Chapter Eighteen Harriet #2
But the way she’s defending Patterson, like her shit’s made of gold, is pissing me off. Must be nice to have a boss who doesn’t treat you like crap. Must be nice to have a boyfriend who’s hot and kind. And have a steady job. And a beautiful little upturned nose straight out of a Disney cartoon.
“Okay, that is enough!” Mindy says, voice sharp. “Nic, I know you want to help Sara, but this is outrageous! Barbara is the best person I know. Did she have problems with George? Sure she did, but she was far from the only one. She did not kill him, and I won’t stand here and listen to this crap!”
“Mindy, that’s not what she’s saying—” Nic tries, but she talks over him.
“What is wrong with you, Harriet Baker? You think you can waltz back into town and start accusing good people of murder? You had better not write about Barbara in your little article. And if you do we’ll…we’ll sue! For defamation. And you better bet we’ll win.”
Silence falls and a whisper floats through my mind, cruel and familiar. It sounds a lot like Frankie. You’re a crap journalist, Baker. Always have been, always will be.
I break eye contact with Mindy, cheeks heating.
Nic steps between us, his jaw tight like he’s struggling to stay calm.
“Mindy. I am so, so sorry for…” He glances at me and then away just as quick.
“We don’t actually think Barbara did it.
We’re just exploring every angle, you know?
The cops are charging Sara on Tuesday, and the only lawyer my family can afford is my mom’s cousin Barry, who took the bar eight times before passing.
I’m desperate. Sara’s screwed if we don’t figure this out. ”
Mindy softens. “I understand. But Barbara is one of the most upstanding women…no, one of the most upstanding people I know. She could never, ever kill someone. Okay?” She pets Nic’s arm.
“I have to get back to work. But I’m serious—you better not go spreading this malicious gossip around town, or you’ll be very sorry. ” She directs this bit at me.
“We won’t,” Nic says. “I promise.”
“Thanks. I know I can count on you.” She leaves the room without another glance in my direction.
As soon as she’s gone, Nic turns, anger flashing on his face. “What the hell was that? Is that how you usually conduct your interviews? Jesus, Harriet.”
“What?” I ask, like I don’t already know.
“Are you seriously asking me that? You jumped down Mindy’s throat as soon as we walked into this room! Did you really think she was going to answer anything after that?”
No, of course I didn’t, but I still couldn’t make myself stop for some reason.
I really blew it. I let my stupid mixed-up feelings get in the way of being professional. Now Nic probably thinks I’m a screwup. Probably thinks, Oh, now I understand why she got fired.
I should say something. Apologize even.
“I’m sorry. But don’t you think it’s at least possible that Mindy’s view of her boss is a wee bit distorted? Last time I checked, upstanding citizens do not send letters telling people the world would be better off if they disappeared.”
He shakes his head. “That might be, but she’s Mindy’s hero. You should have let me take the lead and not ignored me when I tried to stop you. If we’re going to be partners, you need to respect what I have to say. Got it?”
“Fine! But since she isn’t going to help us with Patterson, we need to do it on our own. We should try to get into her office and take a look around.”
“Get into her office? That’s—”
“A good idea? Maybe tomorrow? I’d suggest sooner, but I’m going out with Kozel tonight, and he’ll probably be more reluctant to spill the dirt if I was just arrested for breaking and entering.”
“—illegal?” Nic finishes.
“And? Sometimes you have to go the extra mile in order to get what you need!” I’m well aware of how ridiculous I sound, but I can’t seem to stop.
He looks less than pleased. “I doubt your editor will be happy if you start committing felonies, Harriet. Can’t include that in your article, can you? Instead of trying to get us both arrested, why don’t you just ask Kozel if he’s heard anything?”
I hate that he’s right. “Fine,” I say, sounding like a petulant child. This morning has not gone according to plan.
Nic sighs. “Look, I have to get going. Are you ready to head out?”
I nod and trail after him through the library, my eyes trained on the worn heels of his shoes as we twist through the stacks.
Once we’re back outside, he stops. “I’ll see you later, Harriet,” he says, squinting off down the street.
My heart sinks. Did I fuck up so royally that I’ve scared him off for good? “Wait. Where are you going? I thought we could chat. Come up with our next step.”
“I have an appointment.”
“An appointment? Like…a dentist appointment?”
He shakes his head.
“Doctor?”
“No.”
If he thinks I’m going to let this go, he has another thing coming.
“What then?”
He scowls at a nearby tree. “Look, if you must know, I’m going to see my sister. But you can’t just show up at the jail. You have to make an appointment. I made one yesterday. I need to talk to her, alone.”
“Excuse me? You made an appointment without even telling me?”
“Yes.”
“I need to come!”
“No. You don’t. This is exactly why I didn’t tell you.” He’s infuriatingly calm.
“What the hell, Nic? You just said inside that we’re supposed to be working as a team. How am I supposed to write this article if I don’t talk to Sara? I know what questions we need to ask her. Interviewing people is literally my job!”
“Your job—” He rocks back on his heels. “Harriet. I made the appointment because I want to make sure Sara’s okay.
I thought about inviting you along, but I thought she’d be more likely to talk if it was just me.
I gotta say, now I’m pretty glad I didn’t ask you, after seeing how you treated Mindy in there.
If you did that to Sara, she’d flip her shit.
And if you two ended up in a fight, things for her would go from bad to worse. ”
He starts to walk away.
“Nic!” I scramble to come up with something that will change his mind.
He pauses. “What?” He sounds weary. Of me.
“I’m sorry,” I finally offer.
The look he gives me makes me melt into a puddle of shame.
“That’s great, Harriet, but I am going to see my sister. Alone.”