Chapter 9
The Candidate
Casey dropped by to see Alex, and as usual, brought some of his small harem. One had a camera, and Alex came out of his office just as she flashed a picture.
"What in the world are you doing?" asked Alex, startled more than angry. Casey jumped in before she could answer as she cowered and backed up into the corner almost melting into the brass coat rack.
"It’s my fault Alex. I'm getting ahead of myself. I guess, I'm a little excited, you know," replied Casey as he turned on his charm.
"No, I don't know. Excited about what?" Alex didn't seem amused.
"About you, of course. About, what you’re doing. About, how you’re building this kid’s empire in the midst of all this trouble. About, how you're helping people. About, how special you are. You know that, don't you?" Casey replied as he completely disarmed Alex by plopping himself down on his dirty office couch. Alex knew how much Casey avoided sitting on it before. Alex couldn't help feeling flattered. It was Casey's special way, smooth and easy.
"Thank you, but I didn't mean to build anything except my business," Alex felt humbled by the flattery and embarrassed by modesty when it got too personal.
"Isn't it just like you to be so modest. I have a special request for you, Alex. Yes, I have an order for 15 kids to work in a food packing plant off of Nolensville Road. We pulled the others off the job and have them over at the BellSouth Towers. This department is willing
to pay you ten dollars a day (in silver) per kid if you’re willing to spare them. It's good work, but they wanted to make sure you have some older kids; there’s some lifting, and they’ll take both girls and boys."
Casey was already using some of the kids from downtown at regular jobs at different places, not brave enough to try anything insidious yet. He did this as a favor for Alex who liked staying on Lebanon road. He gave them odd jobs at the BellSouth Towers and paid Alex every week like clockwork. He no intention of sharing what he really had planned since he had just purchased a local motel out by the airport. What he didn’t know was that Aaron already knew what he had planned and had no intention of letting it happen.
It had been only five dollars of sliver before. He wanted Alex to get used to receiving money. He wanted him to feel like the "Alex Employment Agency" was working. Nothing worked like success, and he was just greasing the Alex wheel.
Alex was impressed, "That's a lot of silver in today's times. Man, I guess the downtown operation can spare some more, but I'm about right here. I don’t want to disturb the routine. Everyone here works so well together."
"Sure," Casey replied, "but who can you spare?"
"Oh, from the downtown lot probably five or six older kids. I have to warn you, though, they’re mostly girls, but they’re good workers."
Casey pretended to be disappointed, "Do you mind if I take some pictures of this facility to show some employers how you’re doing?"
Alex beamed with pride and replied, "Sure, go ahead. Keep the best shots for me, will you?"
Casey’s girls went out to the shop but were smart enough to take plenty of pictures of cars, tools, but every picture included the kids, especially the older girls. Carey and Anne spotted it immediately, and Anne motioned to others to keep their heads down, but it was unavoidable.
She whispered to them, "Those pictures aren't for candid camera. They’re for that pimp over there." She pointed at Casey.
She still couldn't imagine why Alex was so naive about Casey. She was hoping his naivety might protect them somehow. However, she comforted herself knowing the Lord would.
Casey smiled becomingly. "Alex, I have something else to talk with you about. How would you like to run in the next general election as a write-in candidate?"
"Me in Politics? What politics? Do we even have a government left to politic over?" Alex replied sarcastically.
"Sure, we have the mayor’s and the governor’s race. Hey, if my friends want to back you, why wouldn't you want to run?" Casey was pulling all of Alex's strings now.
"Me, the mayor of Nashville? Wow, what would the home folks think?" replied Alex as he laughed at how ridiculous it sounded, but he still thought Casey was kidding.
"No, Alex, the governor." Casey's serious tone told Alex this wasn't a joke.
He couldn't imagine such a thing. Who would want him for governor? He didn't know anything about politics. His heart was beating a hundred beats per minute, and his mind was going to have to catch up. Something deeply subconscious was taking place. He wanted to be governor, not for himself, but for his parents. He wanted to show and to prove that he turned out okay. He wanted them to be proud of him, just as if they were alive. Deep within him, he felt this strange compulsion to say yes.
He trembled as he answered, "I'll think about it," then added, "who would be crazy enough to back me?"
"Frankly, I would, Alex. To tell the truth, there is no one else running right now. Since the previous governor committed suicide, no one has stepped in. If you win at the polls, the new guidelines allow you to take the reigns of government without fanfare. Of course, there will be a pretty little ceremony later, but it doesn’t mean anything officially anymore. You might be surprised how easily it can be done." Casey heard his own bear trap snap closed loudly.
“Well, Alex, can I call you my partner, now?” asked Casey meaning much more than Alex ever realized. With Alex sidetracked with the election Casey hoped to have more access and control over the children.
Weak Link
Alex finally conceded to the governorship write-in. The governorship was just another way to bring Alex closer into their inner circle, a way of forever securing his own financial future.
Alex left Carey and Anne in charge most of the time while he campaigned. He was starting to get excited about the race. This was a grand event, which tickled his ego so much that there was no way not to enjoy it. Casey did what he had always done. He found one weak, delicious weak link in Alex's armor. Casey always knew he would get him eventually.
Alex was actually making some headway with the election. It was really beginning to be fun. People wanted a leader, and they looked at Alex's ability to improve and be creative as exactly what they needed to turn the economy in order to make things better. Alex believed and felt he could make a difference.