Conflicted (Secrets and Lies) (3 page)

Eckman had a mixture of old and new to it. The journalism buildings were in the older part of campus where the buildings date back to early nineteenth century. Their dated appearance had been a quiet comfort to me. I always thought about all the excellent writers that adorned the same halls. It pushed me to do my best in my classes and on the paper. The paper published by the university was one of the oldest running prints in academia. Being on it was a privilege. When I became editor as a junior, I strove for nothing but the best.

Before I could dwell any further, Derrick popped out of his office and signaled for me to join him. I headed to the chairs in front of his antique walnut desk. His office hadn't changed since the last time that I was in it. A chill ran down my spine as that particular memory flashed through my head. I blinked and shook my head to rid those thoughts from my mind. With that evening out of my head, I glanced around his office. The same accolades decorated the walls along with inspiring art pieces of the last century. As I sat down, the chair facing me whirled around putting me face to face with Harrison Reynolds from the magazine
Inside Out
. I gasped.

Harrison was similar to Derrick in appearance. They were in their forties but aging well. Their hair had that salt and pepper touch to it. They kept their hair trimmed short but not quite a buzz cut. Derrick had a clean-shaven face while Harrison sported a trimmed goatee. They had casual dress sense wearing designer jeans with a button down shirts finished off with an unbuttoned sport coat.

Derrick settled into the chair next to me letting out a soft chuckle. My cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
Inside Out
was on the rise. Serious journalists dreamt of working there. The articles in the magazine pushed the limits and kept readers engrossed by the sharp content. It didn't print fluff pieces. They ran an article last year that linked the Jersey mob to a series of local murders and crimes plaguing our metro area.

Derrick shifted his chair so he had a better viewpoint of me. "How have you been Mia?"

"Umm...I guess okay given the circumstances. It shocked me when you called wanting to see me." My eyes drifted over to Harrison who was assessing me with a finger fixed on his chin. "And now, I'm a little confused," I admitted with my nerves on the climb.

Derrick glanced at Harrison. "Mia, this is my good friend Harrison Reynolds. I believe you are familiar with his magazine."

I nodded as Harrison extended his hand to me giving it a firm shake.

"It's nice to meet you Ms. Ryan. Derrick has told me a lot about you," he greeted.

"The pleasure is all mine Mr. Reynolds."

Derrick gave me an encouraging smile. I stared at him puzzled by Harrison's presence.

"I can understand why you're confused Mia. After your dismissal from the university, I tried to appeal their decision to expel you. Unfortunately, they are set on making you an example. It's my understanding that you have elected to take the semester off from school."

"I've decided to take some time off. I'm researching the best avenues to gain admission to a new school and reevaluating the direction to take my degree in should I get in somewhere."

My focus shifted from Derrick over to Harrison. He wasn't a guy that met with simpletons like me. He seemed far too invested in making a certain impression with me as well. It had my guard up.

"You can't be considering leaving the field of journalism. Mia, you're a natural. You create stories that inform and inspire readers. This incident may have happened but it didn't take your talent," Derrick exclaimed.

His high-pitched tone grabbed my attention from sizing up Harrison.

I feigned indifference. "I haven't decided on anything yet. It's safe to say that my credentials are nonexistent after my expulsion. I'm not saying it's what I want. I'm taking a realistic perspective on matters."

"It's very logical approach to take with your situation. However, you can't throw away what you've accomplished. You have the type of talent that's worth fighting for which is what I've done for you," Derrick argued, crinkling his eyes.

I tilted my head to him wholly baffled. He pierced his eyes to mine before continuing.

"I gave Harrison some of your work when we were out for lunch a few weeks ago. He has an excellent eye for talent. He's the reason you're here today. Harrison believes that you're a perfect fit for a story he's been working on."

Someone pinch me. Actually don't, if this is a dream, I don't want to wake up.

Harrison rolled his fingers across the desk. The hard look in his eyes had me on edge. He appeared to be a man that got what he wanted regardless of the cost.

"I've been piecing together evidence surrounding the financial institutions in our area. White crimes have increased within the last five years. Interestingly, they link to other crimes similar to the Jersey piece I printed last year. I've come to find some intriguing leads by sources in the field. I believe that you are the best candidate to help wrap up my investigation."

"My knowledge in that area is limited at best. Research for school work is all I've done," I replied warily.

"Ms. Ryan, the job I have in mind for you is nothing that you'll ever learn in a book," Harrison answered condescendingly.

I narrowed my eyes. "Why do you want me? What's setting me above the thousands of people that have degrees in the field?"

Harrison constricted his cold eyes. The inflexibility behind them freaked me out. He folded his hands together taking a deep breath. "The company that I've been researching has had a rise in the financial industry with remarkable links to the crimes that have been occurring throughout the metro area. The financial institutions that raise red flags are those that are owned without any true connection to mainstream institutions."

He raised an eyebrow to verify I was still following him. I nodded for him to continue.

"There is one privately owned financial company in our area which has been on the upswing for quite some time. It's curious they can remain solvent given the financial crisis and the state of the current economy without collaborating with larger institutions."

And I just got a headache.

I held my hands up for him to stop. My head was spinning. There was a reason I went into journalism and not business. Derrick sighed as Harrison took a deep breath.

"I understand but I'm missing the part of how I'm a fit. I know next to nothing about the industry," I said skeptically.

Harrison became rigid. It seemed that he had little patience for people that questioned him.

"The company I'm referring to is F. F. Sweeney & Company."

The light bulb in my head went off making it glaringly obvious why I was the best candidate. Their location was in the south side of the city, which happened to be where I grew up. They had been in business for as long as I lived in that neighborhood and probably went further back than my thirteen years there. It was common knowledge that you didn't mess with them.

I'm missing something. I can't be the best candidate based on where I grew up. It doesn't add up.

"Yes, I'm familiar with them," I confirmed.

The nervousness from earlier left in a flash as tension settled throughout my body. Harrison smirked. He was really starting to rub me the wrong way.

"I'd like you to become an inside source for me. A mole. You can get a look at their company from the inside," he requested.

"Why? Apart from having grown up there, I have no ties there," I countered.

He started cracking his knuckles as his face flitted between irritated and amusement. "It's all timing. You aren't in school. It wouldn't be that farfetched for you to go back to your roots to gain some perspective. Why can't you get a job in the old neighborhood while you gain that perspective?" he said with breeziness to his voice.

I frowned. "Let me get this straight. You want me to secure a position with F. F. Sweeney & Company to find as much information as I can from the inside."

"That's the nuts and bolts of it. The information that you're going to obtain will be more by the relationships you build than any file you find. I'm not discouraging looking for any data but I doubt that information would be readily available," Harrison answered patiently.

"I realize what you're saying but I'm still not clear on how this will work. Are they even hiring? How can you guarantee that they will pick me out a pool of candidates?"

Harrison gave me another amused look forcing me to bite the inside of my lip to keep from scowling. His preposition was insane any way you sliced it.

"Mia. You underestimate me. I've confirmed that they're in need of an entry-level candidate that exhibits up front potential. You're the ideal applicant. Your past connections to the neighborhood will more than likely seal the position for you," he assured.

Now, I'm Mia all of a sudden. Why does it seem like I'm being charmed by the serpent to take a bite out of the tasty apple?

"I still don't see how I'm supposed to pull this off," I disputed.

Harrison leaned over the desk looking me in the eye. The hardness I noticed earlier was present again. I ignored his rigidness and sat up waiting for him to provide a better explanation.

"Mia, all bullshit aside, I believe in you because of the exemplary work I've reviewed. You are shrewd, sharp, and salacious in your approach to writing. You're the type of person I need as a source. I'm sure the thought of being an inside informant is scary but is that any reason to walk away."

If I became a source, I wasn't at liberty to receive any credentials and that left me at square one. Not to mention the whole idea was extremely dangerous. It was similar to being a snitch for the FBI or espionage. It didn't seem ethical either.

"At the risk of sounding rude, I have to ask the obvious. What's in this for me? How will this help me stay in the journalistic field?"

I glared at Derrick. He could have given me some warning about what this meeting was going to entail. I had gone from nervous to on edge. My sweaty palms were telling me that this was
way
out of my league.

Harrison brought a hand back to his chin stroking his fingers along his goatee. "I reward very generously to the people that prove that they'll do whatever it takes to get a story. I can guarantee you a job with
Inside Out
. We expanded our operations overseas. If you can assist as a source, the position of editor and chief will be yours. You'll have full control over the European circuit."

My jaw dropped and I didn't bother to snap it shut. I glanced at Derrick for feedback. He nodded raising an eyebrow.

Did he just make me an offer I can't refuse? This is unrealistic. It's the kind of crap you read about in the happily ever after world of books.

I shut my eyes pinching the bridge of my nose. I had to think about this before jumping into it. What he offered was amazing but the danger of what I'd be doing couldn't be ignored. Opening my eyes, I focused in on Harrison's stone cold expression trying to read anything behind the man. Unable to, I settled my eyes into a firmness of their own.

"I'd like to think about it for a day or two," I requested.

"That's fair considering the rigorousness that this will entail for you. F. F. Sweeney & Company will be taking resumes until next Friday. I'll give you until Monday. If you decide to take it, we'll submit your resume," Harrison conceded.

"If I agree to do this for you, can we have a contract put into place so I have something in writing guaranteeing me the position?" I asked hesitantly.

I was pressing my luck with the guy but I didn't trust him. I wanted insurance.

Harrison's lips slipped into a snake like smile. "You're smarter than I expected for someone your age. I'll have my lawyers draft a legal agreement for you."

"I mean no disrespect Harrison. It's my nature to protect myself at all costs which is the only reason I want this deal to be in writing," I explained.

Harrison nodded indicating no hard feelings in his barely there smile. "I hope you take this opportunity Mia. I've always had an eye for raw talent and you have it. This chance will give you everything you ever dreamed of having in journalism."

Apparently, I'll be charmed until I'm out the door.

With the meeting over, I walked out more than confused. Derrick followed me briefly stopping at his door to let Harrison know he'd return in a minute. I stopped in the reception area. I gazed around the room to verify it was empty before lashing out.

"Is he for real because I feel like I just got hustled?"

Derrick seemed surprised by my reaction. He paused to lean against the receptionist desk. I folded my arms over my chest waiting for his answer.

"I've known Harrison my whole life. He understands what he is asking of you and that's why he is offering such a generous reward," he stated.

I sighed. "Derrick, I don't want you to think I'm not grateful for this meeting. I'm sorry if I offended you or Harrison by taking some time on this decision. I can't take this lightly."

Derrick nodded before backing towards his office. "I don't doubt you will make the choice that is best for you. You're smart and resilient. You'll take the path that you feel is best."

My head was in a fog while walking to the parking ramp. After finding my car, I sat in the driver's seat replaying the entire meeting. As I contemplated what happened in that meeting, my phone buzzed informing me of new text messages. The first text was from Shane.

Hey Mia, I hope your meeting goes well. I have a class this afternoon but I'm planning to shoot some hoops afterwards if you're up for a game.

I went on to the next text without answering him. Jackson's message was after his.

I hope you got good news today. Give me a call or text if you want to grab a late lunch to recap. I'm on campus all day.

I skimmed past that one. It was more than obvious that people remained curious about my departure from the university. I wasn't about to let people come up to me to air out those questions. I opened the next text from Trey.