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files, Jackson decided that since he was going to meet this Montgomery guy in the morning, if he lived up to his press clippings, then he’d tell him they could work together on bringing change to the General Assembly. He knew for a fact that Teresa would be pissed and his career in politics would be over. He probably wouldn’t even be able to get elected dogcatcher after doing this, but he wasn’t throwing his hat in the ring for himself. He was doing it to help people. If he and Robert shared the same views, then only one of them needed to be in Raleigh.
    Jackson smiled as he shut his computer down. Deciding to head for the gym, he was going to work on a plan to save the center where he worked, instead of a political strategy.
    Jackson’s cell phone rang as he changed into a pair of compression pants. “Damn,” he muttered. “This is Jackson.”
    â€œI don’t like to be stood up by my candidates. It is now seven P.M.; you were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago.” Teresa sighed. “You’re unsure about yourself, aren’t you?”
    â€œMaybe Montgomery is better for this than I am. From the looks of what you sent me, he’s been spending his whole life getting ready for politics.”
    â€œWhere are you? A gym or a bar?”
    â€œOn my way to the gym. Why do you ask?”
    â€œWanted to make sure you were actually thinking clearly. Here’s the deal: Robert Montgomery has been getting ready for power. I don’t think he’s better. So, get over here and let’s put a plan together.”
    Jackson sighed and told her he’d be right over. When he arrived at Teresa’s office, he expected her to give him a stern talking to and threaten to quit. Instead, she handed him a thick file.
    â€œWe need to study this and make sure we can beat him.” She offered him a seat across from her desk, which was covered with papers, newspaper clippings, and a plate of hummus and pita chips.
    â€œYou don’t think he could be good for the district?” Jackson asked as he flipped through the file.
    â€œRead page eight and your question will be answered.”
    Jackson read the copy of the Daily Tar Heel from fifteen years ago. Montgomery had been implicated in a sexual assault. He and three other guys in his fraternity had been accused of raping a girl at a party. Robert, who had been attending UNC on a scholarship, said he never would’ve done anything like that. At the bottom of the page, there was a note written about a settlement that was offered to the girl, who then dropped out of school.
    â€œWe all did things in college that—”
    â€œThis,” she said, “speaks to his character. We can’t have this kind of man representing us. Someone who throws money at problems? Someone who doesn’t respect women? This kind of stuff doesn’t go away.”
    Jackson gritted his teeth. She was right. But the one thing he was against was playing dirty. “What are we going to do with this information?”
    â€œNothing, but we have to know who we’re running against. Don’t think that they aren’t across town looking into your past and putting together a file just like this. The difference is, anything that stains your past, they are probably going to use it.”
    Jackson chuckled. “Not saying that I’m perfect, but I don’t have a criminal background, my service record is clean, and my ex left me.”
    Teresa smiled. “You think I didn’t know that? Hillary McMillian, your ex-fiancée, had nothing but great things to say about you. She might call you—if your number is the same.”
    Jackson snorted, thinking that if Hillary called him, she’d be in for a surprise, since he changed his number the day he returned from Iraq and found her in bed with some random dude. He’d heard about loved ones at home cheating on servicemen, but he’d known Hillary was