“The party was hesitant to commit to supporting me in a run for governor,” he continued while she stewed on his words. “My track record as mayor has been great, and they liked that about me. Believe what you will of me, but I am a good politician. I help a lot of people.”
“But I was a problem,” she prompted him before he could divert the conversation to one about his political prowess.
“Yes, you were,” he continued, meeting her eyes again. “It was all minor stuff. The false police report. The underage drinking charges that I had to sweep under the rug. You weren’t the grieving daughter any more. You were a troubled teen who showed no sign of growing up. You were an anchor.”
Jessica searched his eyes as he spoke for any sign of regret, but found none. She had seen him put on his acts so
