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“It’s a crime to do your job poorly,” Harris said. “And it’s definitely a crime to go through someone else’s phone and track them when that person is a police officer working on a highly-sensitive case.”

Ms. Campbell looked over at her cameraman who shrugged his shoulders.

“Let the record show that I could make your life a living hell,” Harris continued. “Your boss, Mr. Sinclair? He and my father were pretty good friends back in the day. I guarantee you that Bill is more worried about staying on my good side than he is about staying on yours.”

For the first time, Campbell looked worried. “I was trying—”

“To do your job. Yes. I know.” Harris put her hands on her hips. “I’m going to give you some insider information, off the record. And it will stay off the record, do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“That stunt you pulled the other day. You know, when you released information about how those women were killed, you remember that?”

Campbell’s jaw was set. “Yes, ma’am.”

“That was sensitive information that we could’ve used to corner a suspect. But since you chose to make it public knowledge, you took one of our tools away. It could’ve been your fault that we might’ve missed out on catching this guy.”

“I—”

“I’m not done.” Harris took a step forward and Cassie saw the reporter shrink back. “This is the part that stays off the record. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“This isn’t over yet and if you report on what you saw here today, you will, without a doubt, be charged with an accessory. Am I clear?”

The reporter gulped. “Crystal, ma’am.”

Harris turned to the cameraman. “That goes for you, too.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His voice cracked halfway through.

“Get in your van, drive away, and go home. I will be calling your boss to let him know you crossed the line, but that I am interested in giving you an exclusive when this is over.”

“An exclusive? Why would you do that?”

“It’s a peace offering,” Harris said. “I don’t need enemies in the media, and something tells me you’re going to be around for a while. If you can sit tight for a few more days, I promise I’ll give you a story worth telling.”

“I appreciate that, Detective.”

Harris looked at the reporter for a long moment. “Can I give you a word of advice, Ms. Campbell?” When she nodded, Harris continued. “You’ll catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

“I’ve heard that.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. You’re good at your job. I think you have a promising career ahead of yourself. You’re going to make enemies throughout your life. Make sure it’s worth the trouble.”

Campbell nodded her head and got back into the van. Her cameraman slammed his own door shut and performed a K turn and drove back the way they came.

Cassie waved her hand in front of her face to clear the exhaust and dirt that kicked up in the van’s wake. “Do you think that’ll work?”

“For a while, maybe.” Harris watched them go. “But not forever. She’s smart. She’s tough. She’ll do what she needs to in order to get a story. If she sees me as a willing source, she’ll behave.”

“How hard was it not to cuff her just to see the look on her face?”

Harris threw her head back, laughing. “So hard! I thought about doing it, like, three times.”

The pair of them turned back to the house. “What are you going to do with Ramirez?” Cassie asked.

“I don’t know. I kind of hope Chief goes easy on him. I think he had no idea. But there needs to be consequences to his actions, otherwise he’ll keep making mistakes.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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