Chapter Seven
A iden had a meeting with his editor, and he was late.
John would be handling the article due out soon, just as he had all Aiden’s other journalistic pieces.
The older man had chosen a coffee shop thirty minutes from Sterling Investments and despite the app telling him exactly what time he’d arrive, there’d been an accident on the way holding up traffic.
He jogged to the entrance and glanced around the outdoor seats. John had snagged a table on the patio, and Aiden nodded his head at him before heading inside to order coffee. The rich smell of roasted beans filled the air, along with the indistinguishable buzz of voices mixed together.
Luckily, there wasn’t a line. Most people were already seated with their drinks. After ordering a large mocha latte, he moved to the end of the counter. While waiting, he studied the black-and-white framed photos on the walls featuring various scenes throughout the city.
Suddenly, a tingle of awareness sizzled down his spine.
He’d been on enough assignments to be aware when someone was watching him, and he had that feeling now.
He turned around, scanning the shop and the patrons inside, but no one stood out or quickly looked away.
Next, he glanced out the front window, but he didn’t see anyone watching him there, either.
The barista called out his name and the sensation passed, but Aiden was still on edge.
He picked up his drink and strode outside, settling in on a hard metal chair across from his editor.
Looking around, he knew why John had picked the place.
The tables were placed far enough apart to make it unlikely their conversation would be overheard.
“Sorry I’m late,” Aiden said, easing back into his seat.
“Don’t worry about it.” John pushed his wire-framed glasses up his nose. “I’m just enjoying some time out of the office. My doctor’s been telling me I spend too many hours hunched over the keyboard and staring at a computer screen. It makes my wife happy if I listen to him.”
Aiden chuckled, the man’s words reminding him of his father and Lizzie.
“One day you’ll get married and know what I mean,” John said, laughing.
With the way Brooke avoided him, Aiden doubted it. And he couldn’t see himself growing older with anyone but her. He merely shook his head, causing John to grin.
In his mid-fifties, John Hall had worked for decades at the global online and print magazine that employed both him and Aiden. John was well-respected in the world of journalism, and Aiden had learned a lot from him, and considered John his mentor.
Aiden took a sip of his drink, enjoying the chocolate flavor. “So, do you have a timeline for when my article will run?”
“Three weeks. Front page of the next issue.” John braced his arms on the table and leaned in.
“Are you sure you want it to be your last? I understand you need a break to help with your family’s business, but this article is your best piece yet, and I think it’ll make your career.
There’s no reason you can’t return in a few months when things settle at home. ”
Aiden groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. The article was good. He knew that. It was also the reason he’d decided to make this piece his last.
“I don’t think I’m finished with journalism, but I can’t see myself going back to the traveling aspect of this job. I miss having a home base.” He missed his family and most of all, he missed Brooke.
“Is that the only reason you want to step back?” John asked.
No, Aiden thought. There was more. The job had started off simple enough. He’d been sent to a small European country to investigate rumors of misuse of government funds. Despite the tip-off, Aiden had expected to discover the claims were unfounded.
But a few months in, he had uncovered embezzlement of reserve funds in a country that was already dealing with political unrest. The person, or persons, behind the corruption was still unknown but the proof Aiden discovered was enough to make someone nervous enough to commit murder.
“You already know Ingrid was killed,” Aiden whispered to John. “I can’t say I enjoyed being a target.” The danger during this last assignment had been unexpected and worse than the near miss with the IED.
“I know,” he said sadly.
Ingrid had been Aiden’s best source in the Government Finance Officers Association.
Part of her job at the GFOA had been to provide guidelines for the government’s financial management.
Her position allowed her access that proved misappropriation of the reserve funds.
Aiden had been sure that he could use what she uncovered to nail who was behind the corruption.
“After she died, there were people watching me all the time, secret surveillance, people ransacking my room, and open threats.” He’d been jumping at shadows and meeting government employees in secret to compile information.
John nodded. “But you stuck with it until you uncovered the truth.”
“Part of the truth,” Aiden said. “And that came at too heavy a cost.” Ingrid had gone missing after one of their meetings and a short time later, Aiden had been sent a picture of her body before she’d been discovered days later, with no evidence leading to the culprit.
Scrawled on the back of the photo had been a simple demand.
STOP DIGGING.
His stomach churned at the memory.
Knowing he’d come to a dead end, he’d spoken to John, and they agreed he should leave the country.
But Aiden refused to sit on the information.
He had a duty as a journalist to share the facts with the world.
Not to mention failing to report on the corruption would make Ingrid’s sacrifice for nothing.
But the threats didn’t stop when he returned home. “I got a note this week,” he said, leaning forward and lowering his voice again. “It was put in my luggage, which tells me these people have access at high levels.”
John frowned. “What did it say?”
“Kill the story. Or else.” Aiden ran a hand through his hair as John muttered a curse. “I recognized the handwriting. It was the same bastards who killed Ingrid. She was easy prey, but they’ve made it clear they’ll come for me, too, if we run the story.”
John reset his glasses on his nose. “Are you saying you want me to pull it?”
Aiden shook his head. “No. But this is it for me. I’m ready to move on to something new.” He didn’t think working corporate at the family business was his calling for the future, but he had time to figure out his next steps.
“I get it. I did the traveling thing for a few years in my early days too, and it’s rough. Add in some unhinged bastard sending you threats, and I can’t blame you for taking a step back.” John took a sip of his coffee. “Just know you always have a job with us.”
Aiden smiled. “Thank you.”
“As for the threat, I’d say report it if you want to—”
“No. We need the article to run first and expose the bastards.” Besides, going to the police seemed pointless when the threat was vague; he had no proof who was responsible for Ingrid’s death, which had happened on foreign soil.
“All I can do right now is stay vigilant and hope the danger passes once the article runs. I can’t see the police here being able to do much about something that happened so far away. ”
John inclined his head. “Fine. Then be on the lookout for trouble and be careful. But I don’t think they’ll come for you here in the U.S. If the story triggers an investigation into the corruption, whoever is after you will have much bigger problems than a reporter who pissed them off.”
“I wish I was that confident,” Aiden muttered, a shudder rushing through him.
They finished their drinks, talking about some of his best articles. John told him about his upcoming plans for the magazine, and Aiden sensed he was still trying to tempt him to return.
It wasn’t going to work.