by Rhonda Bowen
“I was still trying to figure out what we should do,” Toni stammered.
“That’s my job,” Naomi said. “I’m the editor. I control how things work out on the paper. Your job is to give me complete up-to-date information as soon as it is available.”
“I know.” Toni dropped her head into her hands.
“This was a stupid, reckless rookie reporter mistake, Toni.” The disappointment in Naomi’s voice cut Toni to her core. “I’d never expect this kind of thing from you.”
That made two of them. Toni raised her eyes and took her thrashing like a woman.
“Do you realize the kind of repercussions this could have? Not only for the paper, but for Jacob’s House and for that kid Jerome? Not to mention both of our careers.”
Toni knew. She had spent the entire flight back to Atlanta and the drive from the airport thinking about all of that. And every time she did, she felt her heart beat faster. One negligent act on her part could affect the lives of so many people. She should have been more diligent about her research. How could she have been so careless?
“I’m so sorry.” Toni hoped her sincerity was obvious. “I really am. You can tell Gordon that this was my idea, my story, my error. Whatever happens, I’ll take it. I deserve it anyway.”
“We don’t have time to think about that now.” Naomi took off her jacket and sat down. “We have to fix this.”
“So you’re pulling the rest of the stories?” Toni asked hopefully.
“No,” Naomi said. “That’s not an option. We’ve already said that this is a weeklong series so we have to keep it that way. Plus, if we pull the plug as is, that would just send even more attention to the situation. Our only chance is to rewrite the stories, make the slant more neutral, and take Adam Bayne out of them.”
“That might work for tomorrow’s piece, but Wednesday’s is based on the interview I did with him,” Toni said. “That would mean writing a whole new piece.”
Naomi barely glanced at Toni as she powered up her computer with one hand and picked up the phone with the other.
“Then you’d better get your laptop and start typing ’cause I need to see that new piece before any of us walks out of here tonight.”
She shook her head as she dialed. “Now I gotta call Larry and tell him we have to make changes to tomorrow’s edition. You know he hates the last minute shenanigans.”
That was her cue to leave. Toni headed to her own desk and got comfortable. It was going to be a long night. But it would be worth it, if it helped allay even a little of the damage that was likely to come from her very foolish mistake.
Chapter 25
“Toni, there are camera crews here at Jacob’s House.
They’re interviewing the staff and trying to talk to some of the boys. What’s going on?”
Her worst nightmare, that’s what.
Toni slid lower in her chair and rubbed her temples in an attempt to ease her three-day headache. “It’s Jerome’s story,” Toni said. “Looks like a lot of people are interested.”
“You got that right,” Jasmine said. “And I don’t know whether I should kiss you or strangle you.”
Right then, Toni preferred the latter.
“Look, just remember not to tell anyone that I was the one there working on the story, okay?” Toni said.
“Yeah, yeah ... Excuse me, you can’t be in here!” Jasmine said. “It’s getting crazy. I have to go. Let me call you back later.”
Toni sighed and closed her eyes. Despite her hopes, and even a few stilted prayers, the story hadn’t died. In fact, it was more like a snowball rolling down a mountain. It kept gaining more momentum and getting bigger and bigger with each turn. Toni wished it would all go away.
The only good thing about it was that she spent so much time worrying about the stories that she spent only half her time worrying about Adam. She had been getting information on his status thirdhand from Trey, who was getting his information from Adam’s brother. There was still no word on what would happen and how long Adam might be sitting in jail.
Toni was still new to the prayer thing but she had found herself sending words upward more often than not. She closed her eyes again and sent up another silent petition.
God, I hope you’re hearing me. Please take care of Adam and get him out soon. And if You could kill this story and help Jerome while you’re at it, I would really appreciate it.
“Hey, everyone, we’re on the midday news again.” Suddenly the volume on their small office TV went to its maximum, and everyone was sliding their chairs over to the coffee corner where it sat.
“... Citizens continue to weigh in on the case of Jerome Douglas, the seventeen-year-old young man who is being prosecuted a second time by the state and essentially forced to serve a double sentence for acts he allegedly committed almost two years ago.”
Anchor Tasha Carr was standing at a busy corner in downtown Atlanta doing the day’s report. Almost every day that week since the story broke she had been covering it for Fox 5, Atlanta’s local news.
“However, mayoral candidate Jim Wilson still holds his position that Jacob’s House should not have been considered as a valid sentencing option for Douglas. In a statement made just a few hours ago, he explains why.”
The scene on-screen changed to one of Jim Wilson in front of the city hall building. Toni felt her stomach tighten.
“You know, I think we all should take the time to look at the kind of institutions we are using as rehabilitation options for offenders of the law and the staff we have working at these institutions,” Wilson began. His usual arrogance was like nails on chalkboard for Toni’s nerves.
“Take this Jacob’s House Center, for example. The director of the center, a Mr. Adam Bayne, was recently arrested in the state of Maryland and is now sitting in a Baltimore jail because of felony charges laid against him several years ago. Why hasn’t the Journal-Constitution told us that? This man was essentially a fugitive from the law, but we have him running a center that was supposed to rehabilitate young men in trouble with the law. What kind of rehabilitation could these young men possibly be getting under those conditions? Is it any wonder we have to examine each case again?”
A pin could drop and Toni would hear it. Everyone turned to look at Naomi, who stood off to the side with a cup of coffee in her hand, and Gordon, who stood at his office door. The two looked at each other before they both headed into Naomi’s office. The door closed and immediately the decibel level went up.
Toni closed her eyes as her head began to throb.
“You think Naomi knew about this before she ran that story?” Tammy, a features writer, stopped by Toni’s desk to gossip.
Toni shrugged. “How would I know?”
“She must have known,” Michael, a newbie reporter, added from across the aisle. “Naomi never lets a story run without checking all the facts.”
“Yeah, but she can’t always know everything.” Toni couldn’t help the defensive edge that crept into her voice. “She’s only human.”
“And then there’s this Ann Armour person.” Tammy chewed her lip thoughtfully. “I wonder who she is. I haven’t seen anyone new here in a while. I bet it’s Naomi.”
“Actually, I would have guessed you, Toni. Feels like your voice.” Michael chuckled. “Only Gordon has you so busy chasing puff pieces that I don’t know when you would have found time.”
Toni glared at Michael from across the aisle. What was with this little snot-nosed kid anyway? He looked like he was barely out of high school. Because they were both in general assignment he thought they were on par now? Toni had probably been writing stories when he was just learning about complete sentences.
“Nah, Toni would never miss something as important as a criminal record.” Tammy’s confidence was like a punch to the gut. “She’s much too thorough for that.”
Tammy’s words, though meant as a compliment, made Toni feel like melting into the carpet. She desperately wished they would go away.
As if on cue, Naomi’s office door opened, and Gordon stepped out. His presence sucked the sound out of the room.
“Okay, listen up, everyone,” Gordon said. “We took a hit today, but we’re not going down. However, we are making some changes. As of today, until further notice, all content comes to me first. I will approve all story ideas before you proceed with them.” He let his eyes sweep the room to make sure his point was emphasized. “And that goes for everybody.”
Heads bobbed understanding. When Gordon was satisfied, he said, “That’s all. Back to work.”
Tammy disappeared without further comment, and Michael turned back to his desk.
Toni watched as Gordon returned to his office and closed the door. He had essentially assumed the editor in chief role and everyone knew it. He had taken Naomi’s job.
Moments later Naomi’s office door opened and she walked out with her purse and laptop and headed to the elevator. She must have known that all eyes were on her, but she didn’t talk to or look at anyone. As soon as the elevator doors slid closed behind her, the buzz went up again. Everyone had the same words on their lips.
Had Naomi been fired?
Chapter 26
“Bayne. You got a visitor.”
The hopelessness that hung in the air like a mist seemed to cling to Adam as he followed the guard out of his cell and down the hallway. Each day of the past two weeks had made the halls a little more familiar to him, the sights and smells a little more tolerable, the orange jumpsuit more normal. It was almost as if he was acclimating. And maybe he should. Maybe he shouldn’t be making his brother waste his two-hundred-dollar-an-hour time on his case. He may have never fired a shot that killed someone, but he had been responsible in other ways.
Another guard passed him on his right, shoving him hard with his shoulder. Adam winced and gritted his teeth against the pain that shot through his shoulder and arm. The prison nurse had done her best, and the swelling in his left eye had gone down somewhat, but the deep two-day-old gash in his right shoulder was still extremely painful. Both injuries had been gifts from Gully, one of many old colleagues from his gang days who had made him feel welcomed since his arrival.
The guard led Adam through three sets of security doors, down some stairs, and through another set of doors before he saw her. As soon as her eyes met his, she started crying. Adam sighed. This is why he didn’t want her coming here. She was strong but she couldn’t take this, and he couldn’t take seeing her like this. She had been through enough already. But he had known she would come as soon as they started letting him have visitors.
“You’ve got fifteen minutes,” the guard said.
Adam heard the door to the tiny space close behind him and the guard take up position inside the door. And then he had no choice but to face his mother, for the first time in almost ten years.
He slumped into the only chair in the room. She watched him for a long moment through the glass before she motioned for him to pick up the receiver.
“What did they do to you?” She motioned to his eye. The strength of her voice was inconsistent with the tears on her face.
“It was nothing,” Adam said. “I’m fine, Mom.”
“Adam Quentin Bayne, I don’t see you for almost a decade and the first sentence out of your mouth to me is a lie?” She frowned. “Boy, you lucky I can’t reach across this glass to you.”
Adam knew she was serious but he couldn’t help but chuckle. He had missed her threats. They had been worth a lot more when he was younger, but even when he and his brothers had become grown men towering over her, she used to throw them around. And every now and then, for good measure, she would act on one.
“Mom, I don’t want you to worry.” Adam’s smile dried up quick when he saw that his mother was not equally amused. “I’m okay.”
She sighed as her eyes inspected him. “Jonah told me that you talked to the detective for your case. That you confessed to a whole bunch of other things that they didn’t accuse you of.”
She shook her head and Adam looked away.
“Q, baby, why are you doing this?” She searched his eyes for an answer. “I know you’ve changed. Jonah’s told me you’re not the same person you used to be, and I could hear it in your voice the few times we’ve spoken. You know you don’t gotta prove nothing to nobody. Why you putting yourself through this?”
“Because, Mom, you always taught us to face up to our wrongs, and I have to do that.”
“But, baby, don’t you know that God has already forgiven you? He’s thrown your sin to the bottom of the sea, never to be remembered. Why can’t you forgive you?”
“I know God’s forgiven me.” Adam let out a tired breath. “But my heart was telling me I needed to do this. I have missed too much time with you and Esther, and Jonah and the kids. It’s hard being afraid to come home for Christmas, or holidays. I just need to deal with this and be over with it. I don’t want to feel like I have this weight on me all the time.”
“Q, serving time ain’t gonna lessen that weight for you.” She shook her head. “You’ve got to forgive yourself and let it go. Stop punishing yourself for what happened to Noah.”
Adam looked down at the desk. He knew in his mind that everything his mother had said was right, but somehow he couldn’t convince his heart.
“I just need to do this and then everything will be right.” The words came out barely audible. He didn’t need to look up at his mother to know she was shaking her head.
“Q, you been stubborn since the day you were born,” she said. “So I know that nothing I can say is gonna change your mind when you’re set on a certain path. But just promise me that you’ll use the time you’re sitting in here to talk to God about this. Really talk to Him. Let Him heal you of this pain you’re carrying around. ’Cause if you don’t you’ll walk away from this place just as miserable as when you came in.” His mother pressed a palm against the glass. “Promise me.”
Adam rubbed his hand over his face and braved a look at his mother. She stared at him expectantly.
“Q ...”
He sighed. “I promise, Mom.”
She nodded in approval. He closed his eyes and prayed that he would be able to keep his word.
Chapter 27
Toni paced the dirty concrete, wringing her hands as she waited for them to clear him through.
It had been three weeks, three days, and seventeen hours since she last saw him. Since then she had almost lost her job from her story gone bad, almost lost her boss’s job from her story gone bad, almost lost her mind as she watched the story go on and on, and lost almost three pounds worrying about Adam.
Thankfully she still had her job and Naomi was still editor in chief at the AJC. The Jacob’s House/Adam story had died a week and a half after it broke when the attempted suicide of a state senator’s wife took front page, and Toni had started eating again when Trey called and told her Adam was being released.
Adam had finally made it before a judge who, upon examining his current circumstances, his tour with the army and his clean record over the past ten years, had determined that he was no longer a risk to society. After three weeks of thinking that he would be behind bars for the rest of his life, Toni was more than a little relieved to hear he was getting out. She had almost cried when Trey told her the news.
She stopped moving when the gate began to slide open. She watched as all the barriers between them were removed until he was standing just a few feet away from her.
“Hey,” he said, his voice husky with the weariness she saw in his eyes. “You didn’t have to—”
Before he could even finish the sentence, she closed the space between them and threw her arms around his neck.
He smelled like cheap soap, the stubble on his cheek scratched her face, and his swollen left eye and stiff right arm were throwing her for a loop. But she didn’t care. She didn’t even care that she had started sniffling like a twelve-year-old. All she cared about was that he was out, fre
e.
“It’s okay.” His words fell like warmth into her hair. “I promise. I’m fine.”
She pulled away and looked at him, and the crooked smile playing on his lips as his eyes drank in hers.
Then she whacked him hard with her purse.
“Oww!”
“Don’t ever do that to us again,” she scolded. “Do you know how worried the boys and Jasmine and Trey were these past weeks?”
“But I—”
“I didn’t say you could talk.” With her hands on her hips, she glared at him. “What kind of stupid reckless thing is this? I know you’re all about honesty and whatever, but there are limits, Adam Bayne. And confessing to crimes you did umpteen years ago that nobody even cares about—What are you smiling at?”
The mischievous grin that played on his lips didn’t even waver as she glared at him.
“You missed me, didn’t you?”
Her mouth fell open. “I did not!”
“Admit it, you were thinking about me every day,” he teased. “I bet you even like me.”
Toni spun on her heel and walked toward the exit. “In your dreams, Adam Bayne.” She could hear him chuckle behind her as he followed.
“Not my dreams, but maybe yours.”
She stopped suddenly, whacked him again with her purse, and then kept going.
“Oww! What do you have in that thing? Lead?”
Toni didn’t pause to wait for Adam as she walked through the main doors toward the parking lot where Trey was waiting by the car. When he finally caught up to them she was already in the backseat.
“Good to see you, man.” Trey embraced his friend. “You had us all worried there for a while.” Trey glanced back at Toni. “Some of us more than others.”
“So I see.” Adam’s smile was all teeth and confidence.
Toni ignored them both.
“So we ready to bounce or what?” Trey shifted his weight from one foot to the other, then back again, all the time jingling the car keys in his pocket.