better be good, Thornbird,” Armand Oswald said. No eye contact. Army wouldn’t hesitate to put him in handcuffs. With a beautiful golden retriever by his side, he took a seat next to him on the bench. The dog popped a squat at the feet of his master.
He wouldn’t call him a friend, or even a close associate. At the most, Army could be slotted into the acquaintance from college category.
They moved in different social circles, always aware of one another’s presence throughout those four years. What they shared was greater than what they didn’t share at all.
At one point, he was even nicknamed Blond Ambition behind his back by the sorority girls. Army’s money came from textiles, while the Thornbird family held the titles to the most prestigious law firms in Chicago and Miami.
“This walking the dog routine will grant me fifteen to twenty minutes tops. If you don’t tell me something good, I’m going to arrest you in less than ten.” When he headed for local law enforcement, Army went straight for FBI. He believed Army had big aspirations for a political office.
Fieldwork for the feds wasn’t Army’s passion, but Jax was positive he would do the job to the best of his abilities.
“Chicago corruption.”
“What’s new?” Army grunted. He leaned back, relaxed in his suit.
He couldn’t imagine wearing one of those on a day in, day out basis. Jeans were generally the uniform tattooed on his ass. “I told you local PD.”
Army shook his head. “Crap move.” At their graduation from Stanford, Army did indeed give his hometown ambitions a thumbs down. He’d also laughed and grabbed his nuts when he said as much.
“I’m being set up,” Jax confessed.
“Yeah, I came across something to the effects of a
“My suggestion, cut the wild card loose from the unit and let I.A. do to him what they will.”
Jax Thornbird had a privileged life and, as far as Julian could see, the douche bag merely enjoyed the game of cops and robbers.
He had given his squad explicit instructions to make Thornbird’s life a living hell. It hadn’t been enough to scare the boy off. “He was at the scene of a grisly murder. “If he’s involved in any—”
Mayor Ryan held up his hand. He hated anything that resembled actual work. This visit must be killing him.
“Many of Thornbird’s relatives and close personal friends are big donors. We all have the same goal in mind. Every one of us would like our city to continue running in pristine fashion.
“It frees our pockets up for the conventions and the summer festivities. To cross one of the wealthiest families in Chicago would not be conducive to what we are trying to accomplish here,” Mayor Ryan finished with a tight smile.
Both men stood.
“I.A. can handle Thornbird,” the commissioner needlessly added his two cents..
“Excuse me, but if Internal Affairs had dealt with this properly, Thornbird would’ve been arrested for the junkie killing on Madison a few months back,” Julian seethed with contempt. Thornbird was damn near untouchable.
“Don’t want to point fingers,” the commissioner said. “But an open and shut shooting is what you promised.”
Julian winced at the flat-out accusation.
“You’re a shoo-in for the city’s Top Cop, son. Don’t blow it,” Mayor Ryan threatened before the two men walked out of the door.
Julian ran through his options and found he had few where Jackson Thornbird was concerned. He hated the punk and promised to make the asshole pay.
Chapter Nine
With only an hour of sleep, Jax sat on a park bench not too far from the Lincoln Memorial. He had spent the last five hours from Chicago to Washington hashing out a plan. To say he was dog-tired was an understatement.
He had dropped Lane off at a private airport with explicit instructions of what to do if he didn’t show up at the scheduled time.
“This better be good, Thornbird,” Armand Oswald said. No eye contact. Army wouldn’t hesitate to put him in handcuffs. With a beautiful golden retriever by his side, he took a seat next to him on the bench. The dog popped a squat at the feet of his master.
He wouldn’t call him a friend, or even a close associate. At the most, Army could be slotted into the acquaintance from college category.
They moved in different social circles, always aware of one another’s presence throughout those four years. What they shared was greater than what they didn’t share at all.
At one point, he was even nicknamed Blond Ambition behind his back by the sorority girls. Army’s money came from textiles, while the Thornbird family held the titles to the most prestigious law firms in Chicago and Miami.
“This walking the dog routine will grant me fifteen to twenty minutes tops. If you don’t tell me something good, I’m going to arrest you in less than ten.” When he headed for local law enforcement, Army went straight for FBI. He believed Army had big aspirations for a political office.
Fieldwork for the feds wasn’t Army’s passion, but Jax was positive he would do the job to the best of his abilities.
“Chicago corruption.”
“What’s new?” Army grunted. He leaned back, relaxed in his suit.
He couldn’t imagine wearing one of those on a day in, day out basis. Jeans were generally the uniform tattooed on his ass. “I told you local PD.”
Army shook his head. “Crap move.” At their graduation from Stanford, Army did indeed give his hometown ambitions a thumbs down. He’d also laughed and grabbed his nuts when he said as much.
“I’m being set up,” Jax confessed.
“Yeah, I came across something to the effects of a
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