"Everybody out!" Cindy screamed as she entered the bar area. "We're being raided! Get going!" Customers stared at her in disbelief and didn't move.
"This isn't a joke!" I yelled. "It's real! Go! Go! Go!"
The waitresses set their drink trays on the nearest table and started running for the door. Then the customers realized the gravity of the matter and headed for the door too. About forty people jammed through the doorway pushing and shoving to get outside. Cindy and I got behind the crowd and urged them on. Outside ten cops wearing riot gear and holding batons laughed at the panic.
"Give me your cell phone!" Cindy said to me. I handed it to her without question. Quickly she punched in a number and held the phone up to her ear. She fought to control her breathing while she waited for her call to be answered.
"Good evening, Mayor Harrison," she said sweetly. "It's Cindy from the sports bar. Do you remember me?"
I held my ear next to the phone. "Of course I do," the mayor said.
"I'm sure you remember how I fucked you for free. I have a quick question for you. Why are we being raided?"
"As you know, it's an election year. I have to be seen as a law-and-order candidate to get reelected. I'm sorry to have to do that to you. Don't worry. I'll make sure you don't get any jail time."
"You are aware we have security cameras all around the bar, including that private room where you and I had so much fun."
The mayor hesitated. "What do you mean?"
"Don't worry, Mister Mayor. The recordings are all in a safe place, although I can get my hands on them in just a few minutes. Now you be a good boy and call off your dogs. If you don't, you might want to watch the morning news. The lead story will show you visiting me. The station will blur your beautiful cock, so you won't be embarrassed by having it seen all over the country. My face will be blurred along with my naked breasts, but your face won't be."
There was heavy breathing on the line. "You listen to me, you worthless little whore. The raid will occur as planned, and there is nothing you can do to stop it."
"Does your wife watch the morning news with you?"
"The judge will throw the book at you. You will spend the next year in prison."
"The station manager is also a friend of mine. He is much better on the stage than you are. You might also want to brief your daughter about the story so she can answer her friends' questions about her father tomorrow."
"You wouldn't dare do that to her."
"You only have about one minute to make your phone call. Use it wisely."
Cindy closed the phone and handed it to me.
"I hope your bluff works," I said.
"That wasn't a bluff," she said. "I forgot to tell you something. In addition to being whores, you and I are also porn stars."
Cindy and I crossed the street and watched the bar's door. A minute passed. No one came out or went in. Another minute went by. The police squad had not moved. Then Carl and Charlie came out. They talked for a couple minutes. We couldn't hear what they said. They shook hands. Carl went back inside. Charlie waved to the squad leader, and the officers went to their vehicle.
Charlie saw us and crossed the street to us. "I didn't know you had such important customers," he said.
"All of our customers are important," Cindy said.
"That's a good business philosophy. You will be happy to know I have strict orders to leave this establishment alone. Only the mayor can change that. If he isn't reelected, his successor could change that. I can't do anything about it."
"I'm sure Carl will allow some campaign posters on the property," I said. "There's no reason why we can't support him."
"He will be pleased to hear that," Charlie said.
Cindy and I went back inside to help Carl and Bob round up the abandoned drinks and put the tables and chairs back in order. A few late-night customers came in. Cindy served them their drinks and returned to the clean-up while they watched the golf game on the television screens.
Half an hour later, none other than Mayor Harrison came in. He walked straight up to Cindy and grabbed her arm. "Come on," he snarled. "You owe me." Carl slapped the bar hard. Harrison looked in the direction of the sound and released her arm.
"How do you figure I owe you something?" she asked.
"You're still in business."
"You won't be on television tomorrow morning. I think you owe me."
"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to believe you recorded us? I wasn't born yesterday."
Carl set his laptop computer on the end of the bar and entered a couple commands. "Cindy, do you remember the last time Mr. Harrison was here?"