Page 108 of Exposé

"Why would the Mayor have a say in how I run my paper?"

"I find it ironic that he threatened me today, and now you're doing the same."

She shook her head. "Great minds think alike, I suppose."

I stormed out of her office, letting it shut a bit harder than normal, and plopped into my cubicle chair with all eyes staring at me like I'd worn clown makeup.

"What the hell happened there?" Aria said, sliding into my cubicle opening.

"She told me to drop the story."

Aria let out an amused snort. "Now, do you see why I'm going solo?"

"It's looking more appealing." I dropped my phone onto the paper pile, my laptop stuffed in my bag at my feet. "You know, even the Mayor told me to drop it?" Crossing my leg over my knee, I huffed, my arms crossed over my chest. "Something stinks and I don't mean the rotting leftover food in the fridge."

"What are you going to do now?"

"If the Mayor told you not to investigate a specific pizza shop and their rat infestation, what would you think?"

Aria raised an eyebrow. "I would feel more inclined to investigate said pizza shop. Sounds like he has some inside knowledge."

"Exactly." Weird analogy, but she got the idea.

Aria smiled and perched her hands on the arms of her chair. "It's weird, but government officials are usually like that."

"Because they always have something to hide." When there was power involved, there were always secrets, too, and NeuraZene was shrouded in secrecy for some reason. "He could've been more open about the drug problem and explained how it was being handled. I would've taken that. But he..." I lowered my voice and moved closer. "He threatened me, Aria."

"Like full-on physical violence threat?"

"He told me to find a safer story to report on."God, that sounds dumb."It was more how he said it. Aria, he had this look in his eyes. I don't know, but it sent a shiver up my spine."

Aria nodded, her brows pulled down, creating a wrinkle between them. "Be careful with how hard you poke certain people. I don't want you getting hurt."

"I'll be careful. I'm just… frustrated. This story is so difficult to crack, and it's not just some secret scandal or whatever."

"They either don't know enough, or they know more than they are letting on. That's how these entities work." Aria gave a small shrug.

But that was why journalism was here. We pulled back the curtains so people could see the wizard behind it—the one pulling the strings and making their lives miserable.

"I don't know where to look next. I'm lost." A sigh drifted from me as I pinched the bridge of my nose, lessening the tension building in my head. “Hell, I can’t even find a government vehicle pacing a broken neighborhood.”

"Hey, don't lose hope.” Aria leaned over and planted her hand in mine, giving me a squeeze.“You're in a rut. Get some rest and regroup, okay?"

"Tomorrow is your last day. What am I going to do without you?"

"It's not like I'm dying. I'll be around." She laughed and pulled me in for a hug, which had my muscles stiffening. "You've got this. If anyone can figure this out, it's you."

At least Aria and Nate had faith in me. That gave me enough motivation to take another swing on Monday.

"I hope your story is going better than mine."

Aria let out a sharp breath and released me. "I haven't been doing everythingbuttwiddling my thumbs these last few days."

"Lucky."

"Go home. Have a drink or something."

"It's noon."

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