But what if Faye knew something about Jade’s death, so they killed her too…
She runs her hands over her face, hating that she can’t control her thoughts. Feeling herself spiraling and in need of a distraction, she closes the email and calls Joel.
Once he picks up, she quickly lets him know she got an exclusive with Emily Dutton and that she plans to have the piece about Jade potentially being strangled—and that being connected to Harlow’s VMAs fall—ready to publish on Monday. Joel is pleased, but can tell something is up.
“You alright?” he asks.
The simple question nearly causes Naomi to burst into tears, which scares her. Matt used to joke she had a heart made of ice because he’d never seen her cry. Not until Faye died.
“Yeah, I’m okay, thanks.” She wavers on whether to share her thoughts about Faye but decides against it. “Just exhausted.”
He doesn’t buy it.
“Naomi,” he starts. “What’s the matter?”
She tells him about Faye, and how she thinks her death could possibly be connected to the Harlow case. “I know it sounds stupid, but there are so many similarities to Jade, and I just found out they were Facebook friends too and I don’t know…”
Still on the verge of tears, she tilts her chin up and opens her eyes wide while pressing her tongue hard against the roof of her mouth.
You’re being ridiculous, she chides herself.Harlow Hayes didn’t kill your fucking sister. That’s crazy.
“Oh sweetheart,” Joel says. It’s the first time she’s ever heard a genuine softness in his voice. “Listen, it’s not stupid. I don’t know how many times I have to tell ya you’re one of my best reporters, it’s why I snapped you up straight outta college, okay?”
Naomi laughs, wiping the snot running from her nose with the back of her hand.
“And it’s completely understandable for you to make those connections. For this to undoubtedly bring your grief to the forefront. If I had known that covering Harlow would have taken this turn, I woulda never sent you, never put you through this.” He sighs.
Naomi’s throat stings as she fights back tears.Jesus Christ, pull it together. She bites at her cuticles, wincing at the pain as she tears off another piece of skin.
“But try and think objectively for a second,” he continues. “Is it really so strange that Jade knew your sister? Two young, beautiful aspiring musicians living in New York. They could have easily met at a party and linked up on social media. It makes perfect sense for them to know each other, run in the same circles. While it’s a huge-ass city, the gigging circuit ain’t that different to the reporting circuit. How many times do you run into the same reporters, photographers, paparazzi from other outlets? I bet you’re Facebook friends with some of them.”
A small weight lifts off Naomi’s chest. He’s right—she is. She exhales the breath she’s been holding, feeling another small weight fall away.
“And I know us reporters from New York pretend like this stuff we cover doesn’t bother us. So I’m going to tell you something my California-born-and-bred ex-wife told me when I first met her. It’s okay to feel things. Feeling things doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. And humans write better stories.”
It’s the cheesiest thing she’s ever heard him say, but it makes her feel miles better in the moment. “Thanks, Joel, you big sop,” she jokes, sniffling.
“I don’t like to remember most things my ex-wives have said to me, but I always try to remember that one. Because in all seriousness, Nay, AI is comin’ for us writers so the only way we don’t lose our jobs to these computers is by using being human to our advantage.”
She laughs again, thinking of one of the outlandish theories she saw online about Harlow being an AI who got out of control. “Right, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“But anyway, try and stay focused. Colton’s funeral is tomorrow, right?”
She confirms, thankful for the change in subject.
“How are you planning on—”
“The less you know, the better, probably,” she says before he can finish his question.
Joel doesn’t necessarily encourage breaking rules, but he isn’t against it if one of his reporters thinks it worthwhile. “Just don’t do anything illegal…”
“Well, make sure you’re on standby tomorrow afternoon in case I need you to bail me out.”
“Hey, you get arrested, you’re on your own, kid.”
“Yeah, whatever,” she replies before hanging up and pulling out onto the interstate.
She knows Joel will be there for her if she needs him, something she didn’t realize was so important to her until now. The fact somehow comforts and disquiets her at the same time.
