Deadline (12 page)

“
Then you have nothing to
fear, sir,” said Moon. “We are investigating the Wolfman murders
and it appears he has sent some e-mail messages to Miss Cannon from
your computer. How do you explain that?”

Philpott exhibited a horrified look on
his face. “Surely, that can’t be. There must be some
mistake.”

“
I’m afraid not, Mr.
Philpott. Our techies have been working hard to trace these e-mails
and they definitely came from your computer. The latest one was
just sent early this morning.”

“
Well, it certainly wasn’t
me,” said Philpott. “I haven’t sent any emails today to Miss
Cannon.”

“
If you don’t mind, sir,
we need to take a look at your computer. Detective Brian Savage
here will just be a few moments.”

Savage sat down in front of the
computer. He scanned Philpott’s outbox.

After several minutes, Savage said:
“Yup. They are all here. The one sent this morning at 7:03 a.m. and
the six previous messages. All were sent early
mornings.”

“
I don’t do early
mornings,” sniffed Philpott. “I’m usually not here until at least 9
a.m. and I generally leave about 6 p.m. It must have been somebody
else who used my computer. I certainly didn’t send any of those
messages.”

“
Who else would have
access to your computer?” inquired Moon.

“
Virtually anyone who
works at the paper. The library is open all night in case reporters
need to use the monitors to access files. I don’t usually lock my
office since there is little of value kept there. Anyone who works
here could have come in and used it. If I was going to do such a
thing, would I be stupid enough to use my own computer?”

“
Many people aren’t aware
their e-mails can be traced. Anyway, you’d be surprised at some of
the dumb mistakes criminals often make. Thank God, they do because
it makes our job easier catching them.”

Katie piped up. “Peter, he has a
point. We all have access to this area at any time of the
night.”

“
But that still means the
Wolfman is an employee of this newspaper. Not just anyone can come
in off the street and use these facilities.”

“
My God, I find it hard to
believe it is someone at the paper,” said Katie. “It’s rather a
scary thought.”

Moon looked Philpott straight in the
eye. “I’m still afraid we have to ask you to accompany us to
headquarters for further inquiries, Mr. Philpott. We will also need
to check out your apartment and any home computer you
have.”

Philpott had recovered from his
initial shock and nervousness. His attitude was now more defiant.
“This is an outrage and a gross invasion of my privacy. I hope you
have a warrant, detective.”

“
Right here, sir. We come
prepared.” Moon reached into his inside jacket pocket and waved the
legal document before Philpott’s startled eyes.

Chapter 33

Antonio’s Restaurant 1:30
PM

LUIGI BROUGHT their food, but suddenly
Chase had lost his appetite.

Ashley’s marriage proposal totally
knocked him for a loop. It came out of nowhere, just as she had.
Showing up like this after she abruptly ended their relationship
eight months ago.

Does she think we can just pick up
where we left off? That everything that happened between them is
just water under the bridge she burned?

“
I must say you are always
full of surprises, Ashley. We haven’t seen or talked to each other
for almost a year and now you suddenly want to get married,” said
Chase starting to pick at his tortellini.

“
Well, darling it isn’t as
if we don’t know each other very well. I’ve come to realize what a
catch you really are. Let’s face it; socially and income-wise we
are perfectly suited for one another. You must admit the sex wasn’t
bad either.”

“
I can’t deny that,
Ashley. But a relationship and marriage can’t be based on just sex.
What makes you think a relationship between us would work any
better this time?”

“
Because I’m a little
older and a lot smarter. I’ve dated other men but quite frankly
there are few fish in the sea out there that come up to your
standards. I’ve come to realize, Andrew that we truly belong
together. Daddy also likes you and feels you would be the perfect
husband for me. Time is also marching on, Andrew and I would like
to have a child.”

“
Whoa, hold on there,
Ashley. First you talk marriage and now children. Pretty heavy
stuff for our first meeting. I like your father too, but I wouldn’t
be marrying him. I just don’t think this is very realistic now. As
I mentioned, I’m already involved with someone else.”

“
Oh come on, Andrew. That
relationship can’t have any future. Whoever you’re currently
schtupping can’t possibly be a good candidate to become your wife
in the social circles we travel in.” Ashley calmly forked some
lettuce into her mouth as she talked.

Chase picked up his beer and took a
sip. “Well perhaps you’d better let me be judge of
that.”

“
Besides, Andrew. You need
to start thinking with more than that dick of yours. Our marriage
would have other benefits for you with the dowry my father would
pay.”

“
Dowry. Whatever on earth
are you talking about, Ashley. You make it sound like an arranged
marriage.”

Ashley smiled coyly at Chase. “Well,
Andrew, it’s no secret around town that you have serious financial
troubles with that newspaper toy of yours. I hear you’re shopping
around for a cash infusion to keep things afloat or you’ll be
forced to sell. I also happen to know the banks won’t extend you
any more credit.”

“
I don’t know where you’re
getting these rumors from. But they’re just that, rumors. There is
no truth to them.” Chase continued to eat trying to pretend nothing
was amiss.

“
That’s not what I or
Daddy hear and we have some pretty good connections in the
financial world, as you know.”

“
So what, my financial
affairs are no concern of yours or your father.”

“
Ah, but you’re wrong,
Andrew. Daddy and I want to see you do well. He believes you are
making progress with that newspaper of yours and a fresh investment
could help you turn the corner. Would $40 million help?

“
$40 million! Your father
would be willing to invest $40 million in the Daily Express? Why?”
Chase almost choked on a piece of tortellini at this
news.

“
Of course. He wants to
see me happy. He feels we would make an ideal couple. He wants to
be a grandfather. This is a small price for him to pay. He believes
it would be a good long-term investment for our family.”

“
And what do I get out of
this?”

“
That’s the wonderful
part, darling. You get to continue to play with that newspaper of
yours, plus you also get the added bonus of me – as your
wife!”

Chapter 34

Braden Young’s Office 2:05
PM

CORRUPTION. KICKBACKS.
Scandal.

These provide all the ingredients for
a juicy front-page story.

And it was all there in Braden Young’s
hands as he read the investigative piece by the paper’s young
rookie reporter Donna-Marie Pierce.

Pierce sat across from his desk as he
read the copy. She was in her mid-20s, a statuesque beauty with
fine ebony skin. Originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica, Pierce had
studied at Northwestern University in Chicago. Like many reporters,
she started her career in campus journalism and worked on a couple
of small dailies in Illinois before joining the Daily
Express.

She had been hired as part of the
paper’s campaign to hire more racially mixed reporters to reflect
the city’s growing ethnic diversity. But Pierce was much more than
a beauty queen and affirmative action hire.

Pierce was a talented reporter and
writer, a bit green around the edges, but one who showed great
potential for development into a first-class journalist.

Young had been very impressed at her
clippings file and her job interview. He had no qualms about
offering her a position as a junior reporter.

“
Quite the story you have
here, Miss Pierce. It will blow City Hall wide open. You’re
accusing Mayor Dandridge of taking $500,000 in kickbacks and
Councillors West and Daniels of receiving $150,000 each from Tridon
Developments to support the $34-million
harbor front
condo
project.”

“
Yes, sir,” replied Pierce
in a soft voice, almost a whisper. “The project was only narrowly
approved by city council – by three votes – in the face of a strong
opposition lobby by an environmental group. The developer bought
off these three council members and their votes were crucial to
city approval of the project.”

“
I need to know your
sources and how reliable they are. Do we have the adequate
documentation to back up these charges? We’re about to accuse the
Mayor of this great city and two of his colleagues of being crooks.
It would be nice if we were right!”

“
Yes, sir. I have copies
of the deposits to offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. I have
two sources – one is an accountant for Tridon who is appalled at
the illegalities. My second source is a former executive employee
fired by Robert Peterson, the president and CEO of
Tridon.”

“
Sounds good.” Young
nodded his approval.

“
I’ve been very thorough
in this story, sir. We have them dead to rights. This deal stinks
so high the stench is overpowering. The story is especially timely
given Mayor Dandridge’s campaign pledge of honesty and integrity in
politics.”

“
Good, very good,
Donna-Marie.” Young smiled. “This is a fine piece of investigative
journalism. We’re flying it by Legal to cover the paper’s ass, but
if the legal beagles give it the green light, you have a
career-making story here, young lady. We’ll run it in tomorrow’s
paper. You have a great future in journalism. Now, get out of her
and get back to work. Brace yourself for when the shit starts to
fly and I want you on the follow-up stories. Hopefully we’ll end
the political careers of these three sleazebags and send them to
jail. Good job.”

“
Thank you, sir. This is
why I became a reporter in the first place. I want to thank you for
the opportunities you’ve given me.” Pierce left the room with a big
smile of satisfaction on her face.

Young returned to the work at his
desk, but within a few minutes he was interrupted by a knock on his
door.

His secretary Denise Taylor stood in
the doorway. “Excuse me, Mr. Young, but there is a young lady out
here who says she is your daughter.”

“
Megan? Send in her right
away Mrs. Taylor.”

Young came out from behind his desk
and hugged Megan when she entered the room. “Sweetie, what brings
you down here? Is anything wrong?”

“
On the contrary,
everything is just fine, Daddy. Sorry to disturb you at the office,
but since I was downtown I thought I’d drop in to give you the
wonderful news.”

“
What news,
princess?”

“
I had lunch with Dennis.
Things went swimmingly. He flew all the way up here to apologize.
He wants me back. I still love him, Daddy. Perhaps he deserves
another chance. He wants me to fly back to New Jersey with him
tomorrow.”

“
Whoa there, girl. Not so
fast. You just left this jerk yesterday and here you are less than
24 hours later willing to forgive and forget. Don’t be in such a
hurry.” A frown creased Young’s face as he showed his irritation
with his daughter’s impetuosity. “Give it some thought. Remember,
he cheated on you. He’s likely to do it again once things settle
down. Leopards don’t change their spots.”

“
But Daddy, Dennis truly
is sorry. He came up here after me. I can’t ignore that fact.” A
hint of anger flashed in Megan’s brown eyes. “You never have liked
Dennis from the beginning. He deserves another chance.”

“
What he deserves is a
kick in the balls, or better yet cut them off. That’s the only way
to ensure the cheating bastard doesn’t do it again.” Young couldn’t
hold back his anger at Dennis and at Megan for being so
gullible.

“
That’s a terrible thing
to say, Daddy. I’m willing to give him another chance to save our
relationship. What makes you such an expert after the way you
treated Mom. You were never there for her or me when we needed
you.”

Megan’s biting comments slashed deep
to Young’s heart. She was right. He was no expert on relationships.
But he knew and understood men like Dennis. They were lady-killers
who flattered and charmed their way into women’s hearts and their
beds. But loyalty and fidelity were not in their
vocabulary.

“
You may be right, Megan.
But I’m the one you came running to when things disintegrated. All
I’m saying is give it some time to think it over. You need to have
some space to think. There’s no rush to go running back to him at
the first apology.”

“
Yes, Daddy. But if I let
him return to New Jersey alone, he’ll probably go back to the arms
of that blonde tart. I’m ready to fight for him no matter what you
say.”