11 Manipulating the Mayor (1/2)
Alyssa sat there in her chair and slowly took a sip of the whiskey that Max had poured for her only moments ago. This was a question that she was going to have to walk like a high wire, hoping not to fall into the abyss of her own lies. It was a fine line to begin with, not only trying to protect her secrets but also those she agreed to keep for Frank and the werewolves. She was pretty sure that towns would be less likely to trade with the city if they realized they were all monsters as well. She took a deep breath and thought long and hard about what she was going to tell the mayor.
”Well,” Max called out, sensing her hesitation. ”Who is this person?”
”He's a close friend,” Alyssa finally said ”Gabriel saved my life. He's the only reason I'm still here and gathering supplies for you.”
”So that week we thought you were dead?” Max asked.
”I was at his place,” she told him, ”He saved me from the undead that had attacked our group, and then took me to his home where I recovered from my injuries. I had hit my head and blacked out.”
”So this Gabriel is still helping you?” Max asked, ”Is this the reason why you wanted to work alone?”
”Yes,” Alyssa confirmed for him, ”But what do you care? He doesn't live here and he helps us get stuff we wouldn't have without his help.”
”I hate to sound so cynical,” Max continued, ”but what's in it for him?”
”He gets my gratitude.” Alyssa answered.
”That's it?” Max scoffed back, ”What makes that worth the risk?”
”I think he's got a thing for me.” Alyssa lied, ”He enjoys my company and to be honest, I've been enjoying his.”
”Oh, I see.” Max said, as the idea never dawned on him. He was well aware of what men were capable of when they liked someone, so why would that be any different in the zombie apocalypse?
”He's the best scavenger I've ever seen.” Alyssa said, spinning more lies. ”He even does some work for the cities out there and has made a lot of money. We used some of that money to buy your supplies in St. Louis. That's where I bumped into Frank and his son and why they remember me.”
”So those few days after you took my list,” Max said, trying to piece things together, ”You were with this guy in St. Louis?”
”Yes,” Alyssa confirmed, ”We were in St. Louis most of that time. It's a nice place, and they had most of what was on your list.”
”I have to be honest as well,” Max started, ”I was worried that you had stolen those supplies from someone. I actually feel better knowing that they were obtained legally and won't cause any conflict for our town.”
Alyssa sat there, thinking about all the things that Max had no clue about. Then again, if she even tried to explain to the mayor that the people he just struck a deal with were supernatural creatures that turned into wolves once a month, would he even believe her? She had no idea, so for the time being it was best that she kept those details to herself until absolutely necessary. If she didn't have to explain the existence of werewolves to the mayor, she could also avoid having a conversation about vampires as well. That was a talk she didn't want to have with anyone, not anytime soon.
”I have this feeling you're not telling me everything,” Max accurately assessed.
”You're right, I'm not.” Alyssa said, putting her empty glass down. ”Right now this is all I can tell you. There is a lot you really don't want to know about. I'd recommend living in blissful ignorance as long as you can, because once you know what I know you can't go back to not knowing it.”
”It's that fucked up out there?” Max asked.
”Trust me,” Alyssa replied, ”You don't want to know how fucked up things really are out there.”
”And this is why I don't want to know how the sausage is made?” Max continued, catching her drift.
”Precisely.” She confirmed.
”Well damn,” Max said, polishing off his one glass. ”Want another?”
”No thanks,” Alyssa said, standing up. ”I've got to go get Diane from school. My friend and I will be meeting again.”
”How soon are we talking here?” Max inquired.
”Later tonight,” Alyssa answered, ”He drops in to check up on me. Like I said, he's got a real crushing. He likes to make sure I'm doing alright.”
”I don't have a list,” Max said, reaching over to a drawer in his desk, ”But if these cities are as functional as you say they are, see if there's any way you can get this refilled for me.”
Without warning, Max tossed a small pill bottle one would get from a drug store. The words were faded but she could still read what was on it.
”What is this exactly?” Alyssa asked.
”Heart medication,” Max replied.
”You're having heart issues?” Alyssa asked, as she was more surprised than concerned.
”Not for me,” Max corrected her, ”We have some older residents that would benefit from having this drug back in circulation. I would especially love to get some for Bertha who works in our gardens. She's got the best green thumb in the town, and we could use more of her around here. This might help with that.”
”I'll see what I can do,” Alyssa said, clutching the pill bottle. ”I can't make any promises, but I'll ask Gabriel when he drops in.”
”Is he taking you back to St. Louis?” he asked her.
”I'm not sure,” Alyssa confessed, ”I usually just follow his lead.”
”Are there more cities out there?” Max inquired, as his curiosity was getting the best of him at this point.
”Yes there are,” Alyssa replied, ”Show a little trust, and I'll see what I can do about letting you see his map.”
”I do trust you,” Max told her, ”Frank said you were loyal, was he right?”
”I'm loyal to my home,” Alyssa corrected him, ”I always will be.”
”Thanks for putting up with my nosiness.” Max said, ”Tell Diane I said hello.”
”I will, thank you.” Alyssa said before she saw herself out of that office and far away from that very awkward conversation.