Chapter 50

Collateral Damage

“Roderick, why are you doing this?” asked Jamie.

He gave Jamie a puzzled look. “Sis, I’m doing this for you. And for Lisa. You both deserve to have your stories told.”

Ellen crossed her arms. “I have a question for you, young man. This well-respected businessman you mentioned. Is it Victor Smith?”

Roderick looked thrown off guard, a rarity in Jamie’s experience. “I can’t reveal my sources,” he said.

“You’re looking a little twitchy, so I’m going to guess I hit the nail on the head. You are being manipulated by Portland’s biggest crime boss. Smith is a drug trafficker, a known racketeer, and a man suspected of several murders here in Portland and beyond.” She paused and looked away a moment, then cleared her throat. “I would expect the Times to have better standards.” Ellen turned to Jamie. “Jamie, can you get Ed Salzmann on the phone?”

Jamie returned to her desk to search through the mayor’s contacts.

Ellen said to Roderick, “Ed and I attended law school together. We meet for drinks every time I’m in New York. I believe he’s currently the Deputy Managing Editor, which would make him your boss.”

“Actually, he’s probably your boss’s boss’s boss,” said Jamie.

“I want to let him know what kind of naive and unprofessional reporters he has working for him. Coming to me hours before a story filled with fraudulent information is set to publish is not a way to make a name for oneself.”

“I found the number, Mayor Salder,” said Jamie, enjoying Roderick’s panicked look.

“Okay fine, I lied,” said Roderick. “The story isn’t slated for publication. I just thought since I was in town, I’d try to get your side of the story.”

“Jamie, please remove Mr. Kim from my office,” said Ellen.

“It would be my pleasure,” said Jamie. She grabbed her brother’s arm and pulled him toward the lobby door. “You jerk,” she hissed in his ear. “How could you do this to me? You are a genuinely terrible person. Did you have to ruin my life twice? I actually liked this job.”

“You never said I ruined your life,” he said. “I thought you were okay going to the Academy. That it was better than getting stuck in juvie.”

“Did you ever actually listen to any of the stories I told you, or did you think I was making it all up? That I was exaggerating?” She shook her head in disgust. “I was holding back, you idiot. Think of every story I told you and multiply the shame and abuse and fear by a hundred. That was my life for a year and a half. I lost my high school experience. I lost prom, yearbook, dating, my friends. All the experiences you had, you stole from me. You went to Stanford. I had to get my GED, then go to community college before I could even get into Portland State. Do you have any idea how humiliating that was for me? And now you’re here to ruin the life I just built back up. Then, there’s Lisa. She will never forgive me if you publish this. She trusted me. To be clear—if you go ahead with this story, you’ll lose a sister.”

Roderick looked stunned. “I didn’t know, Jamie. I’m so sorry. I really thought writing this story would help you.”

Jamie stared him down till he looked away. He turned and walked out, quietly closing the lobby door behind him.

Behind her, Ellen spoke. “Jamie, can you come in here?”

Jamie walked slowly into Ellen’s office, bracing herself for the dismissal that was sure to come. She’d have to move back in with her parents while she looked for a new job. Maybe Lisa could hook her up with the temp agency. “Mayor Salder, I’m so sorry about him. My brother is truly awful.”

“At the least, very self-serving. Maybe we can use that to our advantage.” Ellen looked thoughtful. “Is he still in the building?”

“Maybe. He just walked out a few moments ago. Do you want me to see if I can find him? Though I can’t guarantee I won’t push him down a flight of stairs or an elevator shaft.”

“Please do. Find him I mean. I have an idea.”

Jamie ran out to the hall in search of her brother. He was sitting just outside the office on the floor, his back against the wall.

“Roderick, what are you doing down there?”

He looked up at her warily.

“Listen, the mayor wants to talk to you.”

Roderick didn’t move. “I’ve been so selfish. I never realized Jamie, what it meant for you. I never put myself in your shoes before. Would I have survived what you went through? I don’t think so.”

“Empathy’s a bitch,” said Jamie.

Roderick just nodded.

“Come on, the mayor is waiting.”

Together, they walked back to Ellen’s office.

“Tell me what you know about Victor Smith,” Ellen asked Roderick.

“I got in touch with Victor a few months ago after I saw his name on a lawsuit against the Academy. He was extremely helpful, to say the least. Gave me full access to his lawyers, who provided all their discovery documents and put me in touch with former students and staff.”

“And what did you have to do in return?” she asked.

“He told me to dig up as much dirt on you as I could,” said Roderick, looking sheepish.

Ellen pursed her lips. “And your moral compass was okay with that?”

“It’s the news,” Roderick said with a shrug. “Until today, I wasn’t ever particularly concerned about collateral damage. But I don’t want to lose my little sister.”

“Glad you’re able to use this as a learning moment,” said Ellen sarcastically. “Regardless, you don’t have to leave Portland empty-handed.”

“Sure, what do you have?” asked Roderick.

“I’ve been trying to connect Victor Smith with the food cart drug ring I broke up six months ago, and so far, I’ve come up empty. With the contacts you’ve already made with Victor’s organization, perhaps you can find something I’ve missed.”

Jamie’s desk phone rang. Irritated by the interruption, she grabbed the receiver. “Hello? Yes. Really?” Her voice rose in pitch with each word. “We’ll be right there.” She turned to Ellen and clapped her hands together in delight. Slightly mortified by her childish gesture, she eased her hands down to her sides and continued in what she hoped was a more professional manner. “That was the hospital. Sheila just woke up from her coma.”

“Who is Sheila?” asked Roderick.

“A business associate of Victor Smith. I think we’ll all be very interested to hear what she has to say. Are you up for a trip to Good Samaritan?”

“Absolutely,” said Roderick.

Ellen picked up her cellphone and dialed. “Theo, Sheila’s awake. Can you get to the hospital now? Victor has been having her watched. I’m concerned.” Ellen paused to listen, then said, “Thank you,” and hung up. She grabbed her purse and coat and headed for the door. Jamie and Roderick followed.