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Stan Morrison was one of the luckiest people in Austin. He wasn’t rich or popular. He didn’t have a beautiful wife or loving children. No, he wasn’t lucky for anything like that. His luck came from being in the favor of the Walker family.
It was Austin’s biggest open secret that the Walker family owned the city. It wasn’t terribly obvious and he imagined there was a decent portion of the population that had no idea. But the Walker family had eyes and ears and hands in just about every corner of the city. It was thanks to their support that Stan was able to secure the DPS chair and hold it for so long. In exchange, he dismissed cases that concerned their various enterprises and gave them information on the North Side Nation, their first serious competitor in decades.
He should’ve known their favor wouldn’t last forever.
The moment Liam Walker announced his intentions to run for District Attorney as his opposition, Stan knew his time was up.
Liam didn’t want the position. That’s not how the Walker family operated. Since they first started growing way back in the early days of Texas, the Walkers gained, and kept, their power by not aiming too high on the totem pole. They took positions that granted them enough power and influence to get what they wanted but not so much that people would get suspicious. It was why Bonham never ran for anything higher than president of the local rancher association and Cordell never tried for Captain. He doubted Liam would make any serious attempt at a campaign. The message was clear: they no longer wanted him where he was.
The reason why didn’t matter. Maybe they knew about just how deep in he was with North Side Nation, deeper than they wanted him to be. Maybe they knew about what really happened with Emily. Maybe something deeper was brewing and they needed a scapegoat. Or maybe they just wanted someone newer in his spot. Regardless, his time was limited.
It all came to a head on voting day. Stan’s fear that they knew what he was up to off the clock was confirmed when Micki told him Cordell was going to talk to Carlos Mendoza. He called his contacts within the North Side Nation to warn them; he didn’t think he had to tell them not to threaten a Walker. Apparently, he gave them too much credit. Or maybe they'd gotten too cocky during their time in Austin. Either way, running Cordell off the road was a death sentence of their own making.
He didn’t see a point in lying to Cordell. He was already in deep shit as it was. He didn’t doubt the whole Walker family knew anyway. What was surprising was Cordell not killing him on sight. He knew the usual way Walkers dealt with those that crossed them; he’d helped cover it up more than once. Then again, he’d gotten a bit softer after Emily’s death. Maybe this really was a new leaf. He could always hope, right?
“Thank you,” Stan said on the drive to the trial.
“Pardon?”
“For giving me a second chance, I mean.” That’s what this was, right? “I know I messed up but I learned my lesson. I-”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding.” Cordell’s tone was colder than he’d heard from the man in a long time. “You aren’t alive because you’re getting a second chance. That was never on the table. You’re alive because we still have use for you. North Side has been a pain in our neck for far too long. We were willing to work peacefully alongside them until this whole mess. You know more about them and their major players than any of our other informants. Once you provide your testimony at the trial, you will have served your purpose.” Cordell turned to Stan with a glare that could stop a bear in its tracks. “And then I will enjoy making you scream the same way Emily did when you killed her.”
Stan swallowed hard and looked away as they arrived at their destination. Perhaps he should’ve known better than to assume.
Getting shot was almost a blessing. A few more days to live, get his affairs in order. It was just delaying the inevitable, but the less time he spent seeing a Walker in full psycho mode, the better. Anyone who made the mistake of crossing the Walkers knew that.
He looked up when the door to his hospital room opened unannounced. Ranger Ramirez entered and the door softly clicked behind her.
"Ranger," he said. "To what do I owe the pleasure."
An FBI badge flashed in front of his face. "Tell me everything you know about the Walkers," she said coolly. "I can't save you from them but you can help me take them down. That can be your legacy."
He stared at her, wondering how much she already knew. "If you know enough to know I know something, you know this is a risky move. If they know you're here…."
She shrugged. "I was just personally seeing to your safety given the attempt on your life today. May as well ask you some questions while I'm here. I know you are- were in the Walkers favor. You must know a lot."
"Only as much as they want me to know."
"Like?"
"They have informants- eyes, ears, and hands- in every part of this city. Nothing goes on without them knowing. They have everything in an iron grip and half the people in this city don't even know it."
"I know that," she said, eyes narrowed. "What else can you tell me?"
"I could tell you a lot of things," Stan said. "But I won't. I can't. I've betrayed them enough as it is…."
"You can't be serious. They're going to kill you and you won't even try to help me?”
"I am. Deadly. Because I know this city wouldn't be what it is without them. If they weren't here, North Side Nation and others like them would be running the show and they aren't nearly as altruistic as the Walkers. They have my loyalty, regardless of the mistakes I've made."
Ramirez glared at him. "That's it? That's all you have to say?"
"No." He leaned back on his pillows and sighed. "I can tell you this safely: they're onto you."
"I- what?"
"You heard me." He reached over and pressed the button for a nurse aid. "Get out of here before someone sees you."
Ramirez huffed but left without argument, slamming the door behind her. Stan sighed and closed his eyes. There was some comfort, at least, in knowing this would all be over soon.
He just hoped Ramirez didn't repeat his mistakes. She could do well with the Walkers if she chose to.