“Oh, I must have missed the message.” Jake’s expression was bland. “Did you need something specific?”
“Confirmation on Terry Brucker’s murder.”
“We have a news conference scheduled for that in fifteen minutes. What a coincidence.”
“Yes, I know exactly why you did things the way you did them.” That wasn’t an exaggeration. I was only partially convinced I knew the reason. “You’ve been getting heat for feeding me information the other reporters aren’t privy to and that rumor about me getting special favors is flying again.”
Jake met my gaze. “If you already knew that, why are you whining?”
“I had a different source. I didn’t get special favors from you. I merely wanted confirmation.”
“I must have misunderstood the nature of your call.” Jake studied his fingernails. “I’m sorry for any confusion.”
“You’re not sorry.” I wrinkled my nose. “You’re doing this so you can look like Macomb County’s favorite son, a paragon of virtue who would never give anyone special treatment.”
“That sounds a little theatrical.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
“To hear you tell it, you’re never wrong,” Jake shot back. “I don’t know what you want from me, Avery. We couldn’t confirm manner of death until the medical examiner reported back. By then, it was late in the afternoon. It simply made more sense to hold a conference today.”
“Whatever. You knew he had a bullet to his back before you fished him out of the water. There’s no way that could be misconstrued as natural causes.”
“Which is why we deemed the death suspicious.”
“All I hear whenever you open your mouth this morning is ‘blah, blah, blah.’” I made a face as I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m going to make you pay for this, by the way. I haven’t decided how … but it’ll be entertaining and diabolical.”
“I’m looking forward to the attempt.” Jake was blasé. “How did you hear about the bullet wound? I was careful to make sure no one mentioned anything in front of you at the scene yesterday.”
“I have my sources.”
“In the medical examiner’s office?”
I started shaking my head and then forced myself to be still. “I’m not telling you that.”
“I don’t think it’s the medical examiner’s office,” Derrick offered. “If she had a source there, she would’ve written a different story yesterday. As it was, she had to skirt around certain things, and I’m sure that doesn’t make her happy.”
“You have no idea how unhappy it makes me.” I rubbed the palms of my hands over my knees as I considered how to proceed. “I learned a few interesting things about Tad yesterday. Is he a suspect in Brucker’s death?”
“We have no suspects at this time.” Jake’s response was firm, his tone clipped. “The news conference will simply be to discuss the nature of Brucker’s death. We will also make sure the public knows we’re dedicated to solving the case.”
“And more blah, blah, blah,” I groused. “I think you owe me after dodging my calls yesterday.”
“I’m not required to share information with you,” Jake shot back. “I have a job to do and rules to follow. That’s my priority.”
“Whatever.” I flicked my eyes to Derrick. “As for you, I’ve already started thinking up a revenge plan where you’re concerned. It involves my mother and a rumor that you like dancing naked in public. Have fun at Friday dinner.”
Derrick scowled. “I have rules to follow, too. In fact, everyone has rules to follow … except maybe you. You’re the only person I know who doesn’t follow rules.”
“I follow rules.”
“Really? Because you’ve yet to RSVP to Devon’s shower and it’s a rule you have to go because you’re my cousin.”
That sounded like a made-up rule. “I’m going to buy her a gift.” Or at least a gift card. “I don’t know why that’s not enough.”
“Because we’re having a baby,” Derrick supplied. “It’s the first baby in our family, at least from our generation. It’s a big deal.”
“Then why don’t you have to go to the shower?”
“Because I’m the father … and that’s a woman thing. I’m not a woman.”
“I’m barely a woman and my ovaries are defective,” I argued. “I’m not going to that shower.”
“I think you should go to the shower,” Jake interjected. “I think it will be good for you. In fact, I think it’s exactly what you need to soften those rather sharp edges you’re constantly carrying around.”
“If you think it’s such a good idea, why don’t you go?” I challenged.
“Because I’m a man.”
“That’s the rumor.” I cracked my knuckles as I worked to refrain from completely melting down. “I’m not going. There are several reasons for my decision – not the least of which is that I don’t like Devon and she outright hates me – but there are many reasons I’m simply unable to comply with your request.”
“Oh, you sound like a droid.” Derrick made a face. “You have to go. I promised Devon that I would make you and Lexie attend. It’s important to her.”
“Why? Does she want to torture us that much?”
“She happens to like you a great deal.”
Since Derrick had to avert his eyes to deliver the lie, I barely managed to swallow the bubbling bile without laughing. “You’re so full of crap the sewage department is declaring an emergency. I’m not going.”
“Why don’t you want to go?” Jake challenged.
“Because I hate Devon … and I hate stupid games … and, if you want to know the truth, I hate babies, too.”
“Nobody hates babies.”
“I do.”
“You can’t say things like that,” Jake said. “People will think you’re a sociopath. You need to keep things like that to yourself.”
“Hey, I have to go to Carly’s baby shower because she’s my best friend and the retribution will be merciless if I don’t. I don’t have to go to Devon’s baby shower, though. Two baby showers in a short amount of time is too much for any one person to deal with.”
“Oh, suck it up.” Jake’s agitation was on full display. “Why can’t you simply do what you’re supposed to do and fake a smile while doing it? Why is that too much to ask?”
I narrowed my eyes. “You know what? You have a point. I could put up with the shower if I really had to.”
“So why not do it?”
“Because I don’t want to.”
Jake threw his hands in the air. “I give up. Do what you want. You always do.”
“Great.” I was about to push myself to a standing position and stroll out when something occurred to me. “Actually, I have a counter proposal.”
Derrick was instantly on alert. “I’m not going to barter with you – or bribe you – to go to Devon’s shower. You’re going to go because you want to do it.”
“Did you just meet me? Stop smoking whatever you’re smoking and come back from La-la Land. I’m not going unless I get something in return.”
Derrick looked resigned. “What do you want?”
“Nothing from you.” I fixed my full attention on Jake. “As for you, I have a request. If you want me to go to the baby shower I’ll do it, but only if you do something for me first.”
“I am not giving you an exclusive story to get you to go to a baby shower,” Jake shot back. “That’s where I draw the line.”
“That’s not what I was going to ask for.”
Jake stilled. “Really? What do you want?”
I smiled. “A double date with your new girlfriend Lauren.”
Jake’s mouth dropped open. “I thought you were going to drop that!”
“I never agreed to anything of the sort.”
“Well, you’d better drop it.” Jake crossed his arms over his chest. “I am not about to be shaken down and forced to date some woman you chose for me because you don’t want to g
o to a baby shower. It’s not going to happen.”
He was adamant, yet I remained doubtful. “I think it’s going to happen.”
“It’s not.”
“It is.”
“You make me so freaking tired,” Jake complained. “I can’t even tell you how tired I am.”
“And I haven’t even really started pressuring you yet. Just think how bad it’s going to be when I can focus my full attention on you rather than the election.”
Jake involuntarily shuddered. “You are terrifying.”
“You have no idea. So … do we have a deal?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Okay. We’ll do it the hard way. Brace yourself. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
11 Eleven
The news conference was an annoying mess. Jake didn’t contribute one piece of information I didn’t already know – or he couldn’t confirm the previous day – and the triumphant look Devon shot me as I stomped toward the door upon completion of Jake’s question-and-answer session convinced me it would be a hot day in Hoth before I attended her baby shower.
“I hope you have active labor for three freaking days,” I muttered under my breath as I slipped past Jake and aimed myself at the hallway.
“Are you talking to me?” Jake was unnaturally calm.
“Yes. I hope you have days of hard labor, too.”
Jake pursed his lips. “I know you think I’m being mean to you … .”
“Mean is a word used by middle school girls,” I shot back. “It comes right before hater and right after jealous in the whiny girl playbook. I don’t use any of those words. You’re being an ass.”
“Avery … .”
“No!” I held up my finger to quiet him. “It would be one thing if I was browbeating you for special favors. That’s not what I was doing. I had a tip and was looking for confirmation. You purposely avoided me to make them happy.
“It’s not my fault they’re slow and can’t keep up with me,” I continued. “I don’t see why I should be penalized because they’re inept.” I didn’t lower my voice, and Devon picked that moment to shuffle closer. The look on her face was straight out of a Dynasty rerun. I refused to back down, and instead fixed her with a flat look. “Yeah, I said it. I meant it, too.”
Devon, never what could be referred to as a shrinking violet, planted her hands on her hips and stared me down. “You’re just jealous.”
It took everything I had to refrain from smacking her for the remark. It wasn’t simply because I was in front of two law enforcement officials – one of whom happened to be engaged to the wretch in question – but also because I didn’t want to be known as the woman who would stoop low enough to slap a pregnant lady. If she wasn’t knocked up, though, look freaking out.
“I’m jealous, huh?” I cocked an eyebrow. “What exactly am I jealous of?”
“The fact that you’re on the same level we’re on,” Devon replied, not missing a beat. “You hate not getting special treatment. When it happens, you realize you’re not quite the miracle worker you seem to think you are.”
“That still doesn’t explain how I’m jealous,” I pointed out. “I mean, I can see referring to me as depressed because I’m on the same level as you, but where does the jealousy come in?”
Devon furrowed her brow. “I … you’re trying to confuse me. I don’t like it.”
“Well, welcome to my world.” I scorched Jake with a dark look as I moved around him. “This isn’t over. Now you’ve unleashed the beast.”
“I don’t know what that means.” Jake adopted a pragmatic tone. “If you want to talk in private, we can go to my office.”
“Oh, no.” I vehemently shook my head. “I have work to do.”
“Do I even want to know what that means?”
“No, but when I’m done you’ll wish you’d returned my calls, because I’m going to wreak havoc over this entire county!” My voice went unnaturally screechy as I narrowed my eyes. “Live in fear!”
“Okay, that was a little dramatic,” Derrick noted.
He wasn’t wrong. “You’ve haven’t seen anything yet.”
DESPITE MY BIG WORDS, I had no idea where to go next. I had a dead college student who worked as an aide for my mortal enemy, who also happened to be sexually harassing another college student. I had a stack of campaign finance sheets that I couldn’t attribute to any one candidate. I had nothing to put me ahead of the pack … and I was running on pure rage.
With nothing better to do than attempt to calm myself, I called Eliot to fill him in on my morning. He barely got out a standard greeting before I launched into a lengthy diatribe. When I was done, instead of being sympathetic, he burst out laughing.
“Did you really tell them to live in fear?”
“Yes. They should live in fear. I’m going to … .” I mimed a violent act against an invisible person even though Eliot couldn’t see me over the phone.
“Did you just smack around air?” Eliot asked.
He knew me too well. “Of course not.”
“You sound out of breath. What’s your plan going forward?”
That was a very good question. “I don’t know. I’m thinking of going to the college to talk to the instructor. He had to know what he was getting his students into, or at least have a semi-decent idea.”
“That doesn’t sound too dangerous, so I think it’s a good idea.”
I rolled my eyes. “People should be afraid of me, not the other way around.”
“Yes, well, I’m sure plenty of people are terrified of you. I’m one of them when you set your mind to something. Just … be careful.”
“I am being careful. Why do you think I didn’t smack Devon?”
“Because you didn’t want to go to jail or let people believe you’re the type of woman who would beat up a pregnant woman.”
Geez. He really did know me. That was … freaky. “I would never beat up a pregnant woman.”
“Good.”
“I might pull her hair or something, but that wouldn’t hurt the baby.”
“Don’t worry about Devon,” Eliot chided. “Worry about your story. How are you going to get ahead of everyone else?”
“Smacking them if they’re not pregnant is out of the question, right?”
“Just … behave.” Eliot sounded weary. “If you get in trouble, call me. I’ll see if I can come up with any information on Terry Brucker from my end while you’re at the college.”
I brightened considerably. “I knew there was a reason I fell for you.”
“And here I thought it was my rugged good looks.”
“That and the fact that you see nothing abnormal about playing video games and eating ice cream naked.”
Eliot chuckled. “Be safe. I won’t be far if you need me.”
IT WASN’T HARD TO find the Political Science Department once I hit the Oakland University campus. Things were much different than when I attended a similar university, mostly because the students appeared eager to learn rather than drink as they buzzed about.
It was the end of the summer season, which meant students were arriving for the fall semester but not yet attending classes. I didn’t think about that when Honor first told me about the class assignment, but I couldn’t help but wonder about any kid who voluntarily attended summer school. That was just … blech.
I found Professor Jeffrey Schultz in his office, his head bent down as he perused something on his desk. The door was open, so I took a moment to study him. He was young – barely over thirty-five if I had to guess – and he had the sort of rugged good looks I was sure made his students go weak in the knees. I knocked on the door to get his attention and when he looked up surprise was evident.
“Can I help you?”
“I certainly hope so.” I crossed the threshold. “My name is Avery Shaw. I’m … .”
Schultz held up a hand to still me. “You’re Avery Shaw?”
Hmm. It seemed as if my reputation had preceded me. The que
stion was: Would that end up being a good or bad thing? “I am,” I confirmed after a beat. “I guess that means you’ve heard of me.”
“I don’t know any political junkie in the area who hasn’t heard of you. You’re all over the news. In fact, I use some of your articles as examples in my classes.”
“I would say I’m flattered, but there’s every possibility you’re using those articles as an example of what not to do.”
“Actually, that’s not true.” Schultz leaned back in his chair and gestured toward the open seat across from his desk. I wordlessly took it, never moving my eyes from his face. He seemed excited to meet me, and not because he wanted to shove me in a closet, lock the door and throw away the key. It was a refreshing change of pace.
“You’re a diligent reporter and you dig hard for the facts,” he continued. “A lot of the students take my classes because they either want to run for office themselves or work for a candidate. Your dogged pursuit of truth – to the detriment of almost everything else – is a good lesson for these kids.”
I was intrigued. “How so?”
“Well, for starters, it’s not like thirty years ago – or ten years ago, for that matter. Candidates can’t get away with the gaffes and mistakes they used to be able to survive in an election cycle. Someone is always watching to see if he or she can take someone down … and I teach my students they need to be aware of that when going forward.”
“No offense, but wouldn’t it be easier if they simply followed the rules?”
Schultz chuckled. “I don’t think life is that black and white for most people. Others see shades of gray and they have to decide exactly how dark they’ll allow the line they straddle to turn.”
“Yeah, that sounds like an excuse.” I crossed my legs at the ankles. “Do you know why I’m here?”
“I don’t.”
“One of your students died yesterday. Terry Brucker.” I watched Schultz for signs of distress – surprise or even sadness – but the look on his face was hard to read.
“I heard about that.”
“You heard about it?”
Schultz nodded. “Another student told me. In the summer, you see, almost everything is done online. I don’t hold regular classes, especially because my students are so busy volunteering in three different counties.”
Extra! Extra! Dead All About It (An Avery Shaw Mystery Book 12) Page 11
