“I know what it is,” Trevor said triumphantly. “You found something last night. That lead your source gave us—”
“Led nowhere unfortunately. The story is dead for this print run anyway. We’re going to run your piece on Lavery’s cows instead.”
Jason was staring at her, naked horror written all over his face. “You can’t be serious. No offence to Trevor’s reporting, but a story about a herd of cows blocking the road isn’t going to sell papers. We haven’t had a decent news week since Scout Rutherford got jilted and that was in June! We’re starved for action in this town and you want to kill our one hot story?”
“Jason’s right,” Trevor nodded. “McIntyre Construction is the centerpiece of this edition. We’ll look like idiots if we suddenly back off.”
“I don’t care what we’ll look like. I don’t have enough to go on to run the story.”
“What about your source—the management insider? I thought he or she gave you a solid lead.”
Shelby plunked down on the battered sofa that took up one wall of the small office. She avoided their eyes. “I checked it out last night. There wasn’t much there, although it was difficult to do a thorough investigation of the site with Sheriff McIntyre breathing down my neck.”
“No shit! What happened?”
Shelby shrugged nonchalantly. “Not much. Broke into McIntyre’s construction site, got tackled by his sheriff brother, almost shot, fell into a pond and was almost arrested for trespassing. The usual catastrophe.”
Jason gave a low whistle. “Shelby, we got to run with this! That’s one hell of a story. Look, I hate to ask, but did you cut some kind of deal with the sheriff along the lines of you back off the story in exchange for dropping a trespassing charge?”
“You know I’d never make a deal like that. I’d rather go to jail. Besides, McIntyre doesn’t make deals. He let me off because he escorted me to the pond to check it out. He said it was for my protection to have him there witnessing my investigation—I couldn’t be accused of tampering. We didn’t find anything. I think I had the wrong time. And what I did see wasn’t enough to accuse Ryan of breaking state law.”
“Okay. Well, Trev is going to the council meeting later today. If McIntyre Construction is on the agenda, the tip is enough to make council think twice before approving anything new. I think he should bring it up in question period. The town needs to know how this company does business.”
Shelby plucked at bit of stuffing poking out of a hole in the cushion. She forced herself to sit still to project the appearance of calm. Newspaper people were adept at picking up signs of stress. With what she was about to drop on them, it was a wonder she wasn’t bouncing off the walls.
“We’re going to pass on the council meeting today, Jason. I have some pretty specific information that I need to check into further and I don’t want to tip Ryan off as to the direction of my investigation.”
Three gaping mouths faced her.
“As to the direction of your investigation? Who are you and what have you done with Shelby Porter? The Gazette doesn’t miss council meetings, boss. We’re the only game in town. Has this change of policy got anything to do with Ryan McIntyre’s visit just now? Did he threaten you with a trespassing charge?”
Shelby was appalled at how easy lying was becoming. “He heard Dolly was unwell and stopped by to ask after her. We practically grew up together. I have nothing against Ryan, personally. He’s welcome in my office any time.”
Andrea and Trevor stared at her in silence. They knew she was lying through her teeth. Simultaneously, they turned to their computer screens, as though dismissing her. Jason, however, wasn’t about to give up that easily.
“I feel like I’ve entered the Twilight Zone. This isn’t you talking. You’ve taken town council to task with far less to go on than what you’ve amassed through your source on the Country Barn development. Something’s going on. You’d never give up like this.”
Shelby looked away. Was Jason right? She was beginning to wonder if she was going to these lengths for Dolly’s sake or because she was looking forward to meeting Sawyer McIntyre’s midnight blue eyes over a plate of sandwiches.
Don’t be ridiculous. Jason has her doubting her motives. This was a temporary deal and when the day was over, so was the deal. Besides, the stakes had just got higher. Dolly had confided in Ryan so there was no turning back now. Her aunt would be more than just disappointed; she’d feel like a fool. The higher her happiness, the harder the fall would be if the truth came out.
She met her news editor’s eyes steadily. “It’s one meeting, Jase. I’ll pick up the minutes later this afternoon. If there’s something there, we’ll go after it. Discussion over.”
Shelby got to her feet and returned to her office, painfully aware of the silence in the room behind her. She grabbed her bag and jacket and steeled herself to walk back through the Gazette’s main office to the front door. It was time to pick Dolly up for her hairdressing appointment but Shelby felt like she was staging a jail break. Maybe Sawyer was right, she did spend too much time at the paper.
Jason met her eyes stonily. “Leaving so soon?”
“I have a couple of errands to run. I’ll be back after lunch.”
“When can I expect your editorial?”
Shelby hesitated. “I’ll lay it out myself. Just go with what you’ve got for now and leave me my usual space. I’ll get it to the printers in time for the run.”
She tugged on the door and stepped out into the street before anyone could argue with her. Dolly was waiting.
*
“YOU KNOW the red I mean. That nice bold red like on the sugar maples. Did you see Winnie Wood’s new hair color? Black, if you can believe it. At her age. I don’t know how I kept my countenance. Shelby! You’ve gone past the salon!”
Shelby started awake. “Sorry, Dolly, I wasn’t paying attention.” She swiveled the wheelchair around and pushed her aunt back the few steps to the salon door.
Mandrake Falls was brilliant with fall color against a jewel blue sky. The twenty minute walk to the salon was just what she needed. Dolly had demanded the van, not liking to be seen in the wheelchair but Shelby needed to burn off some guilt after the meeting with her staff. She had come home to find Dolly giddy and eager to talk about Sawyer. Not for the first time was Shelby questioning the logistics of pulling this whole thing off. So much could go wrong and now with Ryan in the mix causing trouble, she had even more to worry about.
She sucked in the sweet autumn air. It was impossible to feel troubled by anything on a glorious day like this. Dolly hadn’t stopped talking since they left the house, greeting everyone they passed on the busy main street sidewalk. The sparkle was back in her eyes and her color was rosier. If having a fake boyfriend could produce this improvement in her aunt’s health, maybe the deceit wasn’t such a terrible thing. It wouldn’t be for long—one lunch and then she’d be home free. And she wasn’t in this alone. Sawyer would know how to handle Dolly. He knew his godmother at least as well as Shelby did.
“Well, are we going in or is Darlene going to have to do my hair out here in the street?”
Shelby dragged her attention back to Dolly. The old lady was pushing herself unsteadily out of the wheelchair. “Wait, will you? I have to lock the wheels. You’re pretty impatient for a ninety-year-old.”
“I’m barely seventy-five, cheeky. Leave the chair on the curb; maybe I’ll get lucky and someone will steal it.”
“In Mandrake Falls? Fat chance.” Shelby snapped the locks in place.
“What’s on your mind, Shelby?” Dolly leaned heavily on Shelby’s arm as she rose from the chair. “You’ve been in a fog ever since you came to pick me up.”
“I’m nervous about lunch this afternoon.”
Her aunt peered up at her through coal black eyes that always reminded Shelby of a robin’s. “Sawyer is my godson. I know that boy inside out. You don’t have to worry I’m not going to like him. I like him fine.”
/> “It’s the ‘knowing him inside out’ that makes me nervous. You’re a little too comfortable with Sawyer to remember your manners. Promise me you won’t grill him like he’s a fifteen-year-old. This is a nice friendly family luncheon, okay? He’s mainly coming to see you, so please don’t bring up our relationship and do that thing you do where you nag a person into saying things they aren’t ready to say.” Shelby exhaled.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. If I ask him a question and he answers, that’s simple respect. Oh, I see. Sawyer hasn’t told you he loves you yet. Well, don’t worry about that. That’s Sawyer all over. He’s like his father that way, keeps his feelings to himself. I’ll worm it out of him. The real question is, are you in love with Sawyer?”
Shelby glanced around to see if anyone had overheard. Dolly’s voice boomed a bit since her hearing started to go. “Well?” Dolly was staring at her querulously.
“This is exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about,” she whispered fiercely. “I don’t want you to worm anything out of anyone. Please. God forbid you ever do one thing I ask. What difference does it make how I feel about him? He’s a boyfriend isn’t he?”
“You said it was serious. Serious in my day meant more than grabbing a cup of coffee before jumping into bed together.”
“Dolly!”
“Don’t look so shocked. I know what time you came in this morning. In my day, serious meant soon-to-be-engaged. I assume the two of you have already had intercourse. It seems to be a prerequisite these days. He didn’t tell you he loved you before you slept with him?”
“Oh my God.” Shelby moaned. “We haven’t ... he’s taking things slow and so am I. We’re both in agreement on that because of Janice and Roger. We want to be sure this time.”
“If you love a person, you love them. I don’t see what speed has to do with it. Is he going to ask you to marry him?”
“For crying out loud!” Shelby flung her hands up in defeat. “Sure, why not? Sawyer McIntyre is going to marry me and we’ll live happily ever after. Happy now?”
“My goodness, Shelby, you know it doesn’t take much to make me happy. The decision is entirely up to you but if you and Sawyer want to marry, you have my blessing, even though I do think you’re rushing things a bit. But if marriage is what you want, I’m very happy for you.”
Shelby ground her teeth and pushed open the door of the Beauty Box. Its clean chemical smell filled her nostrils. The salon was a throwback to the beauty parlors from the 1950’s when women were girls and hair was curled. Shelby steered Dolly inside.
“Over here, girls.” Darlene’s assistant, Paula, waved to them from the sinks at the back of the shop.
“Oh Lord, not Paula,” Dolly grumbled. “She always runs the water too hot.”
“Just tell her. I’m sure she doesn’t do it on purpose.”
“You tell her. You know I hate to complain.”
“I know no such thing. In the seventeen years I’ve lived with you, you’ve never stopped complaining. You complain about the weather, the neighbors, the state of the vegetable garden–”
“I never complain about you though.”
Shelby kissed Dolly on the top of her frizzed head and settled her into the chair as Paula tucked a towel around her neck. “No, you’re the best dolly I ever had.”
Dolly chuckled. “I know I’ve got you on the ropes when you start the sweet talk.”
Paula tipped her head back into the sink and Dolly closed her eyes. Shelby whispered to the girl to take extra care with the temperature of the water and Paula nodded and winked. Shelby moved to the reception area and sprawled comfortably in one of the red leather chairs that ringed the coffee table. Paula’s cheerful chatter drifted over the hiss of the running water and the whine of the hairdryers.
You’re the best dolly I ever had.
When was the last time she’d told Dolly that? Shelby could recall the night she said it for the first time. She was twelve and had been fighting Dolly Porter from the moment Social Services dropped her on the fifty-seven-year-old woman’s doorstep. Every day was a battle, with Shelby doing her worst to break Miss Porter down. Down into what, she didn’t know; all that mattered was winning.
One night, Shelby tried to run away, stealing Dolly’s old Chevrolet. She was brought back by Sawyer’s predecessor, Sheriff Delaney, who had caught her weaving through Mandrake Falls making for the highway. Dolly came into her room after the sheriff had left and found Shelby lying on the bed with her shoes on. Shelby was terrified of Dolly’s silent stare but hid it beautifully, or so she thought, behind defiance.
“Shelby, you aren’t the easiest person to live with,” Dolly said finally, “but I’m attached to you and if you plan on getting yourself killed you’d better take me along because if you go, I go. Is that understood?”
Shelby had burst into tears then, hard wracking sobs that doubled her over. Every ounce of aching loneliness she’d suffered in her twelve years dissolved in that moment. Dolly was at her side in an instant cradling her in her arms that were thin even then. When Shelby was calm enough to speak, she said with her usual smart-ass belligerence, “You ain’t easy to live with neither.”
Dolly kissed the top of her head. “Sounds like we were made for each other. Don’t take this as a reward for stealing the car, but I promised myself if you came back safe and sound, I’d take you into Montpelier and buy you the biggest doll I could find.”
Shelby shook her head and pressed her face deeper against Dolly’s neck, fighting tears. “I don’t need a doll; I’ve got you. You’re the best dolly I ever had.”
After that night she and Dolly were stuck together in a way that went beyond the adoption papers Dolly filed six months later. Shelby snuck a peek at her adopted aunt, toweled and perched in the hairdresser’s chair. She was arguing with Darlene over the wisdom of dying her gray head of hair bright red. Darlene would lose.
A bridal magazine peeked out at Shelby from under a pile of old copies of People. She thumbed through it with furtive curiosity. The sleek beautiful brides smiled back at her, confident, smug—safe. She flung the magazine aside. No one was that safe. The only anchor she’d ever had in her life was in the process of getting her hair dyed to match a sugar maple tree. Dolly had taught her everything about love and acceptance, and in one fragile moment, Shelby had tossed that wisdom out the window. Agreeing to look the other way while Ryan McIntyre hoodwinked the town council demonstrated the depths to which she had sunk. There was a time when Shelby Porter would have run naked through town before making a deal like that. Mandrake Falls trusted her to keep them informed and she was violating that trust for her own interests.
She was no better than Ryan McIntyre.
Chapter Six: Quicksand Ahead
JANICE FERON slid down in the front seat of her car to spy on the Sheriff’s Office. Sawyer had arrived late this morning and then went for breakfast at the diner. It didn’t take him long to slip back into his old habits, she thought. At least he wasn’t meeting a woman. Sheriff McIntyre was ‘back on the market’ according to the Beauty Box’s Facebook page. Janice wasn’t sanguine about his single status. A man with Sawyer’s looks who wanted to settle down wouldn’t remain a bachelor long in this town. It was just a matter of time before he met someone who made him forget his original fiancée. Anywhere else, it would have happened already; fortunately for Janice, there was very little competition in Mandrake Falls.
She had tonight and tomorrow. Was that enough time to win him over? The opportunity was too incredible to pass up! Sawyer would have to see that. His talents were wasted in this town. But she wouldn’t hit him with the whole plan all at once. Reconciliation was the first step.
Sawyer stepped out of the office, adjusting the brim of his hat over his eyes, covering his shining black hair. Janice caught her breath. He still did it to her. October sunlight lay smooth and flat over his black uniform jacket and grey slacks neatly pressed and fitted perfectly. His jacket looked soiled thoug
h which wasn’t like Sawyer at all. A sign of a decline? Janice hoped so. She hoped to find many more signs that Sawyer had been suffering since she left and her coming back was the answer to his prayers. It would be; she knew it. She was a fool to leave in the first place. The smart thing would have been to marry him first and then campaign to relocate to New York. The farm would be their country place and of course they would come back for holidays. She just had to convince him. But with love this time. Because she did love him, even after he’d hurt her by refusing to leave Mandrake Falls, which basically forced her hand if Sawyer was honest about that. In spite of everything he’d done to her, Janice still loved him.
He was moving away now, walking along the sidewalk at a leisurely pace which also wasn’t like Sawyer. Janice frowned. Where was the old energy and efficiency that he agreed was the only way to demonstrate his value to the community and bring him to the attention of the Office of the Attorney General? He really was falling apart. It looked like she’d got here just in time.
*
SHELBY FLIPPED through People magazine, hunched in the voluminous black sweater she was wearing, scowling at an image of Michael Shannon who played Vicki Webber on Tomorrow Never Comes. The actress was locked in some kind of contract dispute with the producers of the show and her character had been thrown into a coma. What a life, Shelby thought. When your biggest problem is whether you’ll make one million dollars or two million. Not exactly an ethical quagmire. Shelby flipped the magazine to the table.
And neither is missing one council meeting. Man-up! This is no time for cold feet.
She’ll be damned if she let Ryan McIntyre ruin everything now. He thought he had her on the ropes. Hah! Proposals moved through town council at a glacial pace—even his. There’d be plenty of time to throw a monkey wrench into whatever he had planned if need be. Seriously, how much trouble could one developer inflict on Mandrake Falls in two hours?
Lie For Me: Autumn (Mandrake Falls Series Romance Book 2) Page 6