I read through so many pages of transactions; I’m starting to see them in my sleep.Rows and rows of numbers and codes, none of which raise any alarms.It’s so boring; anyone else would have given up by now, and that’s what keeps me going—because what if that’s the point?To bury the dirt under so much monotony that it’s barely worth the struggle to look for it.
“When you said it was boring, you weren’t kidding.”
His lips barely move, but the humor in his eyes feels like a win.I’ll take it.
Eventually, we’re all that’s left in the office, and I dive into my stash of drawer candy to quell my grumbling stomach.
“It’s late.You should go home, get some real food.”
Sterling loosens his tie, and I try not to stare.
I should.
For weeks, I’ve been promising myself that I’ll order in less, but between the unpredictable hours and constant restaurant reviews, sometimes, the easiest meal is the only option.
“Sorry,” I say, closing my drawer.“It’s a bad habit.”
“I take it, there’s no one waiting at home with a hot meal?”
Not unless my neighbor counts.
“Not anymore.He, uh, met someone else and moved back home last month.I’m free to eat as much candy as I’d like.”
A yawn I can’t stifle escapes me, cracking my jaw.This week has been long, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Sterling is currently grinding his teeth, so I know he’s had enough.
“By the way, who is it?”I ask.
Sterling grunts what sounds like a question mark—first time I’ve ever heard anyone articulate punctuation before.
“Your source.You didn’t pick Monday arbitrarily.You’re on a time crunch to interview someone, and you need this to back it up.”
I know I’m right when he spins around to face me.
“Going directly to Cox would never work,” he says.“He’s too prepared for it.Better to talk to his PA, Rose.She’s with him constantly, and she would have intimate knowledge of his calendar and everyone he talks to.”
“Wouldn’t she be covered by an NDA?”
“Yes, but there are options, if I find the right angle.I know she’s in the market for a new apartment, so if I can catch her at a viewing, I might be able to arrange an interview.”
I don’t like it.If she works as closely to Cox as Sterling says, he’ll be paranoid about her spare time.
“That’s a big if.”
“Which is why it’s only a backup.Rose has a single appointment each week that she never misses—lunch with her sister-in-law, Tegan.”Sterling pulls up a photo on his phone and passes it to me.“Guess who works at the same bank that manages all of Cox’s business and personal finances.”
“You want to interview the sister-in-law?”
“I want her to help me convince Rose to go on the record.”
A chill licks up my spine.This is serious stuff.“She has to know if he gets spooked, it’s her sister taking the fall.”
“Perhaps.Unless he’s got something over them that’s keeping them quiet.”His voice is steady, assured, and why wouldn’t it be?He’s probably dealt with this situation a hundred times before.A thousand.He’s probably dealt with worse.I’m the one who has been pushed into the deep end.
Cox isn’t who I would have pictured as a real-life villain, but I won’t pretend to be surprised.He fits the profile easily enough—generational wealth, a lifelong love affair with fame, with catchy sound bites the press continually eats up.But Sterling is right; if there is any wrongdoing here, Cox has spent a lot of time ensuring it’s as buried as it can be.
“You know if you do this, your life is going to get difficult?”I might not stroll the political beat very often, but even I’ve seen Cox buddied up next to our owner, Hayden Lee.
