[ CW ] `` Am I a bad person ? '' `` Depends on who you ask . ''

The new secretary, having just been hired by Meszaros not a week before, did not recognize Adam, and subsequently treated him like all the other visitors. 
 
 `` I'm sorry, I do n't have you on the schedule.'' She said. 
 
 Adam grunted. `` It does n't matter.'' 
 
 The young, college-aged secretary gave Adam an irritated glance, and just as she was about to begin her rebuttal to his stubbornness, a voice rang out from across the room. 
 
 `` Just let him in, Becky.'' It was Meszaros, who had overheard the conversation and stepped out of his office, briefly. Adam nodded to the young woman before heading into the room. Inside, Meszaros was taking a seat at his desk. Across from him sat two men Adam did not recognize. They were both dark-skinned hispanics, adorn with ragged cotton shirts and dirty jeans. Perhaps they were local ranchers, Adam thought. As he overheard their conversation, it became clear that they were not. 
 
 `` Who the fuck is he?'' One of them asked, an irritated scowl on his wrinkled face. He was looking at Adam. 
 
 `` He works with a few of my associates. He's fine.'' Replied Meszaros. The group continued with their conversation as Adam took a seat in the corner of the office, away from the desk. The man who spoke first became quiet, passing off the duties of speaking to his partner. Adam examined him closely. The dark, keen hair follicles that protruded from his beard scruff. The drops of sweat that tediously crawled down his jagged face and dripped onto his dirt-smeared guayabera. 
 
 `` Ortiz needs that contract. If his men do n't run movement in and out of the quarry, our transport does n't have access, and that means they'd have to take the 111. That highway is n't safe.'' 
 
 Meszaros raised his eyebrow. `` Why?'' 
 
 `` You know why, jefe. CHP. Highway Patrol. They've got stops all along the interstate. Drug-sniffing dogs, all that bullshit.'' 
 
 Meszaros shrugged. `` I do n't know what you want me to say. I already promised Tanner Construction that contract. You'd have to work that out with them.'' 
 
 The man across from him slammed his fist onto the table. `` And what? Pay another 20 grand on top of the shit we give you? Fuck that. Fuck Tanner, and fuck you. I'm done with negotiation.'' He said as he stood up and quickly withdrew a snub-nosed revolver from his waistband, pressing it against the table, but not so much to where it was actually pointed at Meszaros, who began to sway back and forth in his wheeled chair, chuckling and lightly running his fingers along his blue tie as he did. Going against his badge, Adam remained seated as Meszaros spoke. 
 
 `` Your little game does n't work on me. You're just like the rest of them. Mexican trailer trash. I know you too well for this intimidation bullshit.'' 
 
 The man sneered. `` Mexican trailer trash? So what's that make you? A deceitful, self-serving race traitor piece of shit like every gringo politician in this country?'' 
 
 Meszaros let out a hearty laugh. `` Yes, I am a race traitor, and you on the other hand, are a fine example of our countrymen and the morals we live by. A drug-dealing degenerate from the drug-dealer degenerate capital of the world.'' 
 
 `` This is America, maricón.'' The man shot back, slowly holstering his weapon. `` There are n't any morals here. Just money.'' His agitation appeared to subside over time, and after a brief, uncomfortable pause, he began to speak in a much calmer tone. 
 
 `` If you do n't give us the contract, we'll go to Rodriguez and lobby him.'' 
 
 Meszaros shrugged, a satisfied smirk on his face as he did. `` Rodriguez is a Democrat. He's a man of the people.'' 
 
 `` Not for the right amount of money he ai n't.'' Replied the man. 
 
 `` Maybe so.'' Spoke Meszaros. `` But you forget one thing, the race is two months away, and Republicans have held this seat for almost 40 consecutive years. We do n't intend on losing it now. So what do you suppose you're going to do if, come July, I'm still here?'' 
 
 The man grinned. `` We'll deal with you like we do the others.'' 
 
 With that, Meszaros stood up and faced Adam, still quietly seated in the corner of the room. `` Adam.'' He said. `` Remove these men from my office, if you'd be so kind.'' 
 
 An audible, evidently-reluctant sigh could be heard as Adam stood up, reaching for his handcuffs and gun in his back pocket and side holster, respectively. The man across from Meszaros turned to face Adam as well, holding his hand up in a `` stop'' signal. 
 
 `` No need, officer. We were just about to show ourselves out, anyhow.'' He said as he and his associate stood up from their aged, steel-tubed folding chairs that sat in place of regular office chairs. Both began to exit the office, and as they did, the more quiet man purposely brushed his shoulder against Adam's, giving him a menacing glare as he left. Adam briefly considered detaining him for the hostility, but figured it would be an overreaction. Once they were gone from the room, Adam sat back down and stared at Meszaros. 
 
 `` So what was that?'' He asked. 
 
 `` A good use of my Saturday evening.'' Meszaros replied. Both men shared a laugh before Adam inquired yet again. 
 
 `` Seriously, though. What's the problem?'' 
 
 Meszaros sighed. `` Well, that quarry I've got down by La Quinta has a dirt road that leads to commercial-access off the highway. This particular route is generally free of Highway Patrol searches and does n't have the same heat the main highway does. Those boys have got a van that runs drugs up North and guns down South every few weeks or so. The quarry is having some stuff done and uh, they want to use the road to avoid being on the main highway.'' 
 
 `` So what's the problem?'' Adam asked. 
 
 `` Well, the contract I've got with the county says the road's access is only legal if it's being used for work. It's not entirely my property. Conveniently enough, I have been having some work done around there recently, and those guys want me to give a construction contract to a firm they've paid off, who will let them onto the road under the guise of being road workers.'' 
 
 `` So why ca n't you?'' 
 
 `` Because I already gave that contract to a friend, who bought me some favor down in Sacramento. He's one of those godly, do-good type assholes, and there's no way we'd get him to sign off on this. Hell, if he even knew anything about it, it'd blow up in my face and I'd be done before the ads even started hitting the airwaves. I ca n't suddenly hire somebody else, either, he'd get offended. Maybe, and that's a big maybe, the cartel can pay him off, but they'd have to do it independently of me.'' 
 
 Adam nodded. `` Guess he is n't such a do-good type if he can be paid off, then huh?'' 
 
 `` Everyone can be paid off here. Hell, everyone's *looking* to be paid off here.'' 
 
 `` Not that we have any right to complain.'' Said Adam. `` Look at us. You're a self-serving hack in a suit, and I'm a cop who makes sure my department does n't find out about our little deals.'' 
 
 Adam stopped speaking, pondering what he had just said for a moment or two, before talking again. 
 
 `` Does that make me a bad guy? I mean, am I a bad person?'' The question was somewhat nonchalant, almost sarcastic in nature. 
 
 `` Here's a question for you, then.'' Said Meszaros. `` What motivates you to do all this?'' 
 
 Adam shrugged. It did n't take him long to come up with an answer. `` I do n't know. A paycheck, I guess.'' 
 
 Meszaros smiled. `` Me too.'' He reiterated. `` Me too. It all depends on who you ask.'' 
 
 He stood up, and began to pace around the room as he spoke. `` We live in a country where, every day, we all look for ways to get paid. Does n't matter who you are. Soccer mom, business man, drug dealer.'' He paused briefly to put on his suit coat jacket, before continuing his lecture. 
 
 `` -And yet, in this same country, all of us ambulance-chasers get morally bent out of shape when we start assigning names and faces to this behavior. We do it, and it's us trying to get by. Local politician, business-owner, cop, you name it, does it, and suddenly they are the bad guy. We're all looking for the bad guy, and yet, the bad guy in the mirror does n't register to us.'' 
 
 `` Yeah.'' Adam muttered in an indifferent tone. `` Guess that's one way of looking at it.'' 
 
 `` That's right, kid.'' Meszaros said as he gave Adam a gentle smack on the rear with his rolled up newspaper. `` Let's go grab lunch. I got a few things I got to discuss with you.''
