Mendoza scratched his dark bushy mustache. “I don't know how things were run in Los Angeles but here in Sacks, things are a little different.” I nodded and waited for him to continue. “We like to say that we control this town but in reality it's the MC's.”
“You let the motorcycle clubs do whatever they want?”
Mendoza shook his head. “Not exactly. It's just that over the years the one thing I learned was not to fight them and instead, work with them. The less blood on our streets the better. There are rumors flying that the Mexicans are prepping for a war. That could be really bad for Sacks County and the surrounding areas.”
“You don't have to worry. I'll set up meetings with the heads of the MC's and get it all sorted out. In LA, I worked alongside gangs all the time. I know how to play the game.”
Mendoza stood up and I copied him. “Then I chose the right woman for the job. Good luck with everything Sheriff White.” I shook his hand. “I left my number for you on the desk. If you ever need help, you can call me night or day.”
I smiled. “I really appreciate it and I won't let you down.” Mendoza closed the door behind him and I sunk back into my seat. I looked out the window and watched as the cop cars drove in and out. I pulled my brown hair out of a ponytail and brushed it.
The door to my office opened and an officer with almost no hair left on top came in. “So the rumors are true, Mendoza hired a woman to become Sheriff.”
The rage boiled in my veins. Just ignore him, Emily, he's small-town potatoes. I put my hair back into a ponytail. “I don't believe we've met, I'm Sheriff White.” I outstretched my hand and he ignored it. The name Johnson was engraved on the nameplate on his left breast.
He eyed me up and down like a piece of meat, staring at my breasts for way too long.“You really think you have what it takes to become Sheriff here?”
I cocked my head to the side. “Why? You think just because I'm a woman, I can't be a leader.” This wasn't new to me. I'd seen plenty of his type back at the LAPD. Men didn't think women were good enough to be cops. I had proved them wrong in Los Angeles and I'd prove them wrong here.
“Oh I know a woman can't be Sheriff. All your good for is bending over and taking it from a man. I bet you've never been fucked a day in your life.” Johnson licked his lips. “I can show you a really—”
“I'm going to stop you right there,” I interrupted. “Give me your badge and gun. You're suspended.”
Johnson's eyes lit up with defiance. “What the fuck! Who the hell do you think you are? You can't suspend me for hitting on you. You should be glad I gave you a compliment.”
I stood up and steeled myself. I wasn't going to let anyone push me around—especially a womanizing prick like Johnson. “Put your badge and gun on the desk now before I fire your ass.”
Johnson stared at me with a fiery expression. If he was hoping that his anger would change my mind, he was about to be sorely disappointed.
“Fucking bitch,” he murmured, unholstering his pistol and setting it down along with his badge.
I sighed and sat back down. “You can return to duty when you apologize to me.”
Johnson stormed out of my office, cursing to nobody. I'd do the same to anyone else that crossed me. I had to show the precinct that I didn't play games. If you treated me fairly, I'd return the same. But if you disrespected me, I'd bite back like a king cobra.
First things first—making contact with the two major MC's. I pulled out a folder from my briefcase that detailed the three motorcycle clubs from Sacks County. The Black Widows and Death Merchants were the ones to be worried about. The Blacks in the Fires of Hell weren't big enough to worry about. I needed to meet the leaders and somehow get them to form a truce. If what Mendoza said was true, a war could devastate this town.
I ducked my head out of my office and pulled in the closest officer. “What's your name?” I asked him.
He shivered in his boots as I sat back down on my desk. The skinny and frail man saluted me. His uniform immaculate and straight. “Moore, sir.” He quickly shook his head, sweat pouring down his forehead. “I mean miss.”
A tiny laugh escaped my lips. “At ease soldier, this isn't the army.”
Moore removed his hand from his head and rested it at his side. He still stood at attention though. Moore was the exact opposite of Johnson. What was he so scared of?
I looked over the files of the MC's. “Moore, you seem like a trustworthy guy.”
He nodded and grinned. “Yes, ma'am.”