Chapter 1: A Life-Changing Call

Angela zoned out for the hundredth time that day. She was anxiously awaiting confirmation on a tip she’d received last week. If it was legitimate, she might break the story of her lifetime. It could be national, Pulitzer-winning level breaking news, but only if her source could be confirmed.

She had nothing to do but wait and stare into the abyss. Well, the abyss and the picture of her former boyfriend. Most people wouldn’t keep a picture of their ex on their desk, but he was the reason she did what she did now. His death had led her to investigative journalism.

Though she was no closer to figuring out the truth of his “accidental” death than she had been back then, she felt like she was getting closer every day. It drove her every action. One day, she’d find the puzzle piece that would bring her closure.

A knock on her cubicle brought her out of her reverie.

“How’s our star reporter?” Her slightly obnoxious, middle-aged boss said too cheerily. She startled, knocking over the picture and hastily straightening up. She felt completely off her game.

“Great,” she muttered out. “Never better.”

“Good, because I’ve got a new beat for you. It’s not as exciting as your usual stuff, but it could turn into a fun series.”

His words finally lifted the fog she was in. “Sorry, Brent, I’m not available,” she responded a little too harshly. “I’m working a lead right now. Give it to one of the new kids. They’re desperate for some juicy stuff.”

Brent smiled tightly, never liking to be ordered around by a subordinate. Though Angela was his top reporter, not to mention his go-to for political insight, he still wanted to keep up the façade that he had any say in what she did and didn’t work on. She noticed the shift in his demeanor, and tried to smooth her words.

“What I mean is, boss,” she amended, laying it on thick. “I would love to work on your piece. It sounds very interesting and worthy of the best. I just think it would really boost morale for the younger reporters if they were given a shot.”

Brent huffed, pleased by her turn of phrase. After over five years at this paper, Angela knew how to work her boss. She basically ran the place.

“Well, give me some details,” Brent said excitedly. “What sleaze ball are we putting away this week?”

Angela rolled her eyes at his use of “we.” She’d written dozens of pieces that ended up in arrests and pressed charges on major criminals in the city. Somehow, he always let those wins go to his head when all he’d done is lightly edit her articles.

“I can’t say just yet.” She leveled him with her gaze. This early in the game, the less she said, the better.

He rubbed his hands together and grinned in glee. “It must be a big one! I can’t wait to read it!”

He left her cubicle as abruptly as he’d arrived, and she finally breathed out a sigh of relief. She did like Brent most of the time. They’d certainly had their spats over the years, but he always edited her well, and he’d certainly helped her career. As annoying as he could be, she owed her career to him.

Today, though, she was just not in the mood for his grating personality. She was too keyed up, too anxious about what could happen with this story. If this source didn’t pan out, she’d be back to the drawing board. Quite literally. She’d probably have to beg Brent for some scrap of a news story that was beneath her. She should have just heard his pitch.

She looked back at the picture on her desk. She barely kept it out these days. Even after three years, it was sometimes too hard to look at him. He was smiling brightly in his official police photo. He was young and idealistic, believing that he could clean up the streets and change the future of their city.

She’d been right beside him, using her writing to help those in need. Together, they were going to conquer the world. He may have ended up being mayor one day, maybe even governor. She would have covered his meteoric rise, highlighting his compassion and thirst for justice.

Instead, she had to bury him, along with all her dreams of the future. She put the picture in the back of her top drawer, where it had been living since she decided it was time to move on with her life. She wasn’t doing a great job with the moving on, but at least she was trying. With this story, she might indeed find the career she always imagined. She could still be the person she always hoped she’d be, just without him at her side.

The phone rang, startling her again. She was never this anxious about a story. She knew she’d have to get control of her emotions, or she could end up blowing the whole thing. She took a few calming breaths before picking up the phone.

“This is Angela,” she said with her serious reporter voice.

“This is Mac from City Planning. You wanted to know who owns the warehouse off 62?”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks for calling me back.”

As Mac spoke, she felt her heart rate rise even more. Her pulse was thrumming in her ears. She quickly jotted down the address, thanking him and hanging up. She left the office abruptly, shooting Brent a text that she might be out for a few days. She was about to break the story of her lifetime.