Full Tilt

Full Tilt by Rick Mofina Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Full Tilt by Rick Mofina Read Free Book Online
Authors: Rick Mofina
mean more to me than you’ll ever know.”
    Kate found a depth of warmth and love in Nancy’s kind face that came as close to a mother figure as she’d ever known. Kate hugged the older woman, holding on for a moment.
    “Thank you. I’d be lost, too, without you.”
    “Okay, good night. Now you get some rest and let me know if I can help with anything.”
    Kate took a hot shower and made a cup of raspberry tea, glad that she’d have another day off to recover. Still, something was niggling at her.
    I’m forgetting something.
    Before going to bed, she went through her unopened emails. Most were routine and could wait. Then she came to one from Reeka, sent only minutes before.

    Be in the office tomorrow for an important meeting at 10 a.m.

11
    New York City
    N ewslead’s world headquarters took up an entire floor near the top of a fifty-story office tower on Manhattan’s far West Side.
    Kate waited alone in a corner meeting room. It offered sweeping views of midtown, the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, but Kate only saw trouble in front of her. Being summoned as she was after what had happened upstate was not a good sign, especially on a day off.
    At least she had gotten Grace to school before coming in.
    The large room was cold. Kate used her phone for a quick check for updates out of Rampart.
Nothing.
She listened to traffic on the streets below and the hum of the ventilation system until the door clicked open.
    Three people filed in.
    First, Chuck. His tie was already loosened, his shirt sleeves rolled up and his hair mussed. He dropped a folder on the table and sat without looking at Kate.
    Next was Morris Chambers, from Human Resources. He was the antithesis to Chuck. He wore a suit, button-down shirt and bow tie. He opened a leather-bound executive notebook and clicked his pen.
    Reeka followed, dressed to kill in a dark power blazer that would’ve worked for a funeral. Her face was in her phone, thumbs pausing when she shut the door and started the inquisition.
    “Kate, this meeting is a result of what happened yesterday.”
    Kate threw a questioning look to each of them. She thought this had been resolved, that Reeka had updated Chuck upon his return.
    “I admit that what I did was stupid, but I was not charged.”
    “This goes to your breach of Newslead policy.”
    “But I worked it out with Rampart PD—this was a personal matter.”
    “Yes, Chuck informed us of your sister’s tragedy. It’s heartbreaking. Still, it doesn’t excuse the violation, Kate.”
    Reeka turned to Morris, cuing him to step in.
    “Yes...” Morris cleared his throat. “The policy forbids Newslead staff from using their position for any form of personal gain.”
    “But I didn’t gain anything.”
    “You went to Rampart on a personal, private matter,” Morris read from his notebook. “But you represented yourself as a Newslead reporter on assignment, to New York trooper Len Reddick in an attempt to gain access to a crime scene. After you were refused access, you trespassed.”
    “That led to possible charges.” Reeka stared at her.
    Sensing a noose being tightened, Kate turned to Chuck, who was just sitting there. She couldn’t believe it. She and Chuck had been through hell together. He’d begged her to come to New York and work for him at Newslead. He knew about her sister and had been supportive. He was the most powerful manager in the room and, she thought, her friend. But there he was staring at the skyline. Leaving Kate alone.
    “Quite frankly, Kate,” Reeka said, examining her own glossed nails. “I fail to comprehend why you went up there and did what you did.”
    “What?”
    “My read on this is that it’s a regional story, a rural domestic, a murder-suicide. Didn’t you lose your sister in western Canada?”
    “What the hell do you—”
    “Kate,” Chuck intervened.
    “I was called by Rampart police,” Kate said. “They requested my help and I cooperated. There are strong indications my

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