Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68391 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68391 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“I’m glad you found that with him.”
“You’ll find it with someone too. It might be Calvin, or it might not. The thing is, you will never know unless you try, so at least see what happens with him. Give him a real chance and trust him to take care of you.”
“I’ll see what happens,” I agree, even though the thought of opening myself up to someone really scares the crap out of me, and I get the feeling that Calvin won’t accept anything less than the truth, even the ugly parts. I just hope that when I do open up, he won’t think less of me.
Suggestion 6
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
CALVIN
When I reach the parking garage for the Seaside Post, I try to talk myself down from losing my shit on Maxine before I get out to head inside. Maxine is right; Anna is a hero, but the story isn’t as cut and dry as she made it seem.
Yesterday, after I left Anna’s place, I went to the station and filed a report regarding the negligence of Amy’s parents. Even understanding the stress they’re under, having almost lost their daughter, they still need to be held accountable for the role they played in what happened to her. If the two of them hadn’t been asleep, chances are she wouldn’t have been able to wander off. Then Anna wouldn’t have had to risk her own life to save a little girl she didn’t even know.
After I filed the report, I called Maxine and urged her to leave the names of those involved out of her story, especially considering the open case and CPS looking into Amy’s parents, who happen to be well known in the area. Her father is part of the city council and is the mayor’s son, and her mother is a trophy wife who runs a few local charities when she’s not getting her nails and hair done. Maxine was already at her desk when we spoke, and she told me that it was her right to print what she wants. It’s a fact I couldn’t argue, but after I told her she would never get another story from me or any of my men again, she assured me that she would leave names out.
She lied to me. Not only did she use names, but she talked about both of Amy’s parents napping while their daughter almost drowned and Anna’s reaction to finding them still asleep after she got Amy out of the water.
I pull open the door to the building and scan the open space. The newspaper offices used to be a textiles warehouse years ago, but the textile company went out of business and the local paper moved in. Seeing Maxine at a desk in the back corner, I head in her direction with the paper still in my grasp.
I shouldn’t be as pissed as I am. Years as a police officer have taught me the media isn’t always your friend, and you need to be prepared for whatever case you’re working on to be leaked. My anger isn’t about the story. My anger is about her sharing Anna’s name after I specifically asked her not to. Why that’s so important to me, I don’t know.
“Max.” I stop at the side of her desk and slam down the paper, making her jump. “I thought you and I had a deal yesterday regarding using Anna’s name,” I growl, leaning closer to her.
“Calvin.” She leans back in her seat, smiling, looking unsurprised, like she’s been expecting me. “I wasn’t going to run her name, but when I realized who she was, I had to.”
“Who she is?” I stand back, crossing my arms over my chest and waiting for her to continue.
“Her family is legendary in Chicago. Her father is a McAlister and a multibillionaire. She was engaged to Lance Erwin, heir to a multimillion-dollar company.” Fuck. My insides twist as her reasons for being so standoffish become clear. “With that information alone, I had to run the story. Then I found out she called off her engagement a few months ago and canceled their wedding plans—an event that was supposed to rival the display we saw when Harry and Meghan got hitched in London. After she did that, she ran off to our little town, moved into a room above Edie, and got a job at a bakery. From what I’ve learned, no one knows exactly why she left, but her parents have disowned her, and all of her friends—or those she once had—are torn between hoping she finds what she’s looking for and wondering if she’s crazy for giving up the life she had.”
“You didn’t have to run her name, Max. You wanted to for attention.”
She shrugs. “You’re not wrong. She’s news—big news.”
I see a calculating glint in her eyes, and my muscles bunch. “Max, please tell me you’re not going to write another story about her.”