Above the Fold & Below the Belt (An Avery Shaw Mystery Book 14)

by Amanda M. Lee

  Eliot scowled as he joined me in the enclosed space. “I can’t believe you just said that. It’s so ... stereotypical.”

  “Yes, but I’m betting half the guys in these other stalls are now hot for me because I opened my big mouth.”

  “And you’re okay with that?”

  I shrugged. “It’s nice to be desired.”

  He leaned forward so our noses almost touched. “It is. You’re still going to learn how to handle this gun. Enough is enough.”

  “I can’t believe you took it out of that box without telling me,” I complained. “What if I’d needed it in a time of emergency? What if someone broke into the house and chased me in the basement and when I opened the box it was empty? I could’ve died.”

  He poked my stomach. “You didn’t remember where you put it.”

  “That’s neither here nor there. I might’ve remembered in the middle of a fight for my life.”

  “If someone comes into our house to hurt you, I’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry.”

  “What if you’re not there?”

  “I ... .” He broke off when he realized what I was doing. “No. We’re not having this conversation. You are not going to distract me. It’s time to learn how to use this gun.”

  I exhaled heavily, resigned. “Fine. There are other weapons at my disposal I would rather be playing with, though.” I winked at him suggestively. “You know what I mean, right?”

  He didn’t react as I expected. “I do and that won’t work either.”

  I jutted out my lower lip. “What will work?”

  “Practice.”

  “Ugh. Fine. I’m going to pout all day, though. You’ve been warned.”

  16 Sixteen

  I gave Eliot a choice upon leaving the gun range — I’d watched Baxter closely and had trouble forming a firm opinion about the man either way so I was tabling that particular discussion until I could give it some real thought — and he clearly wasn’t ready for my offer.

  “You can drop me at my car or take me to Fraser.”

  Eliot carefully placed the travel gun case behind his seat and made sure it was flat on the floor before lifting his head and meeting my gaze. “Why are you going back to Fraser? I thought she shut the door in your face.”

  “She did.”

  “And you’re going back because?”

  “I need her to talk. She’s hiding things.”

  “How are you going to get her to talk?”

  “I have my ways.”

  He pursed his lips as he regarded me, his expression blank. Finally, he shook his head. “I have work to do. If you need me to go with you, I’ll make time. If not ... .”

  “I don’t need backup,” I said hurriedly. “I simply thought I would make the offer as part of that compromise thing we’re doing. You managed to get me into the range, which I’m thankful for even though I can’t decide how I feel about your gun buddy, so I thought I would return the favor.”

  “I think you’re sniffing around the wrong bush with Mike, but that’s your prerogative. You have good instincts. I know better than to question you on them. As for chasing the secretary, that’s your thing. I hope that you’ll be careful and not get arrested breaking into her house.”

  I balked. “I’m not going to break into her house. Why would you even think that?”

  “You’ve done it before.”

  “Not when someone is in the house. She’s basically a shut-in right now. I can’t break in.”

  He tilted his head to the side, considering. “Out of curiosity, how do you know she’s a shut-in?”

  I described her appearance — including the distinct smell emanating from her — and climbed into the passenger seat of his truck. “She’s depressed ... and afraid. It was the fear that struck me most.”

  “What do you think she’s afraid of?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”

  HERE’S THE THING: Eliot tends to be right when it comes to my busybody streak. I have broken into homes. I have stalked sources to get information. I’ve also purposely pushed people so they’ll blow up publicly to enhance a story. To be fair, I’ve mostly done that last one to Tad, and he totally had it coming.

  What I had planned for today was something different ... and I didn’t exactly feel good about it.

  I parked two blocks from Hawthorne’s house, pocketing my keys and sliding down the road at the back of her property. I walked up and down the perimeter three times before I picked a house — I was fairly certain the homeowners were at work — and plunged into the backyard. There was a fence, but it was chain-link rather than privacy, and it allowed me to hop over with minimal effort. Then it was simply a matter of cutting behind a hedge and walking into the secretary’s backyard.

  I didn’t expect to run into her — at least not initially — but I wanted to see if I could spy through a window and get a feeling for what she was doing. Instead, because I didn’t pay proper attention, I found myself staring at the woman in question as she sipped from a cup on her back porch. She didn’t look surprised to see me.

  “I should’ve known you would come back,” she growled, shaking her head.

  I could’ve run. That was my initial instinct, after all. When in doubt, flee. Then deny when the cops track you down and ask invasive questions. That seemed a poor choice this time, because the odds of me getting another chance to question her were slim.

  “What’s up, buttercup?” I exuded a false sense of bravado. “Did you miss me?”

  Ally merely cocked a speculative eyebrow. “You could be arrested for trespassing.”

  “I could,” I agreed, striding forward. “The thing is, I’ll tell the cops it was a mistake and I had no idea where I was going when I accidentally ended up on your property. Depending on how busy they are, they probably won’t take me in, so it will be a wasted call.”

  “It might be worth it if they decided to make an example of you.”

  “It won’t stick.” I meant it. “Fraser has a very small department. It’s a public safety department. They have to run out and perform CPR on one call and then take on potential murderers in another. I’m not going to be high on their list of people to arrest.” At least I hoped that was true.

  “Well, I don’t want to waste my time, so I guess I’ll just pretend I’m not furious with you.”

  “I think that’s best.” I climbed to her porch and sat in the open chair to her left. “How are things?”

  Instead of exploding, she chuckled. I took it as a good sign.

  “I can see why you’re famous around here,” she admitted, leaning back in her chair. “I researched you this afternoon. I was surprised to see your name mentioned in so many crazy cases.”

  “I am a wonder,” I agreed. “If you read those stories, you probably understand that I can’t simply give up. The fact that you’re the only one not speaking out, trying to get attention, is a red flag for me.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning that I talked to Bart Savage today,” I replied without hesitation. “I think the guy has the personality of a rancid pickle fart, but I found his demeanor interesting.”

  She averted her gaze. “I don’t know what that means.”

  “I don’t either, but I’m curious to find out. He was away from his security guards, which isn’t exactly safe given what happened to Dan Crawford. He was acting like someone stole his favorite lollipop, licked it, and then tried to shove it back in his mouth.”

  Ally made a horrified face. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “I know. I’m appalled, too. It’s disgusting.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I ... what do you want me to say?” She changed tactics mid-argument. “Do you want me to say I made it up and that he’s innocent?”

  “Is that the truth?”

  “No.”

  “Then I don’t want you to say it.” I shifted on the chair, crossing one leg over the other. “I’m not here to force you to s
ay something you don’t believe. I’m here because I want to know the truth. There’s a lot of gossip flying around. I’ve yet to hear anyone who actually knows Savage say anything good about him.

  “Sure, there are a lot of people who listen to him on the radio and they’re standing up for him, but those people believe in the myth, not the man,” I continued. “You worked in close proximity to him. You were his secretary. The other women are speaking out every chance they get ... and they seem rightfully angry. You, on the other hand, are doing the exact opposite.”

  She sighed, weariness oozing from every pore. “I don’t know what to say to you.” She seemed defeated more than anything else. “Do you have any idea how tired I am? This has been the most exhausting thing I’ve ever been part of.”

  “Yeah, well ... I know about being tired. I tend to stick my nose in situations that cause me to lose sleep. Is that what happened with you? Did you get involved in something that spiraled faster than you realized?”

  “This isn’t what I expected.” her voice was small. “I thought things would be different.”

  “Different how?”

  “I didn’t expect the cops to be called.”

  That was interesting. “So ... you thought he would lose his job and that’s it?”

  “I don’t want him to lose his job,” she said hurriedly, recovering quickly when she realized what she’d said. “I mean ... I want him to get what’s coming to him, but I don’t want him to be hurt in the process. Does that make sense?”

  Not even a little. She was all over the place, and I was having trouble ascertaining why. “What did Bart do to you?”

  “I’ve already answered these questions for the cops.” She turned her face away and focused on a tree in the far corner of her backyard. “I’m not going over my statement again with you. If you want to talk to someone who likes attention, you should focus on Diane and Hannah. They love talking about what happened.”

  “I’ve noticed.” I licked my lips, debating if I should push her harder. So far she hadn’t kicked up a fuss. If she opted to call the police, there was every chance I would have an unhappy jail cell visit in my future. I didn’t have time for that.

  I made up my mind on the spot. “Here.” I dug in my pocket and retrieved a business card. It was a little crinkled at the corners but she didn’t comment when she accepted it. “You need to think about what you want. If you wait too long you might not be able to get your story out there. Things are about to get ... convoluted. There’s a national group on the scene now, and they know how to get attention.

  “Normally I would like that,” I continued. “I can’t help but be worried this time. A man is dead. I have no idea if he was the target or an unfortunate bystander. What I do know is that things are going to get worse before they get better.”

  Helpless, Ally held her palms out. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Think about it,” I replied simply. “Follow your heart. I’ll be back.”

  “Even if I don’t want you to stop by again?”

  “Yeah. I don’t really care about what others want. It’s all about me. Sorry about that.” I awkwardly patted her shoulder. “I need to run. I have another idea. Once you’ve given it some thought, call me. I’m available whenever you need to talk.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  I WASN’T LYING ABOUT having an idea. Once I left Ally’s house — unfortunately I had to crawl over the fence again and this time one of the neighbors was clearly watching because I met her curious gaze through a window as I trudged through her yard — I headed toward the radio station in question. I knew someone who worked there. I couldn’t believe I had never hit him up as a potential source before now.

  Bob Sussex was the program manager at the radio station. That made him Savage’s boss. I had a feeling Savage operated under his own set of rules — like me — but that didn’t mean Bob hadn’t formed an opinion.

  I didn’t have an appointment, so I had to go through Bob’s secretary. When he heard who was requesting an interview he poked his head out of his office and glared at me. “I should’ve known you would come.”

  I smiled brightly. “Miss me?”

  “No.”

  I waited for him to correct his statement. When he didn’t, I merely shrugged and shuffled toward his office. “We need to talk.”

  “What if I don’t want to talk?” he challenged as he watched me plop into one of the chairs across from his desk. “Perhaps I’m too busy to deal with you today.”

  “I have nothing better to do than to plant myself in your lobby for the rest of the afternoon,” I threatened.

  He growled. “Man, you’re such a pain in the butt.” He slammed the door, leaving the secretary confused and pale on the other side. When he threw himself in his chair the look he shot me was dark. “I thought when I left The Monitor three years ago that I’d seen the last of you.”

  “The fates wouldn’t allow that,” I countered, grinning at his obvious discomfort. “Oh, now, come on. There’s no reason to get all worked up. I’m not here to punish you.”

  “I’ve heard you utter those very words to Fish, and he’s the most punished man I know.”

  “He loves me.”

  “He tolerates you.”

  “He loves me,” I corrected. “I’m simply not easy to love.”

  Bob chuckled as his stance relaxed. “I can’t believe you’re still running this shtick. I thought for sure you would’ve found a way to get yourself fired by this point.”

  “I’m the best reporter at The Monitor.” It wasn’t just ego making me say that. It was the truth.

  “You are the best reporter there,” Bob confirmed. “You’re also a detriment to the workplace environment. Personally, I can’t believe that Duncan Marlow hasn’t killed you. There’s a guy who truly hates you.”

  “There’s a guy with bigger issues.” I rubbed my hands over the chair’s armrests. “I need to know your opinion of Bart Savage.”

  Bob straightened. “I’m not allowing you to interview me for your article. If you think I’m that stupid, well, you’re sadly mistaken.”

  “I don’t expect you to be interviewed on the record.” I wasn’t an idiot. “I simply need information off the record. I just came from Ally Hawthorne’s house. She’s a mess. It left me with certain questions. I don’t need you to speak on the record. I just want to know what was going on between her and Bart for background.”

  “I don’t know what was going on between them,” Bob admitted, rubbing the back of his neck as he struggled to get comfortable. “There were a lot of rumors. You have to understand, when I left The Monitor three years ago I was happy. This was my dream job.”

  “Things didn’t turn out as you planned?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Was Savage your biggest problem?”

  “Oh, without a doubt.” Bob seemed to have overcome his reticence to gossiping with me because he launched right into his tale. “Bart was charismatic and welcomed me to the family with open arms on the first day. I thought, ‘This is going to be great.’ I was wrong.

  “By the end of my first week he was making noise,” he continued. “I knew he had a certain reputation. Three years ago he wasn’t as big as he is today. He had a dedicated following, but more people in the county thought he was a crackpot. Of course, he had a lot of hate listeners, too. He encouraged that.

  “One day he attacked a woman who called in, and that’s when I realized I was in deeper than I thought,” he said. “She kind of yelled at him for saying that working mothers were abandoning their children, explaining she had no choice if she expected to keep a roof over their heads. He exploded at her, said she always had a choice, and then proceeded to call her names.

  “The call board lit up,” he said. “I was worried people were going to turn on him for the things he said. Instead, they were applauding him, laughing at the way he talked down to this woman. I felt a shift in the room that day ... and I didn’
t like it.”

  “Did you suspend Savage right away after the women lodged complaints against him?” I asked.

  “I wanted to, but that decision was made at the corporate level. It didn’t come down right away.”

  “Hmm.” I rubbed my chin. “Do you happen to know where Hawthorne fell in the order? Was she first? Last?”

  “I really don’t know. Those complaints went to Human Resources and I never saw them. As for Ally, I was actually surprised when I heard she was one of the women lodging complaints.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Well, I was under the impression that she was seeing Bart.”

  My mind was moving so fast it almost tripped. “Seriously?” I pictured the young woman I’d met hours before. “If they were involved, why would she lodge a complaint against him? Did he break up with her?”

  “Not to my knowledge, but I wasn’t exactly privy to the inner workings of their private lives. I do know they were seen leaving the station together multiple times. They got in the same vehicle and drove off. They arrived for shifts together the next day. My understanding is that they were a real couple.”

  Hmm. That changed things. “If they were a real couple, why would she accuse him of sexual harassment and rape?”

  “You’ll have to ask her.”

  “Oh, I plan to. She’s going to start talking if I have to pry her jaws open and yank out the information. The thing is, I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing other pieces of the story. I need to think.”

  “Can you do it someplace else?”

  “Not if I know it’s going to bother you.”

  “Ugh. You’re such a pain.”

  “You really did miss me, huh?”

  “Not even a little.”

  17 Seventeen

  My mind was jumbled with possibilities when I left the radio station. I called Eliot to check on the progress of the protest, something that amused him greatly.

  “So … now I’m on your payroll, huh?”

  “Yes, and I’ll pay you with kisses and cookies later.”