Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
N aya wouldn’t let anything stop her from getting answers for Zack. She parked her car in the alleyway behind the firehouse, then made her way down the side street toward the New Blooms Spring Festival.
She would pursue this story for Zack’s sake. Show him they were on the same team. Any success at work from this story was an added bonus.
Naya opened up the festival map to check the route. She wanted details on why Sylvia had been part of the group that had sabotaged the CEO’s house. Which meant she’d arrived early to the festival.
The Green Warriors booth would be right next to the firehouse booth. It made her second stop even easier.
If things went south during her interview with Sylvia, cops were on standby thanks to extra security measures for the day and the crowd this event drew.
Tazwell stood at the entrance to the line of booths along the sidewalk. Ramble had staked his claim by the speakers next to the steps of the city hall.
Zack would be nearby too, although he wouldn’t be thrilled if he found out what kind of investigating she was doing. Still, her body flooded with warmth at the thought of being around him.
He’d texted her with information about the festival and suggested they meet up after the truck run was finished. But his message had given no indication as to where he stood after their previous conversation.
There was no use creating imaginary scenarios that would only serve to tie her stomach into a tight knot.
Naya waved to Tazwell, then headed toward the Green Warriors booth. Even from far away, the lime-green tent stood out among the other vendors. Barricades stood in place along the perimeter so pedestrians wouldn’t mill around the streets where the trucks would make their entrance.
Music flowed through the air as Naya walked toward the center of the hubbub. It reminded her of the kanaval she and her family would attend every spring in Haiti. The music, vendors, and vibrant colors that lined the marketplace always drew locals and tourists. And the best part was the celebration lasting for three months. Each Sunday after church, Naya, Dominic, and their dad would head to the town square to join the festivities.
A fountain stood in the center of the walking path, and Naya squinted against the sun. Was that Ingram? She approached the sitting area, and sure enough, her friend sat on a bench, her long black hair pulled back in a braid.
“What are you doing here?” Naya slid on her sunglasses.
Ingram stood and hugged Naya.
After their conversation yesterday, Naya was almost surprised her friend had come, but it did make sense since Ingram knew Sylvia from work. Ingram had an amazing ability to separate the personal from her professional life, whereas Naya often had few boundaries between her professional and personal lives. When work took her out of the office space, it made it even harder to separate the two.
Naya could probably learn a thing or two from Ingram.
“I couldn’t let you do this alone. Not with so much at stake.”
“Thanks.” Naya hugged Ingram again. “I appreciate it.”
“I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t. Someone has to watch your back when you get an idea in that head of yours.” Ingram tapped her temple. “I might work for Ethos, but I care more about you than a paycheck.”
Naya blinked, then swallowed. The Lord had blessed her with a friend who had her back. Just like she had Ingram’s. There was no telling how this interaction with Sylvia would go. Naya just hoped it didn’t turn ugly.
The woman unboxed signs at the group table. She sported a hunter-green T-shirt with the Save Our Land logo.
It didn’t matter whether the recent attacks had been intended for Naya or Zack. Although, after yesterday’s findings, her gut said the two were related somehow. Today would be one step closer to finding the answers.
“This is a nice spot for raising awareness.” Naya stepped under the canopy.
Sylvia put the empty box under the table, then turned her attention to Naya. “You here to join us? The city council won’t miss us today, that’s for sure.” She crossed her arms. Her lips turned down. “Ingram. You decide to come to the good side too?”
“Just tagging along with a friend.” Ingram placed her arm around Naya’s shoulders.
“Actually, we had a few questions we were hoping you could answer.” Naya smiled.
Sylvia huffed. “She works for Ethos. Why not get details from her?” She pointed to Ingram.
Interesting . Naya raised an eyebrow. She didn’t want to reveal Ingram had told her about Sylvia working for Ethos, but the woman must know she couldn’t prevent others from finding out that information.
“I like to go to sources who I wouldn’t have bias toward. Make sure I get the full story.”
Sylvia huffed. “I don’t know what I can offer you.”
“As an employee of Ethos, I’m sure you have valuable insight.”
Sylvia’s eyes widened. “I will not?—”
Naya interrupted. “I’m curious about your involvement with both groups.” Naya needed to change tactics if any answers were to come from this conversation. “It’s noble of you to want to preserve the environment. Are you getting information to present reform ideas to the Ethos staff?”
Naya refrained from pulling out her recorder or paper. She needed to build trust with the woman first, not make her think she was being interrogated.
Sylvia’s eyes darted left and right, then she leaned over the table. “Something like that. But I can’t share anything here.” She leaned back and motioned to Ingram. “Can you watch the table while I go talk to your friend?”
Ingram turned to Naya and pursed her lips.
I’ll be fine, Naya mouthed.
They were in a highly populated area, so it would be silly for someone to pull a stunt now.
“Let’s go chat by those trees.” Naya pointed to the shaded area by a fence. It would be out of earshot but still visible.
They made their way over, and Naya kept her back to the fence just in case. There was no point being caught off guard.
She turned to face Sylvia. “What are you hoping to present to Ethos?”
“Proof of malicious intent.” Sylvia sneered.
They were jumping right in. Naya swallowed. “That is quite the claim. How so?”
“I have sources that say the environmental group is causing the destruction by dumping chemicals into the water. Then they try to blame it on Ethos!”
“Have you gathered any evidence to support the hearsay?”
“I’m trying!” She huffed. “It takes time to build people’s trust. They want to make sure you’re one of them first.”
“In the meantime, people are getting hurt.”
Sylvia set her hands on her hips. “I’m doing the best I can.”
“But it’s all to benefit Ethos.” Naya didn’t condone Sylvia’s approach, but she understood. “If the environmental group is doing it, how are they going about it without anyone finding out?”
“They have a drop-off point, but I haven’t been able to figure out where it is yet. Everyone knows money is at the root of this problem. Government funding is assisting those who are sick. Insurance companies are winning too. The faster this group can make claims against Ethos, the more money the organization gets to ‘support the environment.’” Sylvia used air quotes for the last part.
Naya read between the lines. The group was getting monies that would benefit its agenda, even if they didn’t say it outright. Although, the insurance company’s involvement piqued Naya’s interest. How were they winning?
Surely an insurance company would be more likely to conspire with a large company like Ethos over a local environmental group.
She stowed the thought away for later. Right now, it seemed more like quibbling than someone causing the problem in order to cash in.
“How did you know I worked for Ethos?” Sylvia narrowed her eyes. “This is supposed to be an undercover task. Did Ingram rat me out?”
Something about the woman’s tone made Naya ready to defend her friend. What might Sylvia say to Ingram when they were back in the office? Her friend had enough to worry about right now without an altercation added to the list.
Naya winced. “You were in a picture Green Warriors posted on social media.” She didn’t want to lie. Better to get Sylvia to confirm Naya’s hunch rather than throw Ingram under the bus. “How long have you been working for both sides?”
“I guess you didn’t get the job as reporter for nothing.” Sylvia backed up a step. “I’m gonna find that evidence before you rat me out.” She walked off.
Naya headed back to the environmental group’s table and gave Ingram a discreet thumbs-up. “I want to go check out Eastside Firehouse’s set up.”
Ingram eyed her.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Fine. That craft tent is calling my name,” Ingram said. “I’ll meet you at the firehouse spot after.”
Sylvia’s deflection to Naya’s question about her work at Ethos and Green Warriors told her there was more below the surface. Between a supposed drop-off location for waste and the insurance company claims, Naya had enough leads for more searches.
She wanted to ditch the rest of the festival and get back to the office and see what else she could find. But people were more important than work. Even if the two mixed. She wouldn’t shut others out or make them think she only needed them when it benefited her.
Several young boys stood at the firehouse table, handing out fliers and candy. Naya recognized some of the fire crew who chatted with each other a few feet behind the teens. They weren’t in turnout gear, but they all sported matching navy zip-up jackets. A few had the truck emblem, while others sported the rescue one.
“How did you all get chosen to man the table?” Naya pegged the boys as early high-school age.
“Stephens gave us an in,” one boy piped up, his chin lifted. His nametag read Alex .
“Here’s information on fire safety.” Another boy handed her a pamphlet.
She took the flier. “How do you know Zack?”
“Our foster parents are friends with Zack. And now he hangs out with us too.”
How had she not known Zack helped out with foster kids? Given the smile on these kids’ faces, the interest Zack showed them might have changed their whole outlook on life.
If she’d needed a reason to be impressed by him, this would’ve been a good one. Too bad she didn’t.
An ache grew in her chest.
Alex nudged his friend with his elbow. “Ow. What was that for?”
“She doesn’t need to know all that information.”
Naya understood too well the stigma that came with being labeled as a foster kid. A somebody nobody wanted. “I was in a foster home at your age too.”
“So you get it?” Alex lifted a sad gaze her way.
“I do. I know you might feel alone but it’s not true. I had people who supported me while in foster care who are now like family to me. My best friend is right over there.” She pointed to Ingram at the booth next to them. “And her parents have become like a second mom and dad to me.”
“Whoa. That’s cool.”
“And I know Zack sees you all as his friends too.”
“Oh yeah. He’s the best.” The curly-haired boy puffed out his chest.
The smiles on their faces gave Naya an idea. This connection would make a beautiful story. One that highlighted the importance of community and raised awareness on the realities of foster care.
She was ready to ask them their names, but a siren broke through the air, grabbing everyone’s attention.
Several short beeps blasted afterwards.
“That’s them.” One of the boys hopped up out of his seat.
Another called to the firefighters, “They’re coming!”
Sure enough, the fire engine rolled down the street. The big red truck flashed its lights, sirens going.
Naya moved up to the front of the crowd to get a better view. A couple of other boys waved from the windows and tossed candy.
Naya pulled her phone out to capture the moment.
This story definitely needed to be told. She’d be able to ask Zack for more details in a little bit. The route was almost complete. There was one corner up ahead before the parking spot outside the city council where other floats were already lined up.
Several pops pierced the air.
Screams echoed all around.
A woman wheeled her stroller to the side while a group of teens shoved past an older man.
Naya crouched to the ground by the table for cover, and her pulse pounded in her neck.
Officers raced toward a building where the shots had come from. The engine horn blared. Naya couldn’t make out Zack in the chaos, but one thought plagued her mind.
Had the shooter hit anyone?