The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 25 Meet the Devil at Town Hall

*Cristos*

After alerting Sebastian of Noah's plan to bring Joy to meet the Mayor, Xavier and I walked towards a corner of the warehouse section of the grocery store where huge boxes laid stacked on top of each other. Behind these boxes concealed a door to Xavier's secret office.

After we entered, Xavier clicked on his keyboard and all the monitors lit up.

"Where are they headed?" Xavier asked me once we were safely inside.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

"To town hall. I have Sebastian following them," I told him.

"Noah is so predictable. He meets a beautiful woman and the first thing he does is send her out to the wolves," Xavier said, his eyes seething with rage. "If we didn't need him. I'd knock on his door and shoot him in the head."

I suddenly saw Sebastian's image on the monitor as he walked by one of the CCTV cameras. Walking beside him was a short blonde who seemed to be clinging desperately on his arm.

"Fuck! Sebastian's with Nicole. Noah and Nicole spell disaster. I'll head to town hall and make sure everything moves smoothly. I don't want those assholes to put Joy in a compromising position just because she's new in town," I said before pointing to a monitor which showed footage from the grocery store. "Lisa's here. She invited Joy for a drink later tonight at the pub. Remember, it's Ladies' Night. Use your charm and those expressive brown eyes of yours."

Xavier rolled his eyes. "It's not my fault her husband is into raping and murdering girls. Fine, I'll flip the switch and charm her to get an invite for tonight so I can weed my way to " making friends" with Virtue. By the way, make sure you make Noah and Nicole look and feel like idiots."

"With pleasure. Ta-ta!" I exited Xavier's secret room and took the back entrance, not wanting to bump into Lisa. I've had enough of having to take care of her during the nights she would get so drunk at the pub.

I waved at a few people across the street as I quickly sashayed my way to town hall. I really wanted to do what Xavier has always wanted; knock on the doors of the four men who raped and attempted to kill Joy and just shoot them in the head. But then, they would be remembered as martyrs and I wanted this town to spit at the mere mention of their names.

Mayor Liam Cohen, son of the former mayor, loved the challenge, hated the rejection. He was said to have been seen stalking Eugene's granddaughter. Joan, before she went missing. However, before her body was found floating at a nearby lake, nude photos of Joan circulated around town including a nasty rumor of her selling sexual favors online.

Despite Joan's reputation in ruins, valuable evidence from the coroner's office had gone missing. Because of Joan's questionable character and an obvious lack of evidence, Joan's family did not pursue a case against Liam Cohen.

Lisa's husband, Cristian Murdock, was the town's councilman and Liam's closest confidant. One thing is for sure, he didn't give two shits about Lisa. He was busy molding his political career and having a beautiful wife by his side proved handy to build a better image. I caught him roughing up some girl before fucking her in the men's bathroom one night at the pub. Apparently, he was a sadist.

Daniel Williams was New Salem's Auditor. He, according to Joy, was the smartest of the four and went on to graduate top of their class as expected. The thing with Dan. there was something different about him. I would sometimes catch him staring at me when he was at the pub. I had a very strong feeling he was in the closet and men, like Dan, who have been pushed into the farthest and darkest corners of a closet, can be very dangerous. Yet there was a way for me to coax him out of his shell and I intended doing so.

Then, there was Jackson Emery. He was the Undersheriff of this town and was patiently waiting for Sherill Combs to retire before vying for the position. As much as Jack wanted to be Sheriff of New Salem, he could not go against the wishes of Theodore Cohen, former mayor of New Salem and Liam's father. Theodore Cohen was known to be a force of nature. Everything these boys had was all because of Theodore Cohen.

I entered the town hall and ran up the stairs like my life depended on it. I slightly opened the huge door to the mayor's office and peeped through the tiny space to get a good look at what was happening. Anyway, I needed some time to catch my breath before entering the office.

I couldn't see much because Sebastian's back was blocking my view, but I did hear the double doors to Liam's main office open and I heard the unmistakable timbre of his voice.

"Isn't this a fine day!" Liam exclaimed, walking out of his office. There was a pause before I heard him say, "And who do we have here?"

An awkward silence fell.

Xavier was right. Noah was only feeding Virtue to the dogs. I thought Noah would have grown some balls. but he's just a limp dick. I wanted to put my hands around Noah's throat and squeeze the life out of him.

I quickly opened the door and sprung into character.

*Joy*

I coughed, taking a moment to muster all of my courage to face one of the cold-blooded brutes of my past. I took a step forward and raised my head so my blue-gray eyes could stare into the bottomless pits of hell which Liam called eyes.

He stared at me with interest like a predator watching his prey. However, this time, unbeknownst to him, he was the prey, and I, the stalking apex predator.

An uncomfortable silence settled in the room as we both regarded each other, neither of us wanting to back down.

I waited for someone to say something, but no one, not even Abigail, introduced us. Of course, Sebastian couldn't be the one to make introductions because we weren't suppose to know each other.

Liam just stood there, smiling at me, like the jackass he was while I stared back, hoping Noah would at least say something, but obviously he chickened out. With Liam as mayor, Noah was at his mercy. Nothing has changed. Liam still controlled all of them, just like it was in high school.

As I continued to stare, an image of him laughing as he struck my face with a barbell, breaking my jaw in the process, flashed through my mind. I wanted to take out the knife Sebastian had given me and slash his throat.

I imagined the feeling of satisfaction I would get while I watched a shocked Liam struggle to ask for help. I imagined the immense pleasure from the sight of his blood gushing out as he covered the wound with his hands, trying helplessly to stop the bleeding. I imagined myself laughing hysterically, so pleased with myself, as he collapsed on the floor, bleeding out until his black heart stopped.

But I didn't want to be whisked away for first-degree manslaughter. Oh no no... There were just too many witnesses. There was a time and a place to confront Liam and his merry band of misfits. Now, fortunately for him, wasn't that time.

I was about to introduce myself when I heard a very familiar and very theatrical voice behind me.

"Why are you people blocking the doorway? What is going on in here?" Cristos asked loudly while trying to walk in between Sebastian and Nicole who didn't want to let go of Sebastian's arm. "Move over, Smurfette! This is the Mayor's office not some place you go to for a first date.

Although, Dom, that's pretty unique."

"Thanks!" Sebastian answered, smiling.

"That wasn't a compliment," Cristos quipped and turned around to face me, smiling brightly. He shooed Noah away and wrapped his arm around mine.

"Virtue, you're here! Isn't this a fabulous coincidence! Virtue, this is the Mayor of New Salem, Liam Cohen," he said, introducing us. "Liam, this is Virtue. She's new in town and my new bestfriend. Right, Virtue?" We giggled together while I nodded in agreement.

"Right. Chip." I answered, feeling at ease. Cristos' touch always comforted me. I placed a hand on his arm and snuggled closer.

"Anyway, you have inspired me to get some renovations done at the pub, so here I am!" He raised his free hand in the air in a ta-da pose, then quickly pulled it down. "Well, to grab a building permit, of course. What about you, Dom? Why are you and Scrappy Doo here?" Nicole gave Cristos a dirty look, but he ignored her. I bit the inside of my lip to keep myself from laughing.

"We wanted to ask Liam for lighting suggestions for the newly-renovated office downstairs," Sebastian answered.

"Virtue, have you met my cousin?" Cristos asked. I shook my head. "No? This is Dominic and he owns the furnishings shop." Then, he pointed at Nicole. "And that is his pet goldfish." Cristos checked his watch and gasped. "Look at the time. I need to open the pub soon. Anyways, we better get going. Noah, don't worry, Virtue is in good hands. I'll be the one to show her around town." Cristos took my hand to lead me out of the office, but quickly stopped. "Oooops, I forgot! Abigail darling, forms please!"

As if on cue. Abigail handed him the same forms she gave me. "Don't forget to pay your fees at the Auditor's office," she reminded us.

Before we exited the office, I turned to face Liam. "Mayor Cohen, it was a pleasure to meet you.

"The pleasure is all mine. Virtue."

One side of his lips moved while his eyes narrowed giving him an utterly sinister look...