The Perfect Suspect

The Perfect Suspect Read Free Page B

Book: The Perfect Suspect Read Free
Author: Margaret Coel
Ads: Link
days interrogating gang members about a gang-related murder and random muggings? Marie—she had always called her mother, who had adopted her when she was five, by her first name—was in New England visiting a cousin, but Catherine had gone to dinner several times with friends. A couple of times, she had gotten together with Dulcie Oldman, who had been helping her understand her Arapaho heritage, ever since she had discovered last year that she was part Arapaho. She had called Dulcie and gotten her voice mail, and at some point, she had dragged the wine bottle from the back of a kitchen cabinet.
    She had just poured another cup of coffee when she glimpsed the name “Mathews” in the crawl on the TV screen. She moved closer, sipping at the coffee and trying to block out the muted TV voices. The crawl started over. “Police report body of man found shot to death at home of David Mathews, candidate for governor in Colorado. No further details available. Stay tuned to Channel 9 for breaking news.”
    She set the cup down and went looking for her cell phone, which she found on the table next to her bag. A feeling of unreality washed over her, like the feeling she’d had when she awoke, as if the world were rearranging itself in inexplicable ways. She had covered David Mathews’s campaign for the Journal , the rallies and speeches, the photo-op visits to retirement homes and veterans’ halls and Little League ballparks. Rumors swirled about the candidate—financial improprieties, shady business deals, extramarital affairs. She had never succeeded in running down any of them. They were like the dull throbbing in her head, elusive and maddening and persistent. Mathews ran a well-organized, efficient campaign, and if there was anything to the rumors, the evidence had been buried so deeply she doubted it could ever be uncovered. All she’d had were notes, conjectures and innuendos, nothing she could write that wouldn’t invite a libel suit. But all of her investigative reporter’s instincts told her that something about the perfect candidate was not quite perfect. Now someone had been shot to death in Mathews’s home.
    She punched the button for Marjorie’s number. It was still early, a little before seven by the silver watch that dangled on her wrist. Marjorie Fennerman, Journal managing editor, would not be in yet, but calls would be transferred to her home, and Marjorie would decide which to answer and which to ignore. After three rings, Marjorie’s voice said, “I was just about to call you. You’ve heard the news?”
    â€œWhat exactly is the news?”
    â€œThe night editor heard the police radio and recognized the address. All we know is what you’ve seen on TV. Dead body. Male.”
    â€œMathews?”
    â€œThe police aren’t saying until they have an ID. Jason is on the way over there.”
    â€œJason? I’ve been on David Mathews’s campaign since he announced he was running. This is my story.”
    â€œJason has the police beat.”
    â€œHe doesn’t know anything about Mathews.”
    Catherine listened to the slow, thoughtful breathing at the other end, finally broken by Marjorie’s voice. “God, it’s too early in the morning for this. Gubernatorial candidate, thirty points ahead in the polls, certain to be elected, has either been shot to death or could be involved in somebody else’s death. The national news will be all over it, but it’s our story, and I have no intention of being scooped by some carpetbagger from the New York Times . We’re the experts on Mathews. No doubt the campaign and party hacks will issue a lot of stupid press releases. I want you to get the facts behind the releases, work in the background stuff on Mathews and the campaign. Jason will stay on the police investigation. Oh, and I want to see you when you get back from Mathews’s house.”

    David Mathews

Similar Books

The Queen's Tale

Grace D`Otare

Songbird

Maya Banks

Infinite

Jodi Meadows

The Charioteer

Mary Renault