Vengeance Road by Rick Mofina Read Free Book Online Page A

Mary Peller’s voice trailed off and she stopped to regain her composure. “We don’t have much money, Mr. Gannon. Jo left last week on the bus to Florida. She was supposed to set herself up then return for Cody. But I haven’t heard from her.”
    â€œNothing?”
    â€œNot a word. She never arrived. She should’ve been there days ago. It’s like she’s vanished.”
    â€œDid you call the police?”
    â€œPolice here, police in Florida, social workers. Nobody cares.”
    â€œYou consider hiring a private detective?”
    â€œI can’t afford it.”
    She passed her folder to him.
    â€œI was hoping you could do a story, it might help me find her. You’re good at finding things out. Please, Mr. Gannon, you’re my only hope.”
    Gannon looked at the folder’s contents, beautiful pictures of Jolene and Cody, some letters, personal papers, numbers, addresses, more pictures. One photo stopped him.
    Man, she looks like Cora in this one .
    A shadow fell over them. When Gannon lifted his head, Nate Fowler was there.
    â€œExcuse us, ma’am,” Fowler said, turning to Gannon. “I need you in my office, now.”
    Fowler left.
    Gannon closed Mary Peller’s folder, gave her his card and stood.
    â€œCan you leave this file with me?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI won’t guarantee I’ll do a story. But let me look it over. I have to go. One way or the other, I’ll call you.”
    Mary Peller took his hand and shook it.
    â€œThank you. Thank you for listening.”
    â€œJeff will show you out.”
    In Nate Fowler’s office, Ward Wallace’s haggard face conveyed the climate. Gannon had stepped into a shit storm.
    â€œShut the door.” Nate twisted a rubber band around his fingers while staring at Gannon.
    â€œJack, as managing editor of this paper I sit on the boards of many charitable organizations that do a lot of good work for this city. Did you know that Detective Karl Styebeck is also a board member of some of these groups?”
    He didn’t know that.
    â€œAnd did you know, Jack, that I was reminded of that fact this morning when I got a wake-up call from the publisher, who got a wake-up call from a police commander, who said your story was wrong?”
    â€œWrong?”
    â€œHe called it a fabrication and demanded a retraction.”
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding.”
    â€œAm I smiling?”
    â€œMy story’s not wrong.”
    â€œIt should’ve been verified before the presses rolled. I should have been called.”
    â€œWe called you, Nate,” Wallace said.
    â€œI got in last night off a late flight from Los Angeles and had no messages.” Fowler glared at Wallace, then Gannon. “Give me your source’s name so we can confirm and stand by the story. Otherwise we run a retraction.”
    Gannon swallowed, took quick stock of Fowler’s office, the citations, framed news pages, including Gannon’s for the Pulitzer nomination. There were photos of Fowler with city, state and federal politicians. His wife had a power job with the New York State attorney general’s regional office. His brother was married to the publisher’s daughter.
    Fowler was a political player and Gannon didn’t trust him.
    â€œI can’t give you my source’s name.”
    Nate looked at Wallace then back at Gannon.
    â€œYou can’t? Did I hear you right?”
    â€œMy source has too much at stake.”
    â€œAnd you don’t?” Fowler glared at him. “Do you have any documents supporting the story?”
    â€œNo.”
    Nate Fowler glared at Ward Wallace then Gannon.
    â€œJesus. So we have nothing in our possession. No warrant, no affidavit, no court record?”
    Gannon shook his head.
    â€œDo you have a source or not, Jack?”
    â€œI have a source, but I can’t give them up to anyone. I gave my word. You have to trust