The Cover-Up

A heavy mist cloaked Charity Falls in a chilly drab gray. Street lights strained to shine through the fog, projecting eerie glowing orbs twelve feet above the ground. Few dared roam the sidewalks or drive the streets; the low visibility forced people to hunker down in their homes and wait for the morning sun to chase away the gloom.

Kendal Greeley wrapped her coat tighter as she walked quickly in the brisk night air. Normally, she would be home cuddled up with a good book and her Black Labrador Retriever, but this night pushed her out into the biting cold and fog with a purpose. She missed the hustle and bustle of writing in a large city. News stories in metropolitan regions wrote themselves. While working for the Sacramento Bee, she spent countless hours tossing leads out, now, she struggled to find one per week. Had her recently widowed mother not begged her to come home, she would still be the queen of scoops and potentially winning another Pulitzer. Being an investigative reporter forced her to dig for stories, and she loved to dig, but in Charity Falls, finding the sensational or controversial in Church bingos and quilting club gossip was nearly impossible. But on this night, an anonymous caller requested a meeting and promised a story.

Her mind replayed the earlier call at the newspaper office. The caller requested 'Kendal Greeley' and the receptionist patched the person through. "Meet me at Pine and Locust at 10:00 pm. There's someone you need to investigate." She did not recognize the voice and the caller id read 'Unkown.' "Probably a cheap burner phone," she thought. And now, here she was, walking the deserted shrouded streets of Charity Falls at night, alone. She glanced at the phone glowing in her hand... 9:56. She paused at her destination and strained to see any other signs of life. A silhouette shifted under a large oak tree, and a voice said, “Please turn around.” Kendal turned to face the street. Footsteps shuffled onto the sidewalk and stopped. Kendal's heart raced as she wondered if her safety was in jeopardy.

The mysterious person dropped a manila envelope at her feet and said, “Don’t move until you’ve counted to fifty….slowly.” Kendal nodded. She noted the voice, and recognized it as being the same as the caller earlier in the day.

As she counted, she heard footsteps retreating, and then silence. A few moments later, a lone dog a block away detected the individual and barked ferociously, protecting his territory.

“…49…50.”

Kendal stooped to pick up the envelope tucked it inside her coat and headed for a place safer and warmer.

_______________________________________________

The door jingled as Kendal slipped into Jamison's Coffee House. A local radio station faded in and out in the background, Christmas songs setting a festive spirit. Kendal unwound her scarf and draped it over the coat rack. She hung her coat over the same peg and settled into a booth. Parker Jamison nodded a greeting. "The regular?" he asked.

"Yes, please."

Kendal broke the envelope's seal and dumped the contents, a little black notebook and a check for $20,000. Her eyes bulged when she noted the amount. She opened the notebook and read the note on the top line. It said simply, "The Mayor cheated. Dig."

The outcome of the mayoral election held earlier in the year shocked the town. Chance Himmel defeated longtime Mayor, William Bledsoe. Mayor Bledsoe loved Charity Falls and worked tirelessly to turn the dying little hamlet into a popular bed and breakfast community. Now, many people from across the Country chose Charity Falls as an overnight layover when traveling to beaches on the Western seaboard. Before the Mayor's ingenious plan launched, the economic outlook for Charity Falls was bleak. Many citizens of Charity migrated to larger towns where jobs could be found and necessary staples could be purchased in bulk. Mayor Bledsoe sensed if nothing changed, Charity Falls faced extinction. He challenged several families to transform their homes into Bed and Breakfast's. The Mayor applied for government assistance and federal aid flooded in. Old Victorian homes received a much needed facelift and with a few ads posted online, people flocked to Charity Falls. Boutiques, restaurants, and cozy coffee shops like Jamison's popped up and benefited from the tourist boon.

When Mayor Bledsoe conceded to his opponent six months ago, Kendal was shocked along with half the town. Mayor Bledsoe had resurrected Charity and pledged to continue forging ahead for a better tomorrow. His re-election seemed certain. But the supposed certainty failed to materialize. Citizens pressed the Governor's office to investigate for voter's fraud to no avail. The County Commissioner administered the oath of office, and Chance Himmel assumed the position.

"Here ya go, Kendal." Parker set the steaming drink on the table and plopped into the booth, sliding a small creamer packet to her side of the table. "It's a slow night," he said smiling. "The fog and cold are keeping everybody in. What are you doing out?"

"Work, Parker," she commented, sipping her Caffe' Macchiato.

"Work , huh? You doing a review on the best coffee in town?" he teased.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "No, I met a source tonight...and I've got a possible lead for a story." She paused, breathing in the warm steam rising from her cup. "But I don't know what the story is...at least yet."

"What do you have?" Parker asked.

"A name and a place." She opened the envelope and slid the paper across the table.

Parker eyed the paper and frowned. "You know how I feel about that guy. So, you think this anonymous source is a whistleblower?"

"Could be," she nodded. "He paid in advance." Kendal slid the check across the table.

"Woah."

"Yes, that sums it up nicely," she responded.

The bell above the door jingled; another person walked in, shaking off the cold. Charlie stood and welcomed the patron to Jamison's. "Get this guy," he mouthed over his shoulder, then grabbed a pencil off the front counter to take the customer's order.

Kendal stared at the vague message and slid her fingers across the substantial check. "Okay, Mr. Mayor, what are you up to?" she whispered. Her phone vibrated inside of her coat. The display read, Unknown. She expected to hear the voice of her anonymous informant. "This is Kendal."

"Ms. Greeley, you're out of your league. Leave it alone."

The phone went dead. "Parker," she beckoned. "Bring me another. Make it a double."