Page 61 of For The Record

BA: Thank you for your suggestions, Mr. Leong, but I think we have to continue with our investigation still. Tell me, do you have any antagonistic feelings toward Ryder Black?

ML: That’s crazy. I don’t even know the guy, Mr. Anderson. I’ve talked to him maybe five times since he was hired here.

BA: Because of any dislike on your part?

ML: I just told you that I don’t know him very well, and you’re assuming I don’t like him?

BA: Moving on. How about Volume Records? Would you say that you feel positively or negatively towards the company?

ML:I don’t know. I mean, I like working here and all, but…

BA: But?

ML: It would be nice to get more recognition for what I do. I mean, I was supposed to be the one taking the lead on the Ryder Black account, you know? I’ve been here for five years. Then Skye Holland comes swooping in and steals that job from me. I was due for a promotion.

BA: Would you say that caused you to become… resentful of her success?

ML: I thought you were trying to find out the root of the leak, not talk about personal issues. Are you a therapist or an HR guy?

BA: Personal motives can be the source of many business problems. Please, continue, Mr. Leong. How did you feel about Skye Holland?

ML: She slept her way to the top. And she’s dumb enough to believe any sob story that someone sells her.

BA: Why do you say that?

ML: I mean, she only got the job because she was dating Ryder. Now, she kept her job by dating Leo Perez.

BA: I wasn’t aware that the two were romantically involved. Is there anything else you’d like to comment on regarding this subject?

ML: I think I might have said too much

BA: You’ve been very helpful, Mr. Leong. Thank you.

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I read the transcript over and over until the black ink blurs on the white page. None of the words change, yet the rage in me that I thought had quieted down comes to the surface again, a yawning abyss threatening to pull me in, suck me down. I stand from the desk and pace, crumpling the sheet of paper between my hands.

She slept her way to the top. Mark Leong is fired. I don’t even care if he leaked the song or not. He’s out.And she’s dumb enough to buy any sob story someone sells her…What was he referring to?

A knock at my office door startles me, making my shoulders tense. “Who is it?”

“It’s Skye.” She sounds hesitant, so unlike her usual self that something melts in me, the rage dialling down to a manageable simmer. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.” I lob the transcript into the trash. “What’s up?”

“You look upset,” she says, twisting a gold charm bracelet on her wrist, a music note pendant dangling from it. Her other hand holds a paper bag.

“I am,” I admit, surprised at the emotions that she draws out of me, the honesty that I allow myself when she’s around. “What’s that?”

“This?” She lifts the wrist with the bracelet. “Ryder gave it to me… I keep meaning to throw it out.”

“No, I meant the bag,” I say, though I wouldn’t say I’m enthusiastic about the bracelet being from her ex. Still, I file away the information for later use. It seems unlikely that she’d wear a bracelet with a music note on it, considering what I’ve heard her say about playing the piano. That it felt like something she was doing out of duty, not desire or feeling.

“Lunch,” she says, and almost immediately, my stomach growls. It’s one o’clock already? I’ve read three other interview transcripts before Mark’s, but his transcript consumed the most of my time and energy. “Annabelle told me to give it to you. She says it’s Korean from the food truck outside. She had to go to an appointment or something… That’s all I came here to do. I have to get back to work.”

“We have food trucks outside?” I say, blinking.

Skye gives me a strange look and walks toward me, pressing a hand to my forehead as if to check for a fever. “They come once a week on Fridays. Are you okay?”

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