Caress by Grayson Cole Read Free Book Online Page A

that manages the scholarship fund. The focus of the story was on the four boys who died this past year. Ellis gave me a lot of information about them that checked out. He was more than forthcoming, and was trying to bill himself as some sort of good Samaritan.”
    “And those instincts you brag about didn’t sound any alarms?”
    Michael rolled his eyes. Another direct hit. “No, they didn’t. I knew he was lying about his involvement. That’s why I interviewed several of the other sponsors as well as some artists—”
    Claudia interrupted, “So Marshall Ellis was the only person you interviewed from Hatsheput?”
    Michael crossed his arms in front of his chest. He was getting impatient, impatient and irritated. “I told you, I had one source from inside the company who led me to him, and no one else would talk to me. I tried to get in touch with all the right people in that company, from A to Z, and they gave me the runaround. I was able to verify that the company stopped funding Art Sentries through public records.”
    “Who was this source?”
    Michael stumbled. She had never asked him this question, and he had never asked it of her. His source had been reliable, had given him what he needed to uncover the corruption. There was no reason to pass his name around. “Come on, Claudia. You know the deal. So what’s the next step? You said they contacted you.”
    “A VP from Hatsheput flew in late last night, just like you. They’re threatening to sue for defamation and libel and a whole host of other things.”
    “What did Derrick say about the investigation?”
    His sister winced. Michael wasn’t sure if that was from what she had learned or from his invoking the name of her ex.
    “He confirmed what Hatsheput alleged. They were a part of the fund but weren’t overseeing it. Call it negligence if you want, but they weren’t actively a part of what was happening over there. The FBI contacted them after exonerating them of any real guilt and asked them to get more involved. Marshall Ellis was a longstanding friend of Nyron’s but a complete disaster in any of the roles he played at the company. He didn’t know he was being sent over as a pawn in this dangerous game. If he had, he probably wouldn’t have been so stupid. He talked to you to cover for himself.”
    Michael’s thoughts rushed forward, fueled by the adrenaline of panic. “Okay, so this doesn’t change the fact that my story was sound, based on what this Ellis fellow knew.”
    “Yes, but you left it lingering out there. There have been companies destroyed by the hint of scandal, especially companies with a reputation for philanthropy. Their fundraising efforts are diminished; vendors, sponsors, even buyers don’t want to be associated.”
    Michael held up a hand to silence her. “I get it.”
    Claudia lost her temper. “Getting it isn’t enough. This company could sue us for writing an article based on information we got from a man arrested yesterday for embezzling from the very fund you did your expo on—”
    “Ellis was arrested?”
    “Yeah. They were leaving him out there so as to not tip anyone off, but after our article, that was out the window. Michael, do you understand what I’m saying? They could sue us for insinuating Hatsheput is just a front for organized crime when they were actually trying to catch the people responsible. They could sue us because they are likely to lose customers and important business relationships because of a slanted article published in a widely read and respected black publication. I’ve thought of all that. What about the fact that we just tipped off criminals to the fact that the company and the foundation are being investigated? What if they are never caught?”
    Bile pooled in his mouth and he thought he might vomit. He took deep breaths and his eyes rolled back as he went over every detail of the past two weeks in his mind. Meeting Ellis, meeting all those young artists, never getting his calls