Too bad he lay with the devils.
I shook his image out of my head.
When he’d approached me at the bar, the crowd of dancing bodies moved to the side to let him through. I doubted he even noticed. In fact, he probably expected it.
I can’t believe he took the memory cards away. I’ll never get them back now.
“We will begin soon.” The show’s main producer, Kelly walked over to me, leaned forward, and finished clipping on my microphone. “How do you feel, Rose?”
“Nervous.”
“Don’t worry. This isn’t New York City.”
“That’s true.” My heart ached for Manhattan—a place where I’d been born and raised. This was my first time moving away.
Kelly grinned. “You’ll find that Paradise is full of fun-loving people.”
“I believe it. Everyone is always smiling and saying hello to me, when I get my mail or arrive home.”
Kelly rose and assessed my microphone. “Have you settled into your new condo?”
I blushed in embarrassment. “A few boxes have been opened, but I’m not fully moved in. I have so much to do.”
“It’s only been a few weeks since you’ve arrived. Don’t worry.”
“I just wanted to jump into the project.”
“About that.” Kelly gave me a sad smile. “We should have lunch next week to discuss alternatives to your news segments.”
“Alternatives?”
“Management doesn’t want you in the North anymore. They’re pulling the plug.”
“What?” I held out my hands. “I came here to expose the city’s human trafficking problem.”
“Well, management believes there is no human trafficking in the North—”
“There’s too many prostitutes in the North to think otherwise.”
“Many say Mr. Ivanov and his people are respectful to the prostitutes, and all the women that chose that life.”
I sighed. “Are you serious?”
“I know that statement sounds crazy, but we don’t know for sure if the women don’t. . .enjoy their jobs. More important, management would like you to back away from the whole subject.” Kelly gave me an awkward smile. “We’ll meet next Wednesday to brainstorm other segments.”
Aggravation rose in me. I did my best to stop it. “Then, what will this interview be about, if not to expose the Diamond Syndicate—?”
“Oh no.” Kelly wagged her finger. “Management doesn’t want any mention of the Syndicate this morning. Don’t even say diamond, even if you’re talking about that watch. Which is fabulous by the way.”
“What happened for management to change their minds?”
Kelly looked around and then came closer. “You can’t say anything to Xandi about this.”
“O-kay.”
“There’s whispers that Dimitri Ivanov’s men showed up to the CEO’s house this morning, bringing fresh donuts, hot coffee, and a message to keep all reporters out of the North.”
I swallowed.
“No one knows what freaked the Diamond Syndicate out, but. . .” Kelly checked over her shoulder and then turned back to me. “It could be because the leader of the West is dead.”
I processed the startling information. “Romeo Jones was killed?”
“That’s the news that was also not to be reported per Dimitri Ivanov’s instructions.”
I shook my head. “We can’t let these guys push us around.”
“Rose, I have two kids and a husband I love very much. I don’t know who you have to protect, but you don’t want to bother anyone in the Syndicate. And. . .I must be truthful. I never loved the idea of your segments.”
“Then, how will we ever get rid of the bad guys?”
“By being the good guys. The best people we can be.”
“And ignoring all the bad things happening around the city?”
Kelly shrugged. “Like I said, Rose, I have a family to consider. Honestly, I never agreed with the station signing off on your segments. I’m glad that we’re going in a new direction.”
I held in my opinion.
“So. . .” She sighed. “Please, figure out a good time for us to meet next Wednesday. Have you eaten at the Secret Garden yet?”
“No, but I’m actually going this Friday night.”
“Oh.” Kelly grinned. “Date?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Focus on having fun here and—”
“Ignore the gangsters causing mayhem.”
“There you go. Plus, you should try Paradise’s caviar limes.” Kelly patted my shoulder and walked off.
This is bullshit.
I would have argued that point, but Kelly had a point of her own. There were other people to consider.
Additionally, I had no children and no one would dare go against my family. They were too high on the political food chain to be threatened or bothered.
I was from a prominent African American Dynasty, my last name Walsh opened many doors among the elite.
Earlier Walshes were enslaved chefs of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. When America abolished slavery, my freed relatives catered and eventually owned small restaurants. They rose in wealth and began building connections within politics—uplifting Du Bois, funding Kennedy, sponsoring Martin Luther King Jr, and eventually providing mega and impactful donations to Obama.
Walsh represented old black money and political power.
That was why I always used my mother’s maiden name, Gillian. This kept my life separate from my family’s glitz and glam. Also, it guaranteed that my accomplishments rose from my hard work and not my parent’s connections.