It was interesting that she phrased it that way. “Were you aware of Adam’s sexual proclivities when you started dating?”
“I … what?”
“Did he take you to The Black Hole?” I asked.
“No.”
“Keep in mind that I’m going to go back there and question the wait staff with a photograph of you,” I said. “Lying is only going to tick me off.”
“You don’t have a photograph of me.”
“There was one on the wall in the administration building,” I reminded her. “I took a copy with my cell phone.”
“I … fine. I might’ve gone there a few times with him. I never did anything, though. Adam doesn’t do anything there either. He thinks it’s fun to hang out with different sorts of people.”
That was convenient. “Did he tell you he was hanging out with one of those ‘different sorts’ the night his wife’s body was found?”
“That’s not true,” Amber said. “He went there to get a drink. The woman he was talking to was upset and he wanted a little privacy. They didn’t do anything.”
Amber was either really stupid or really smart. If she was lying, she was good at it. If she wasn’t, she was an imbecile. I couldn’t decide which way I was leaning on that front. “Did you know the homeless man Julia was feeding and Adam was taking to The Black Hole to ply with drinks?”
“I have no idea who you’re talking about,” Amber said, folding her arms over her chest. “I think I’m done talking to you. I don’t appreciate your attitude.”
That was fine. I had everything I needed … well, except for one thing. “I do have one more question,” I said.
“One more. That’s it.”
“Knowing everything you know now, including the way Julia Grisham was murdered, do you still think you’re going to have a future with Adam?” I asked.
“You can’t help who you fall in love with, Ms. Shaw. Now get out of my house.”
Twenty-Five
“Get up!”
I poked Eliot in the chest to get him to roll off of me the next morning. We were up late the night before, cutting it close enough to deadline to make Fish swear a blue streak. After eating in the newsroom – and listening to Eliot bitterly complain about every morsel – we returned to my house to celebrate.
We celebrated a lot.
“Go back to sleep,” Eliot groaned, burying his face in the crook of my neck. “We worked for fifteen hours yesterday. It wasn’t even my job. I want some sleep.”
“I understand your frustration,” I said. “I’m willing to take a really long nap with you in a little bit. I need to see today’s edition, though.”
“You saw what it was going to look like when they pressed the button with one minute to go before midnight,” Eliot reminded me. “You don’t need to see it again.”
“I want to see if the morning news shows are talking about it,” I admitted.
Eliot sighed dramatically, rolling to his back and lifting his arm over his head. “If someone comes to arrest you today I’m going to let them take you without a fight.”
“Duly noted.”
“I’m not kidding.”
“I … get up!” I couldn’t take much more of this. I was dying to see how far Tad’s interview with Roger Woodbury was buried.
“I hate you sometimes,” Eliot grumbled.
“WELL?”
Eliot handed me a mug of coffee twenty minutes later and then settled next to me on the couch with his own mug.
“They led with my story again,” I crowed.
“I can see you’re blasé about that development,” Eliot said. “Where was Tad’s story?”
“We’re five stories in and they took a commercial break,” I replied. “His story hasn’t been on yet.”
“How long do you think it will be?”
“Maybe they won’t run it. That would kill him.”
“We can hope,” Eliot said, sipping his coffee. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to go out for a big breakfast now that you’re happy, can I?”
“Are you hungry again? All you talk about is food.”
“Hey! I had to eat greasy bar food last night because you were working and there are no decent restaurants near the newspaper office,” Eliot said. “You’re buying me breakfast.”
“I’ll be happy to buy you breakfast,” I said, leaning forward so I could kiss his cheek. “As soon as I double check to make sure everything printed okay with my story.”
Eliot made an exasperated sound in the back of his throat. “You’re killing me.”
“We’re going for a big breakfast as soon as I’m done,” I said. “Then we’re going to come home and celebrate some more before we take a long nap. Then I’m going to watch whatever crummy game you plan to watch. We can spend the whole day doing … nothing.”
“We usually separate for a few hours on Sundays,” Eliot reminded me. “I don’t want to risk a fight.”
“I’m in too good of a mood to fight,” I said. “If you need time away from me I understand, though. I’ll nap without you.”
“Like I’m going to pass up a day doing what I want,” Eliot grumbled. “Go get your paper. If we hurry we can beat the church crowd to the restaurant and it won’t be too busy.”
“Yes, sir.” I mock saluted as I stood. “I think this is going to be a really good day.”
“I think you’re right,” Eliot said, his face softening. “I also think you’re going to be my slave for the next twelve hours since I was yours all day yesterday.”
“If you even think about cuffing or gagging me I’m going to call foul,” I warned.
“I have no interest in cuffing you.”
“What about gagging me?” I asked.
“The day is young. We’ll see where it takes us.”
I decided to let the comment go and moved toward the front door. The newspaper was on the far edge of the porch. I glanced down at my outfit, internally sighing at the fuzzy pajama pants and tank top, and then gave in to my immediate needs. It’s not as though the neighbors don’t know I dress like a moron sometimes. I was halfway to the newspaper when I felt a presence move up next to me.
“I’m going to kill you!”
Furious hands hit my shoulders, toppling me into the wooden swing on my front porch, causing it to fly back and hit the house as I fought to keep my footing. I forced my gaze up to my assailant, sucking in a deep breath when I caught sight of Tad’s outraged face. Uh-oh!.
“I can’t believe you did this again,” Tad howled, his hands shooting out in the direction of my arm. I jerked away, opening my mouth to scream for Eliot, but there was no need.
Eliot stomped onto the front porch, his feet bare despite the accumulated ice, and his hands were around Tad’s throat before the man could even register his surprise.
“Don’t kill him,” I gasped, as I regained my footing. “If you kill him Jake will put you in jail. You’re never going to get your breakfast then.”
Eliot lessened his grip, and instead of throttling Tad he grabbed the front of his jacket and heaved him off of the porch.
Tad hit the sidewalk hard. “Ow!”
“Shut up,” Eliot seethed. He swiveled toward me, his hand grabbing my arm as he looked me over. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m going to sue you!” Tad was beside himself.
“I’m going to kill you,” Eliot countered. “If you ever touch her again I’m going to rip your head off of your shoulders and use it as a football!”
The sound of a vehicle door slamming caught everyone’s attention, and when I shifted my gaze to the road in front of my house I found Jake surveying the scene. “It looks like I missed the fun,” he said.
“You’re just in time,” Eliot said.
“I want him arrested,” Tad said, pointing at Eliot disdainfully. “He physically threw me off that porch.”
Jake trudged in our direction, his face an unreadable mask. “Why were you on Ms. Shaw’s porch?”
&
nbsp; “I wanted to talk to her,” Tad said. “That’s not against the law.”
“He pushed her,” Eliot argued. “He said he was going to kill her.”
“You just threatened to kill me,” Tad spat.
“After you put your hands on her!”
“Everyone shut up,” Jake ordered.
Eliot’s chest heaved, but he snapped his mouth shut.
“Avery, what happened?” Jake asked.
“I came out to get the paper and he pushed me,” I replied. “I didn’t even see him until he was already on top of me.”
“She’s lying,” Tad said. “I wanted to talk to her about the story she ran in The Monitor today. Instead of acting like a gracious hostess, though, her … thug … grabbed me around the neck and threw me off the porch. I want to press charges.”
“You’re going to press charges against Eliot for protecting his girlfriend?” Jake asked, nonplussed. “How do you think that’s going to go over in the media when Avery tells everyone why Eliot threw you off the porch?”
“It’s my word against hers,” Tad argued.
“It’s your word against both of theirs,” Jake said. “Also, you seem to forget that I was here.”
“You didn’t see anything,” Tad protested.
“You don’t know that,” Jake shot back. “I was here for the whole altercation. I’m considering arresting you on assault charges.” Jake shifted his eyes to me. “Do you want to press charges?”
“Don’t ask her that!”
It was an interesting question. I was always looking for ways to knock Tad down a peg or two and prison rape seemed like it could be a good one. Still, I wanted to see him crying in his Cheerios. Jail didn’t have the same appeal. “I want him off my property,” I said. “If he leaves now I won’t press charges.”
“She’s trying to protect her boyfriend,” Tad said. “She knows he was going to kill me.”
“Either leave or I’m going to arrest you,” Jake warned.
“I … .” Tad was conflicted. “I’m going to leave. This isn’t over, though.”
“You’re right,” I said. “Now that I’m ahead on the Grisham story I’m going to have more time to focus on TOOL. My FOIA requests should be coming through this week. I can’t wait to get my hands on those documents.”
“Don’t you even think about coming after my organization,” Tad warned.
“I’ve already thought about it,” I replied. “I’ve decided it’s a good idea.”
Tad mustered what huffy pride he had left and stalked to his Ford Expedition parked on the street. Once Tad was gone, Jake turned his worried eyes to Eliot. “Are you going to have another fit?”
“No.”
“Can we go inside?” Jake asked. “I have a few things I want to talk to you guys about.”
Eliot glanced at me. “It’s up to you, Trouble.”
“Come on,” I said. “I have a few things I want to talk to you about, too.”
Jake sat in the armchair in the corner of the living room while Eliot wordlessly brought a mug of coffee for him. Once everyone was settled, Jake got right to the point.
“I saw your story this morning,” he said. “I … there are no words. How did you piece all of that together?”
Since I wasn’t protecting anyone but Cherish – and I had no intention of supplying Jake with her name – I told him the story. When I was done, he was flabbergasted. “You did all that in a day?”
“I helped,” Eliot muttered.
“Eliot helped,” I said, patting his leg. I was worried another bout of temper was in my future.
“For the sake of full disclosure we knew about Grisham’s affairs,” Jake said. “I had no idea one of them was serious. I owe you for ferreting that out.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” I said honestly. “I did it to ruin Tad’s morning.”
“How?” Jake furrowed his brow.
“Roger Woodbury told me he was interviewing Tad yesterday,” I said. “Tad purposely scheduled it so he would have the run of the Sunday morning shows. I didn’t want him to get his way so I … ruined his plans.”
Jake snorted. “You do have a way about you.”
“It’s annoying,” Eliot said, running his hand through his morning-tousled hair.
“I saw most of what happened on the porch,” Jake said. “You did the right thing. Tad doesn’t have a case against you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m worried about Tad showing up here when I’m not around to put him in his place,” Eliot countered. “What would’ve happened if I hadn’t heard Avery fly into that swing?”
“Are you worried Ludington is going to seriously hurt Avery?” Jake asked.
“I’m worried that he’s already deranged and she’s got it in her head to see how far she can push him,” Eliot said. “That is not normal behavior for a man – let alone one who used to be a politician.”
“I don’t disagree with you,” Jake said. “Avery should’ve pressed charges.”
“Eliot would have been at risk if I did,” I said. “I won’t put him at risk.”
“I acted in your defense,” Eliot said. “I wouldn’t have gotten in trouble.”
“You can still press charges,” Jake offered.
“I’d rather wait and take Tad down with my documents,” I said.
“I knew you were going to say that,” Jake muttered. “That brings me to my second reason for being here.”
“You want to know the homeless guy’s name, don’t you?”
“I need to know it,” Jake said. “We’re at a standstill and you’re the one who can help us. I hate that you’re in the middle of this but there’s nothing I can do about it. Please help me.”
I knew how hard it was for him to utter those words. “If I tell you the guy’s name, will you leave it at that? Will you forget about the person who identified him for me?”
“I won’t go after Lexie.”
I sighed. It was time. “His name is Leo Putnam.”
“Are you sure he’s not responsible for Julia Grisham’s murder?” Jake asked.
Was I? “I’m sure he doesn’t seem capable of murder,” I replied. “I … I don’t know him well enough to vouch for him. I think someone could’ve convinced him to do something wrong if they wanted to. He seems … malleable.”
“Thank you for telling me,” Jake said, getting to his feet. “I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I … it was the right thing to do.”
“Plus it screws Tad over again in the process,” Eliot added. “Now, when you have another news conference tomorrow, you’re going to be able to unveil the name and Tad is going to have nothing again when he tries to get the media to focus on him.”
“There’s that, too.” I brightened considerably. “You always know how to make me feel better.”
“I need to get to the office,” Jake said. “If you change your mind about Ludington … .”
“I won’t.”
“Talk to her,” Jake said, his gaze bouncing to Eliot. “She might listen to you.”
Eliot snorted. “It hasn’t happened yet.”
“I think it has,” Jake said. “You just don’t realize it.”
Twenty-Six
“Who do you have out at Adam Grisham’s house?”
Fish glanced up from his computer monitor Monday morning and shot me an “it’s too early to deal with you” look. “How do you know we have anyone camped out at Grisham’s house?”
“Because I’m not stupid,” I said.
“No. You’re definitely not stupid,” Fish agreed. “You are loud and spoiled, but not stupid. You’re mean and nasty, but not stupid. You often do irritating things simply because you can. You’re not stupid, though.”
“Why are you so crabby this morning?”
“I’ve been fielding calls left and right,” Fish admitted. “Most people think standing up for your source was great and they applaud you for it. There are a few who think
you’re impeding the police, though.”
“What do you think?”
“I think it would be easier for all of us if you would tell Farrell who this homeless guy is,” Fish said. “If you did it quietly no one would know that it was you and it would get us off the hot seat.”
“I told him yesterday.”
“You did?” Fish’s eyebrows nearly shot off his forehead. “That doesn’t sound like you. I would’ve guessed you’d take that secret to your grave just to beat Ludington.”
“He’s the reason I told Jake,” I said. I recounted my Sunday morning escapades for Fish and he was dumbfounded when I was done.
“I can’t believe Ludington is unraveling this fast,” Fish mused. “You haven’t even gotten the documents yet. When you get a chance to give all of your attention to TOOL Tad is going to implode.”
“I don’t know how, but I think he somehow was under the misguided impression that he was going to get away with this without me going after him,” I admitted. “I don’t know why he would think that, but I can’t come up with another rational reason for him to do these idiotic things.”
“Why didn’t you press charges?”
“That’s not the way I want to beat him,” I replied. “I want to beat him on a level playing field. Eliot and Jake stacked the deck for me yesterday. I want to be the one to take him down.”
“You have a vindictive streak a mile wide,” Fish said.
“So don’t ever piss me off.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Fish said dryly as he turned back to his computer monitor.
“You didn’t tell me who you have camped out at Grisham’s house,” I reminded him.
“Oh, that,” Fish said, rolling his eyes. “We both know that Grisham isn’t going to talk to anyone … least of all us. We still have to do due diligence and put someone out there. I didn’t want to waste a good reporter, and this was an opportunity to get an annoying individual out of the office, so … .”
“You sent Duncan,” I finished.
Fish nodded. “I sent Duncan.”
“You could’ve just told me without throwing all the theatrics in.”
“I took a page from your book,” Fish said. “Duncan thinks I sent him because I trust him with the biggest story we may ever get. Those were his words, mind you. He doesn’t understand that Grisham is never going to talk.”
Headlines & Deadlines (An Avery Shaw Mystery Book 7) Page 20