3 Buried Leads (18 page)

When I returned to work on Monday, I expected a big lecture from Fish. My bruises were steadily on the mend, but I figured the ego bashing I would get from my increasingly disgruntled boss would be tremendous.

He surprised me when he greeted me with a stiff hug instead.

“I’m glad he didn’t kill you.”

That’s it? “You’re not mad?”

“You didn’t plan it did you?”

“No.”

“Then I’m not mad at you.”

There had to be a catch here. “You do, however, have to do a series of articles chronicling your time with Brian Frank. Enough for an entire week.”

“That’s a lot of articles,” I said carefully.

“You’ll figure it out.”

Great.

My friend Erin watched the exchange with a mixture of worry and relief. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“That makes two of us.”

“Was it scary?”

“It had its moments.”

Now that I was two days removed from the situation, I was a lot braver in hindsight than I had been in the present.

“Still, you’re like a hero now,” she enthused, her dark eyes sparkling.

“I don’t know about that.”

“No, you are,” she said honestly. “Everyone loves you.”

“Duncan?”

“Well,” she amended. “Duncan hates you. Actually, he hates you even more than normal.”

“Why? Because I didn’t die?” That would be so like him.

Erin bit her lower lip. “I think you better ask him.”

“Where is she?” I heard Duncan bellowing from across the room as he entered, leaving a swath of fleeing reporters in his path.

“I assume you mean me?” I fixed my steady gaze on him.

“I can’t believe you,” Duncan ranted. “You did this on purpose. You completely stole my thunder.”

“I stole your thunder?”

“You purposely cut me out of the story because you knew I would overshadow you.”

“If you mean that I purposely got kidnapped so you couldn’t be a part of the takedown, well, you got me. It was all part of my diabolical plan.”

“I knew it,” Duncan raved. “I’m going to human resources – and this time there’s going to be no way they can keep you. You have officially done it this time.”

“You do that,” I challenged. “Do you think they’re going to fire the woman they’ve budgeted an entire week of front page stories from?”

Duncan looked properly chastised – for a minute. “This isn’t over.”

“It’s never over.”

I walked over to my desk, pulling my new cell phone out of my pocket as I went. Eliot had surprised me with it yesterday. His number was pre-programmed into it – and it was number one on speed dial. Even better, I had forgotten to text my mom to tell her I had a new phone.

I hit his number and waited for him to pick up.

“What’s up? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“Just making sure,” he mumbled.

“Can’t I just call to chat?”

“Not that I’ve noticed.”

“Well, I actually am calling for a reason.”

“I knew it,” Eliot blew out a sigh. “What have you done?”

I pushed back the angry retort that had bubbled to the surface. I was turning over a new leaf, after all. “Actually, I called to invite you to Carly and Kyle’s wedding in a few weeks.”

“You called to invite me to a wedding that’s almost a month away?” Eliot seemed surprised.

“I did.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“It’s just not like you.”

“If you don’t want to go, just tell me,” I grumbled irritably.

“I didn’t say that,” Eliot said hurriedly. “I guess I’m just surprised.”

“So, do you want to go?”

“It would be my honor.”

“You might not say that when you see my dress.”

“I guess I’ll just have to picture what’s under the dress,” Eliot said suggestively.

“My Yoda thong?”

Eliot laughed despite himself. “I’ll see you later tonight.”

“Yes, you will,” I agreed.

I disconnected the phone and sat down at my desk to start writing. I had a lot of stories I was expected to produce over the next week. I might as well get a jump on them. The new and improved Avery was taking direct and purposeful action.

I heard a nasal voice waft down the aisle. “She purposely cut me out of the story and you’re not going to do anything about it?”

“Oh, shut the hell up!” I exploded.

So much for turning over a new leaf.

I want to thank everyone
who takes the time to read my novels.

If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone. These are not bright and shiny people
– and they swear a lot.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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