Marcel stared across the table at his old friend, Jerome, and his new friend, Tony. Unlike their regular meetings, this one took place in the back room, completely removed from the music and the smoke that usually punctuated their conversations. Jerome, too, stared at his companions. Only Tony pondered the lines on the floor.

"Look," Tony persuaded, trying to adopt a humble manner, "I understand the seriousness of the accusations against Barry, but when I look at this paper, I just don't see evil intentions."

Marcel shook his head. "Evil intentions, evil result: what's the difference?"

"Now, hold on their, Marcel," Jerome interrupted. "The difference is with us, not with the people who bad-mouthed Barry. We are not the Rats. The Rats punish anyone who interferes with their work, whether intentional or not. Men – and Rats - look on the outside..."

"I know, God looks at the heart. Well, I'm a man!" Marcel hammered the table, and his tone mirrored the percussive sound. "And Barry is a man who has now suffered a lot of trouble for what some thoughtless idiot printed in a paper."

Finally, Tony raised his eyes, and he peered over at Marcel.

"You're right in a way, Marcel. Whoever did this needs some serious talking to and maybe a lesson in reality. I would even go so far as to say we should demand a retraction and an apology, and we might ask for some economic remuneration. I'm just not sure what you're implying that we do."

Shaking his head, Marcel averted his eyes. "Nothing," he claimed unconvincingly. "I'm not implying nothing. Jerome needs all the support for his campaign that he can garner, and it won't help his cause if it comes out that his people caused bumps and bruises on some 'innocent' journalist. I've got too much riding on Jerome's election. I won't do anything that might hurt his campaign."

"Marcel, I hope you would refrain from causing 'bumps and bruises' because it's the right thing to do, not just for my political campaign."

Marcel shrugged. "Sure. You're right," he allowed, and Tony scoffed at the man's obvious lack of conviction. If Jerome noticed, he didn't let on with his expression.

For what seemed like several minutes, no one spoke, and Tony could imagine the motives for each man's silence. Marcel seemed to have resurrected his initial reaction to all things foreign. From the beginning, he had mistrusted Tony because Tony did not come from the same community, but the bar owner had seemed to put aside his prejudices for the greater good. Now that he felt uncertain that his original benevolence would help the greater good, Marcel had reverted to his original opinions.

For Tony's part, when he sensed the new animosity emanating from Marcel, the young man felt the return of his earlier unease. When Jerome had warned Tony that some men may turn on him, Tony hadn't imagined it would be Jerome's good friend Marcel. Not that Marcel showed overt hostility, but Tony could sense the bad blood brewing under a thin veil of civility when he looked at the older man.

Jerome, Tony knew, was fully aware of the conflict simmering between his friends, and with Jerome's peace-loving tendencies, he no doubt hated the tension stretched ready to snap between the two men. Despite such a diplomatic desire on Jerome's part, Tony sensed that, if forced to choose, Jerome would choose Marcel, turning a blind eye to any indiscretions on Marcel's part. Tony liked to believe that the ambivalence grew, not from a lack of character, but from pragmatism.

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Never had he assumed Jerome was perfect. Strong? Yes. Of good character? Yes. However, Jerome had to be elected in his own district, not among Tony and his friends. Jerome might possibly find money from some other source besides Tony's network of acquaintances, but Jerome wouldn't find votes outside his own district. If the situation came down to choosing sides, though Jerome would draw the line at overt physical violence, he might forgive some tactics of intimidation if Marcel pressed.

Watching his two companions, Tony seriously considered withdrawing from Jerome's campaign. Under no circumstances would Tony endorse intimidation as a , not by his friends, not by Jerome's. Intimidation smacked of coercion, and where coercion existed, free democracy did not. Too, if Marcel tried to suppress free speech by physical threat, then Marcel proved no different than the people he intended to uproot.

If Tony left, however, who would guard the interests of all those who would otherwise be forgotten? At heart, Jerome wanted to guard those same people, but he seemed almost willing to compromise his standards to effect his purpose. So, it now lay on Tony to find out the truth, to either exonerate the well-intentioned innocent or indict the guilty. In truth, he hated the role he felt forced to play, but with Tony's position as a go-between, no one else could effectively accomplish what Tony could. Of course, the stature of the players in this game might surmount Tony's ability to manage them, but if Tony found himself truly out-manned, he had no doubt that he could count on his father and brothers to help. Tony smiled. Maybe dad will get back some of his old spirit, he thought.

That idea more than any ideological agreement with Jerome decided Tony. The fact that he felt secure in his family's support gave Tony the fortitude to continue his objective. Turning back to his companions, he breathed a calming breath.

"Please," he peered into their eyes, hoping to arrest them with his sincerity and conviction, "Let me take care of this. Just give me some time to find the facts. As far as you know, the people who wrote this paper had no idea the ramifications of their actions, and I'm willing to admit that the opposite is true if I find the evidence of it. If I find the evidence, I'm willing to admit that whoever did this intended not only Barry, but possibly even Jerome harm by revealing the names on that list. If I find the culprit, then we can decide how to proceed. Just don't make up your mind before you get all the facts."

Tony could see the wheels churning in Marcel's mind. Did the man disagree with Tony, merely waiting until the young man made his exit so Marcel could speak his mind candidly to Jerome? Or had Tony bought the perpetrator a reprieve? Was Marcel willing to delay his plans for retribution until he had all the facts? Tony could only hope the latter.

Finally, Marcel nodded to Jerome. "I told you he's smart," Marcel squinted cynically. "I'll put my money on whichever side he decides to join."

Tony hoped Marcel meant it. "I've already decided, Marcel. And even if you and half the district turn against Jerome's campaign, I'm committed, because Jerome is the best hope for moving forward. No one else I know could accomplish half of what I know Jerome will accomplish."

"Save the political speeches for the campaign, buddy. You don't need to sell Marcel."

"No," Marcel agreed, finally grinning his characteristic grin. "But it’s nice to hear so much passion out of a white boy. Makes me think Jerome might pull this off after all."

The "white boy" smiled and stood to his feet.

"Thanks for the compliment," Tony smirked. Shaking the men's hands, he turned and made his exit into the deepening twilight. He had work to do.