Vixen Investigations: The Mayoral Affairs

by Ashley Papa

  An aged doorman, who looked like he could’ve been doing this for 60 years, escorted me through the marble-floored lobby, to the gold-plated elevator, and up to the Wilcox floor without saying a word. The elevator doors opened right to the family’s foyer. It was opulent. Fancy paintings and sculptures immediately graced my eyes. Directly ahead in the living room housed a floor-to-ceiling window so large, it made it look like there was no window or wall separating us from Central Park below.

  This place must cost like nine trillion dollars.

  “There she is!” Mayor Wilcox exclaimed with a suggestive hug and light kiss on the cheek.

  Victoria followed behind and gave me a hug, as well. I had to hand it to her. Throughout all of this, she has maintained strength and has done an exquisite job of not leading her husband to suspect she hired a private eye.

  “Hello, Mayor, Mrs. Wilcox. Thank you so much for inviting me. Your place is stunning.”

  “Eh. The view gets old,” Victoria sarcastically stated. “Come, we have wine and caviar in the living room.”

  Their home reminded me of The Hotel Versailles with its velvet couches, dark red moldings, and gray-toned walls. They even had a similar black chandelier hanging above the dining room table. There was a plate of caviar, oysters, crackers, and cheese on some fine china on the mahogany coffee table. I was starving, so without hesitation, I started stacking my plate with the small appetizers. Victoria didn’t even sit down. She left Walter and me alone to “use the bathroom and check on Piper.”

  “So, Mayor. I am excited to do this feature story on you. Thank you so much for the opportunity,” I said and crossed my freshly waxed legs.

  “My pleasure, Paige Turner. I can’t tell you how annoying reporters are. It’s like all they want to do is dig up dirt on me,” he said while cockily sitting back into the couch.

  “Well, there are a lot of young and hungry reporters out there that’ll do anything for a story.”

  Walter moved his body forward, bringing himself to the edge of the couch now and leaned in towards me.

  Can’t this guy sit still for two minutes?

  “Wouldn’t you do anything for a story?”

  He grinned while eyeing me up and down.

  “You know I would, Mayor,” I teased back.

  He took a spoonful of caviar, placed it on a crostini, and took a bite. Stale bread and black fish eggs rained down to the carpet below, creating a mess.

  “You like caviar, girl?”

  “No thanks. I am fine with the cheese,” I answered as he scooped another teaspoon of fish eggs.

  “Now, Paige.” Walter returned to his reclined pose but kept chewing.

  I could see black specs of caviar caught in between his capped teeth.

  “If it weren’t you doing the story, you know I wouldn’t have done this. I can’t stand the Post.”

  “Well, sir. I am honored that you let me do this.”

  “I like you, Paige. I always did. You may have heard around the rumor mill about another term?”

  He shifted his position again and was now leaning forward with his hands fisted together over his legs like he was about to say a prayer or take a dump.

  “Here’s the thing. You embody genuine trust, Paige. I don’t want people seeing videos and photos of how I live and thinking I have nothing in common with the common man,” he began while sounding like a used car salesman. “They think I’m one of them. And you know what? I am one of them. I thought we could play up the fact that I’ve worked really hard to get where I am today.”

  What is this guy up to?

  He reached his hands over the fish eggs and grabbed my hands as if he wanted to pray with me. I played along, leaned in closer to him, and let him hold them.

  “You report a nice, sappy piece about me and the family and I will make you my press secretary.”

  I should’ve known. A bribe.

  “What an honor, Mayor. I will make you look like the patron saint of New York City,” I lied and flashed him a brilliant smile.

  Victoria returned with Piper moments after Walter and I came to our “agreement.” Their daughter looked reluctant to join us. From the living room, we moved to the dining area, where a hired-chef had plated out beautifully constructed Cornish hen, roasted root vegetables, sautéed kale with garlic, and a coconut risotto. The delicious food couldn’t take away from the awkward family dynamic. Victoria barely made eye contact with anyone except her glass of Malbec. Piper moved the food around on her plate and would take a bite in between checking her Instagram. I artfully scanned the walls and bookshelves, looking for anything would help me spark a conversation.

  “Piper, are those all pictures of you?”

  I pointed to some framed photos hanging on the wall of the dining room. She let out an “mmmm” without even picking her head up to see what I was referring to. I walked over to analyze the perfectly placed pictures. There were many of the three of them at the beach, at Disney World, and just looking like a normal, happy family. There were pictures of her a little bit older, in middle and high school and even some more recent ones of her in college.

  “Who is this, in this picture?” I asked.

  Out of what might have been thirty photos scattered on the wall, just one had someone in it that wasn’t Piper, Victoria, or Walter. Piper turned to see whom I was referencing.

  “Oh, that’s my old babysitter. She was like family for a while…until Mom fired her.”

  “Piper!” Victoria snapped. “We don’t need to get into this at dinner,” she scolded.

  “What? It’s true.” Piper huffed and turned her attention back to me. “Mom dubbed her Loose Lucy, because she thought she was bringing random guys here while she was supposed to be watching me.”

  The three of us sat, stunned.

  “Anyway, dinner was swell, but I have an event,” Piper sassed.

  She stood and threw the balled-up napkin on her full plate of food.

  “Dad, I’m taking the Porsche and the credit card…F-Y-I.”

  Walter didn’t say anything. He just took the gold card from his wallet and pulled the keys from the pocket of his brown sweater vest and dropped them in his daughter’s groveling hand. Victoria got up to help the maid clear the table, leaving Walter and me alone again. All I could think about was that name.

  Lucy?

  “Sorry about that.” Walter said, almost embarrassed. “I guess she’s the one female I’ve yet to control.”

  It was my queue to bounce.

  “Well, she is still young. Don’t worry about it,” I consoled. “I actually have to run. I just realized I have to let the dogs out.”

  I slowly stood and started to see myself out. Walter followed my lead and walked me towards the door. Passing by the kitchen, I saw that the chef was piecing together some sort of chocolate mousse brownie and caramel confection. I said a quick goodbye to Victoria. The look in her eyes begged me to stay, but I was just way too anxious to hang around after realizing Walter was banging the old babysitter.

  “You’re unbelievably tense. You have about six knots I just worked out of your back,” Liam remarked.

  Later that night, while stretched across his lap, he was doing his best to give me a massage. He didn’t give the best rubdowns, but I appreciated the effort. Nothing would be able to get the kinks out of my back right now.

  “Hey, why don’t I call out tomorrow and we can spend the day just chilling out in bed, ride bikes and go out for brunch?” he suggested.

  Yes!!

  “I can’t tomorrow.” I was slow to let the words leave my mouth as Liam exhaled in disappointment, probably figuring it was just another excuse. “I have a photo shoot in the morning, remember?”

  I turned myself over so that my back now rested on his lap and I could look up at his face. He kept his eyes straightforward on the scree
n as if trying to avoid a conversation. I took a deep breath, using my abs to pull myself upright and grabbed his face to make him look at me. I kissed his limp and lifeless lips hoping for some sort of response.

  “I promise this chaos will be over soon,” I urged. “You’ve never dated a prive…a reporter before, have you?”

  He didn’t say anything.

  “Sometimes I get assignments I can’t talk much about. Sometimes they get really intense and there isn’t much I can do about it,” I defended.

  Liam looked like he was holding back words. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear what he had to say, anyway. I decided to take a more physical approach since it was obvious he didn’t want to get verbal. I kissed him harder, letting him know that I wanted him. Slowly, he started coming around, this time kissing me back. I stood up and held his hands. Then, with minimal force, led him to the bedroom. He willingly followed.

  I awoke the next morning to a cold and vacant feeling. Not to mention a note that had replaced Liam’s naked body on the pillow next to me.

  Babe—Couldn’t sleep. Went for a run.

  Have a good shoot.

  -L

  I got up, showered, and shimmied into one of the dresses I had left at his place. I didn’t know if I would see him before leaving.

  Maybe he doesn’t want to see me.

  Thanks…

  xo-Paige

  Adam and April were both waiting for me in the Starbucks a few blocks away from Walter’s home. Although April wasn’t taking part in today’s shoot, she had been demanding to see me in person. She had to “tell me something big.” Funny how whenever a girl in her 30s teases you like that, your first thought is, oh my God, you’re pregnant. Since I didn’t have lots of time these next few weeks, she agreed to meet Adam and me before the shoot.

  As I neared Starbucks, I could see the both of them acting very chatty and jubilant through the window. April was glowing.

  “Hey, hey!” I exclaimed, sneaking up behind them.

  “Paige!” April squealed.

  She stood and hugged me as if we hadn’t seen each other in years.

  “April…you’re scaring me a little.”

  I gave Adam a questionable look over April’s shoulder. He motioned to his ring finger. I looked down at her hands. Right there, in the middle of her unmanicured pinky and middle fingers, was a sparkly emerald-cut diamond with a platinum band and two halos.

  “Holy shit!” I blurted while grabbing her hand for a closer look. “It’s magnificent. It’s like the size of my eyeball. Did you expect this?”

  “I had no idea. I thought Jordan was just taking me hiking. When we got to this beautifully cleared area in the woods, he got down on his knee and proposed!” She gushed.

  “Wow. Good job Jordan! And what a ring,” I exclaimed, grabbing her hand again to take a look.

  “I hate to break you guys up, but we need to go,” Adam interrupted while tapping on his watch.

  “Don’t worry, Paige. I am completely focused on you and this case. I have no intentions of marrying the man for at least a year.” April felt the need to reaffirm her commitment.

  A sudden sense of déjà vu overtook me as I stood, once again, in the Wilcox foyer. Though I was expecting to see that stunning view of Central Park, this time, long white curtains were up. Like, they had been installed overnight.

  What the hell?

  Instead of Walter and Victoria greeting Adam and me at the door, we were being kept back by a linebacker-looking security guard until Walter was ready. I assumed it was his personal security guard, the same one that was with him in the Hamptons. It was like I had gone from being a family friend to a crummy press person overnight.

  “Did you used to play for the Jets? You look very familiar,” Adam naively questioned the guard.

  Whether or not he was serious or just trying to make conversation, the guard didn’t answer. He stared down at Adam as if to say, “I can crush you with my thumb.”

  “Paige Turner! Is that you?” Walter blurted from around the corner.

  He wasn’t alone. Jimmy DeFazio and his senior advisor, Leon Olson, were with him. Walter gave me a sweaty handshake this time, while Jimmy and Leon just smiled.

  “Nice to see you all again.”

  We followed the men over to the living room and took a seat. There were some papers scattered on the coffee table in front of us.

  “I need you to sign these confidentiality agreements first,” Leon said, pushing the papers towards me. “You have free rein of the house, with the exception of the bedrooms and please, no shots of Central Park. The shades must stay drawn.”

  I get it. You just don’t want people to see the insanely expensive penthouse you live off a “mayor’s salary.”

  “What about Victoria and Piper? Where are they? I was supposed to take some family photos,” I asked.

  “They won’t be here for the shoot,” Walter answered matter-of-factly.

  I felt conned hearing his words.

  What else would they try and pull at the last minute?

  “But, the piece was supposed to be about you and the family,” I argued back.

  “Yes. Well…things change,” Leon responded.

  Bastard!

  When the parameters were agreed upon, Adam went to work. First, we took photos of the interior, then some with the mayor in his office. He posed as if he were doing work at his desk and then him, contemplating his life as he stood looking at a vintage map of New York City. The expensive statues and paintings that hung in the foyer last night were gone, almost making it look sterile. Pretty much anything that screamed “wealth” had been removed. The photos taken today would tell a fictional story of a mayor who lived a simple and frugal life.

  “How about one with me on the phone looking really concerned, like I was just informed of a potential terror attack?” Walter suggested.

  “Genius!” Jimmy declared while throwing up his arms. “And maybe put your glasses on and furrow your brow a little bit more to look distressed.”

  “Yes, that’s perfect. Just like that. Show the city who is boss,” Adam instructed.

  The mayor took Adam so seriously but I knew my sarcastic assistant was just jerking his chain. Walter was getting really into it; I had to keep from laughing.

  This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.

  Leon was too fixated on the time to see his boss pretending to be Kylie Jenner or Kate Upton.

  “Alright, we’re done here,” Leon finally interrupted. “I think you have about all the pictures you need.”

  It didn’t look like Walter was ready to wrap. It had only been an hour. Adam took some last few pictures before giving me a “thumbs up” to indicate he was done.

  “Well, Mayor…Leon and Jimmy. I want to thank you for letting us come here to do this,” I said.

  After packing up his camera, Adam excused himself to go to the bathroom. Leon and Jimmy went into the living room to make phone calls. I went into the office with Walter.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get to see Victoria and Piper. Will they be back later?” I asked.

  “No, no. They decided this morning to head out to the Hamptons for some mother-daughter time. I’ll be staying here…all by my lonesome. Have some work to tend to,” he revealed.

  With his tone and suggestive smile, it was obvious what he was really trying to say: “Why don’t you keep me company?” I wondered what work he actually had.

  Back at my place, Adam uploaded the pictures to the computer and filtered out all the photos that were pertinent to my case. We stopped on one particular image. It was the picture I had seen the night before of Walter, Victoria, Piper, and Lucy. Adam had managed to get a few zoomed-in shots of the photo hanging on the wall. Then, another crucial image. During the modeling session in Walter’s office, Adam captured some snaps
of papers that had been left out on his desk. As we zoomed in on the paper, it was clear it was a phone bill. I enlarged it to where we could get a read on the telephone number of the account. I jotted it down along with the email address, wow4nyc2005@mail.com.

  “Now look at this. Don’t you think this is odd?” Adam pointed out.

  One of the desk drawers was slightly ajar and inside was several files. While Walter thought Adam was taking pictures of him at the computer, my genius assistant was really zooming in on the files’ tabs with printed names.

  “Leon Olson, Jimmy DeFazio, Richard Brownstein, and Todd Mitchell. Aren’t those his staffers? What do you suppose is in those files?” he asked.

  I got up from desk chair and started to pace the office.

  I don’t know. But I need to find out.

  By the time Adam and I were done sorting out the pictures, Chin Chin had gotten back to me on the phone number from the telephone bill. Turns out, it was registered to Walter and was a Dallas phone number. I thought maybe it was one of Walter’s private phones, so I gave it a call to confirm.

  “Hello?” A young woman’s voice answered.

  “Good day, ma’am. This is the Florida tourism board calling about an exclusive offer on some brand-new time-share opportunities in Venice, Florida. Is this Abigail?” I pretended in my most salesperson-sounding voice.

  “No, this is Lucy. You must have the wrong number.”

  She hung up and my heart raced so hard I could feel the thumping in my throat. Walter had gotten her that number. And, the email address must have been a private one he set up years ago specifically for it.

  Who uses mail.com anymore? It’s so outdated.

  Walter was more than her sugar daddy. This has been going on for a while. At the time it was set up, Lucy would have been in college. There were more clues down in Texas. I had to go back and dig for more.