4 Shot Off The Presses (18 page)

I didn’t sleep well that night. There were no comforting dreams of Captain Kirk and Thor having a flex-off in my subconscious. There weren’t even any uncomfortable nightmares about Jake and Eliot squaring off for my honor. Instead, I woke up every twenty minutes and when I finally climbed out of bed the next morning I was more tired than I had been when I had first slid underneath the covers.

After showering, I decided that I had to talk to Eliot – whether he was ready to listen or not. I left Lexie slumbering on the couch and headed downtown with a purpose. When I got to Mount Clemens, though, the courage that I had been feeling all morning suddenly fled. Instead of storming into Eliot’s store and demanding that he listen to me I opted to trudge into the neighboring coffee shop and build up some caffeine courage first.

When I caught sight of a familiar figure sitting at a window seat perusing a newspaper, though, my morning took a sudden swerve and my rage had a new – or old, depending on your point of view -- target.

“Tad Ludington.”

Tad lifted his face in surprise and then plastered a forced smile on it when he realized a few people had turned in our direction when I had said his name. “Ms. Shaw, so good to see you.”

Oh, he wanted to play it that way, did he?

“I bet,” I replied coldly. I made sure to maintain an even tone while still projecting my voice loud enough for everyone in the small café to hear.

Tad ran his fingers through his greasy black hair which – I swear – was receding at a fantastic rate. It wouldn’t be long before he would have to either go totally bald or start pulling a Donald Trump to cover up the bald spot. Tad sipped from his coffee and fixed me with an overtly friendly smile. It was one of those smiles that screamed oily politician and not genuine person. “Is something bothering you, Ms. Shaw?”

Two could play this game.

“Oh, no, Commissioner Ludington,” I lied smoothly. “I’m just so happy to see you. It’s like a happy coincidence. I was going to call you when I got to the office and set up a time for us to have an interview. I’ve got a lot of questions for you. This saves us both the trouble, doesn’t it?”

Tad looked suddenly uncomfortable with my fake bravado. “I’m really only here for a quick cup of coffee and then I have to be at the county building for a meeting.”

“What time is your meeting?”

“What?” Tad looked confused.

“What time is your meeting?” I repeated the question. Even though there were only six other people in the room I happened to recognize at least half of them. Two of them were gossipy court clerks from the county courthouse – and I knew Tad recognized them, too. He knew, just as well as I did, that our conversation would be broadcast throughout the entire political landscape within the hour. Unlike him, though, I was getting a little charge out of the situation.

“So, are you saying you don’t want to talk to me about the fact that you spearheaded a move to give the sheriff’s department a public relations liaison, even though Macomb County is facing a severe financial shortfall this quarter?”

I figured I might as well go straight for his jugular. He was the reason I hadn’t slept – in a roundabout away – after all.

“The sheriff’s department is a source of tremendous revenue in this county,” Tad replied haughtily. “Are you saying the sheriff doesn’t deserve a little help? He is a public figure that toils for this county, after all.”

“Marvin Potts filed a FOI request for Ms. Brady’s financial information,” I ignored his secretarial pandering. “She’s getting far more than any other public relations figure in the county.”

Marvin had sent me an email with the financial information I had been looking for some time during the night. I was ready to push Tad on the subject of Christine’s pay – and I was actually looking forward to it. I had been planning on phone stalking Tad all afternoon regarding the situation of Christine’s salary. This made things easier.

“I believe, if you look at similar positions in other counties, you will see that Ms. Brady’s pay is on par with them.”

“
Wrongo, pongo,” I shot back.

“What?” Tad furrowed his brows.

“Oh, I mean, you’re a filthy liar.”

Tad leaned back in his chair and fixed me with a hard glare. “Are you calling me a liar?”

“That’s what I just said,” I retorted irritably.

“I don’t have to listen to this,” Tad made a big show of getting out of his chair.

“Sit down,” I ordered.

Tad openly glared at me. “Last time I checked, Ms. Shaw, you’re not the boss of me.”

“Well, news flash, I may not be the boss of you but you’re about to be my bitch.” Lack of sleep makes me speak before I think. Okay, genetics makes me do that, but lack of sleep makes me irritable so I’m mean when I stick my foot in my mouth on short sleep days.

Despite himself, Tad looked a little nervous. “Ms. Shaw, if you would like to make an appointment . . .”

“I don’t,” I shook my head. “I want to know why Christine Brady, a woman with no background in public relations, got hired to be the public relations liaison for the Macomb County Sheriff – even though he didn’t request a public relations liaison – and why she’s making more than $70,000 a year.”

Tad blinked several times and fought to make sure that his breathing remained equal. “Like I said
, if you check with the other counties . . .”

“Michael Stevens, the Wayne County spokesman, makes $40,000 a year,” I interrupted Tad’s spiel. “Janet Chandler, the Oakland County spokesperson, makes $50,000 a year. They both went to school for public relations and had positions at various media outlets throughout the region over the last twenty years.”

Tad met my gaze evenly. The gloves were off. “Just what are you trying to say?”

“Christine Brady went to school to be a teacher,” I ignored him, but my icy blue eyes never left his rapidly reddening face. “She went to school for two years and then dropped out. Between 2007 and now I can’t find where she’s held any job. I’m not done looking, don’t you worry about that. I have to wonder, though, since she never graduated from any state school and she doesn’t appear to have any public relations experience, how is she tied to you?”

“What makes you think she’s tied to me?” Tad was taken aback.

“You’re the one that hired her,” I countered.

“A hiring the board of the commission all voted and agreed on,” Tad argued.

“Yes, but you’re the one that submitted her name and pushed for her,” I replied.

Tad narrowed his dark eyes in my direction. “Who told you that? The minutes of those workshops are supposed to be private.”

I smiled triumphantly. “You just told me you jackass,” I shot back. “I know you’re up to something and I’m going to find out exactly what it is.” I took a few steps closer to Tad and lowered my voice so only he could hear me. “And, when I do find out what you’re up to, I’m going to bury you so far that you’ll never be able to crawl out.”

Rage colored Tad’s face. “Are you threatening me?”

“No, I’m making a promise.” I straightened back up and took a step back.

Tad was trying to maintain at least the façade of control, but I knew he was struggling not to jump up from the table and throttle me right there. “Christine Brady is a professional and she’s a tremendous benefit to the sheriff’s department.”

“Christine Brady is a spy that you’ve unleashed on Jake because you’re jealous and you can’t stop yourself from being a tool,” I countered. “You want to somehow exert some control over Jake. I’m guessing you’re going to try and make cuts at the sheriff’s department. And then, when the county executive comes on board and you guys lose half of your board seats, you’re going to run on a platform of cleaning up the graft in the sheriff’s department. All thanks to your $70,000 spy.”

Tad looked shaken by my bold pronouncement. I didn’t have to look behind me to know that the courthouse secretaries were busily texting the gist of our conversation to other people in the courthouse. If I was lucky, the news would beat Tad back to his office.

“That is ridiculous,” Tad sputtered. “I want Macomb County to be the best county it can be.”

“Cut the shit,” I replied. “You’re looking for any angle so you can to hold on to your seat. I’m not an idiot, so do me the respect of not treating me like one.”

“You’re just mad that you’re not the sheriff’s department favorite now,” Tad countered. “You’re used to Jake and your cousin, Derrick, giving you exclusives and making your job easier.”

“Tad, I have no problem doing the work when I want the information,” I laughed. “You wouldn’t believe where I’m focusing my attention right now. I think it’s going to make you downright . . . uncomfortable. I don’t need anyone to help me do my job. You’re just a petty little troll that wants to pretend you have some control over others in this county – including Jake. You don’t have control over anything. You don’t have influence over anything. You’re a county commissioner, for crying out loud,” I plowed on. “You’re not even one of the popular county commissioners.”

“You think I don’t have any power?” Tad was on his feet. He had forgotten that we were performing for an audience – or maybe he was just beyond caring. “I have more power than you will ever have, little girl.”

Tad was so angry that spittle was actually pooling in the corner of his mouth. I didn’t give any ground, though. I wanted him to fly off the handle. I wanted him to go too far.

“You sit there in your little cubicle at The Monitor and you think you’ve got me running scared,” Tad continued. “I don’t run scared. I’m not just going to be reelected to the commission; I’m going to be the head of it. I’m going to be the most powerful man in the county.”

“Wouldn’t that be the county executive?” I asked dryly.

“Not after I manage to save the National Guard base,” Tad shot back. He realized what he said the minute the words left his mouth. It was too late, though. They were out and I realized the importance of them even before he had registered the error in saying them.

“The National Guard base is in danger of closing?” My mind was racing in about seven different directions right now. This was huge.

“No,” Tad protested quickly. “That’s not what I said.”

“How do you know the base is in danger?”

The courthouse secretaries were now watching the two of us with wide-eyed wonder. The National Guard base was a major employer for the county. If it left, the county’s already precarious financial situation could become dire.

“I misspoke,” Tad looked desperate. “That’s not what I meant.”

“How are you going to save the base?” I pressed him. “What’s your plan?”

“I’m done talking to you,” Tad’s face had gone ashen. “If I see a word of this in the paper, I’ll sue you.”

“Good luck with that,” I smirked. “You’re going to have a lot on your plate in the next few weeks.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tad challenged me angrily.

Unlike Tad, I wouldn’t let anger rule me. I wasn’t going to tip my hand that I was also looking into his financials. “Have a good week,” I smiled brightly.

“You’re going to leave this story alone, right?” Tad asked desperately.

I cocked my head to the side. “I don’t know,” I said sneakily.

“What do you want?” Tad sighed. “You want Christine Brady gone? Fine. I’ll make her gone.”

He was really trying to blackmail me. “Oh, Tad,” I
tsked. “Christine Brady is going to be gone because of public outcry. You know that. You weren’t counting on me pulling her financials. That was just stupid on your part. You forgot how incredibly petty I really am. Once I find her tie to your past, that’s just going to blow up in your face.”

Tad clenched his jaw angrily.

“I’m going after the base story now, too,” I continued. “I don’t need you for that either and you know it. You don’t have anything to offer me on that front.”

Tad’s eyes were icy as he regarded me. “I wouldn’t mess with me, if I were you.”

“You’re not me,” I laughed gaily. “And that’s not even all I have on you.”

“What? You’re going to make me look like a racist again?” Tad looked bitter.

“I guess you’ll have to wait to find out,” I teased. The day was definitely looking up.

“I’ll call Fred Fish and make him put a muzzle on you,” Tad threatened.

“Try,” I cajoled him. “See what happens.”

“I’m not joking,” Tad pushed on. “You’ll be sorry you ever messed with me.”

I took a step away from Tad, never letting the smile on my face falter. “May the best woman win,” I challenged him.

“Avery, I’m not kidding. You’ll be sorry you got involved in this.”

I had already tuned him out, though. It was like Christmas and I was the only child opening all the gifts under the tree.

I wasn’t paying attention when I left the coffee shop. I had a café mocha in my hand, a smile on my face and malice on my mind when I felt two hands grip me and slam me into the wall outside of the coffee shop.

“What the hell?”

Tad forced me into the small alleyway between the coffee shop and Eliot’s pawnshop. “You weren’t expecting me, were you?” Tad looked far too pleased with himself.

“No, I wasn’t expecting you to go crazy and attack me on the street. That’s my bad.”

“You and I are going to come to a little agreement,” Tad seethed.

“Let me go you crazy ass,” I slapped at Tad angrily. “Don’t touch me.”

“That’s not what you said to me when we were in college,” Tad leaned in with a predatory smile.

“I was stoned in college. I used to think potato chips on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was a good idea, too,” I countered. “You get smarter as you get older. Well, most people,” I corrected myself. “You, apparently, just get dumber and dumber.”

“You’re not going to write about the base,” Tad pressed me. “You’re going to let it go.”

“Do you think you’re a Jedi Knight or something?” I scoffed. “This isn’t the story you’re looking for,” I mocked him.

“I’m not joking with you,” Tad said. “You’re going to leave this alone.”

“Did you just meet me? I’m not leaving this alone. I’m going to have this in the paper tomorrow. I can promise you that.”

“No, you’re not,” Tad argued.

“Yes, I am,” I replied. “You have nothing to threaten me with and you definitely haven’t built up any good will with me that would make me look the other way for a few days. So, my friend, you are screwed.”

“I said no,” Tad grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

Without even thinking, I raised my knee and slammed it into Tad’s groin. He grabbed his crotch and slipped to his knees, groaning in pain as he did so. “You bitch.”

I took three steps backwards, thinking I was making my escape from the alley, but smacking into a surprise figure behind me. I gasped when I felt two hands grab my arms from behind to steady me. I swung around and felt relief wash over me when I saw Eliot standing there.

“What are you doing?” Eliot asked curiously.

I gestured to Tad. “He dragged me in here to try and scare me off from running a story.” I was a little nervous to be around Eliot, but I was also anxious to settle things with him. I couldn’t go another night without getting any sleep – and, apparently, he was fairly important to my efforts to achieve that goal.

Eliot eyed Tad angrily. “You put your hands on her?”

Tad was still cradling his groin and whimpering. He wasn’t so far gone, though, that he didn’t recognize the glint of anger that flashed across Eliot’s face. “I didn’t touch her,” Tad lied.

“Then why are you holding your nuts like that?” Eliot queried.

“She kicked me for no reason.”

“You liar!”

“I have trouble believing Avery found her way into that alley by herself,” Eliot said calmly. “It’s filthy and she’s lazy. She wouldn’t just wander in there.”

“I don’t think I like what you’re accusing me of,” Tad stood up straighter. I could tell he was still in pain but he was trying to hide it.

“I don’t think I like you period,” Eliot shot back. “Why don’t you find your way to your job and leave Ms. Shaw here with me to take care of?”

“I’m not done talking to her,” Tad replied sharply.

“Oh, you’re done talking to her,” Eliot took a step towards him. “You’re definitely done talking to her.”

Tad shrank back, smacking into the alley wall as he did. “I’m leaving,” he grumbled, shooting me a death look. “You remember what I said. If you run that story, I’ll sue you.”

“You can’t sue me because you’re the idiot that told me about the base possibly closing,” I countered. “That’s your fault, not mine.”

Tad cursed under his breath and then left the alley via the far exit on the next street over. Once he was gone, Eliot turned to me awkwardly. “Are you okay? Or do I have to chase that little ferret down and beat the shit out of him?”

“I’m fine,” I replied, suddenly nervous to be alone with Eliot. “He was never really a threat.”

“He’s a dick,” Eliot muttered.

“How did you even know we were over here?” I asked curiously.

“I didn’t,” Eliot said. “I was leaving to run an errand and I saw your car. I thought you might be in the coffee shop, so I was going to look, when I caught sight of you here. I didn’t realize you weren’t alone right away,” Eliot admitted.

I couldn’t hide the small smile that played at the corner of my lips. “You were going to look for me?”

“Don’t get too cocky,” Eliot smiled. “I was just curious. I thought maybe you were here to talk to me.”

I thought about making him fidget, but then I put myself in his position for a second and thought better of it. “I was here to see you,” I admitted. “I was trying to get some caffeine courage next door when I ran into Tad.”

“And that obviously went well,” Eliot said.

“Yeah, all the anger and lack of sleep kind of collided and then I let it explode all over him,” I shrugged sheepishly.

Eliot ran his hands down the side of my face lightly, tracing the dark circles under my eyes and then pulled his hand away quickly. “Why didn’t you sleep?”

One glance at his drawn and pale face told me that he hadn’t had a restful night of sleep either. “I was upset,” I replied honestly.

“I shouldn’t have yelled at you,” Eliot sighed heavily. “I was frustrated and you didn’t deserve it.”

“I deserved some of it,” I countered. “I just don’t think I deserved all of it.”

Eliot grinned. “That’s some roundabout thinking there.”

“So I’ve been told,” I laughed.

Eliot’s face sobered after a second. “You were right about me being jealous of Jake.”

“You were right about me being worried about upsetting Jake,” I said. “But I’m not worried for the reasons you think I am.”

Eliot raised in eyebrows to show his interest. “What does that mean?”

“Lexie and I had a long talk last night.”

“Well, right away, I know I’m not going to like this conversation,” Eliot grumbled.

“She took your side,” I taunted him.

“She did not.”

“She did, too.”

“Well, then she’s back on drugs,” Eliot grumbled.

“Eliot,” I sighed wearily, the weight of my sleepless night hitting me hard. “I can’t cut Jake out of my life, you know that. Our paths cross. It is what it is.”

“I know,” Eliot nodded tiredly.

“I can tell you that I’m not with Jake for a reason – and it’s not just because of you,” I said truthfully.

Eliot cocked his head as he listened to me. “I’m not sure how to take that.”

“I’m with you and I like being with you,” I admitted. “Even if I wasn’t with you, though, I wouldn’t be with Jake. Our lives don’t mesh. There’s too much water under the bridge. There’s no going forward there.”

Eliot nodded stiffly. “I know that.”

“Then you’ve got to let it go,” I cajoled him. “If we keep circling the same the fight then there’s going to be no going forward here either.”

Eliot considered the statement. “I can’t promise that we’re not going to fight.”

“I know. Promising that you’ll never get mad at me has no ring of truth to it.”

“Oh, I can guarantee I’ll be mad at you again,” Eliot laughed. “Probably this week.”

I frowned at him.

“You’re a frustrating individual,” Eliot continued. “Don’t even try to act all wounded. You know you’re a walking headache.”

“Then why even bother,” I muttered bitterly.

“Maybe the payoff is worth it,” Eliot sighed, dropping his forehead to mine briefly. “No pain, no gain.”

“So now I’m a walking platitude,” I pulled away and searched his gaze.

Eliot gripped the front of my coat and pulled me towards him, dropping his mouth to mine possessively. I sank into the kiss, actually sighing sadly when he pulled away. “You’re a walking platitude, a pain in the ass and I couldn’t sleep without you snoring next to me last night,” Eliot said softly.

I pulled away, horrified. “I don’t snore.”

“Then you do a really good impression of my father,” Eliot laughed, linking his fingers through mine.

“I think I’ve been insulted.”

“You’re fine,” Eliot led me from the alley and towards the stairwell that led to his apartment above the pawnshop.

“Where are we going?” I whined. “I have to be to work in an hour.”

“That’s plenty of time,” Eliot laughed.

“Sex, sex, sex,” I muttered. “That’s all you think about.”

“Who said anything about sex,” Eliot winked in my direction. “I just want an hour for a nap. You can snore all you want.”

Yeah, now I knew I’d been insulted. A nap did sound good, though.