Free One night in Daytona (One Night Stands #1) by Ann Grech Page A

reporter was wrapping up a live cross to their pit area.
    “Tensions are clearly high in the Allbright Oil Team after Jos Farris attacked team owner Buck Allbright.  It seems that the darling on and off the track has a bit of a temper and certainly some work to do to patch up his rocky relationship with team ownership.”
    “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer, Farris.  I’ll make sure you’re done.  You’ll never drive another race car again.  This is the end of your career.  Start collecting food stamps.  I’ll sue you for everything you’re worth and more,” Allbright ranted as Jos stripped off his race gloves, unzipped his suit, and pushed through the team area to his private trailer.
     

     
    “And now we cross live to Cassie Lane in Daytona Beach, Florida where Florida’s Senator Ginty has a private box in today’s Daytona 500.”
    “Thank you, Tamara. I’m here with Fiona Lewis, Senator Ginty’s former head staffer who has made allegations of fraud against the Senator, claiming that millions of dollars of campaign funding was misappropriated into Ginty’s personal accounts to maintain a lavish lifestyle, drugs, prostitutes, and a high roller gambling addiction.  Ms Lewis, can you confirm for the cameras the evidence that you have on Senator Ginty’s financials.”
    “I’m sorry, Cassie. I made a mistake.  I’ve since verified that the Senator’s financial dealings are legitimate and no fraud has occurred.  I recant my earlier statement to you and apologise immensely to the Senator for my erroneous judgment.”
    What on God’s green earth just happened?   The staffer’s information was solid and she was determined to expose the lying scum for what he was: a criminal. “So you now deny that payments to exclusive sex clubs and known prostitutes were made from campaign funds?  You deny that significant withdrawals were made from campaign accounts in casinos in blatant breach of campaign spending laws?”
    “Yes, I do.  I’m sorry, Cassie. I made a grave mistake.  You need to believe me and back off,” the former staffer pleaded with her confidant, the woman who’d helped her dig up the dirt on the sleazy Senator and comforted her when the former staffer realised that going public would end her aspiring political career.
    “Has someone threatened you, Fiona?” Cassie asked gently, reading the obvious fear vibrating through Fiona’s body.
    “No, no he hasn’t,” Fiona denied.  “You shouldn’t be saying things like that.  He’d be angry that you’re accusing them of threatening me,” Fiona pleaded with Cassie to stop.
    “Who is ‘he’?  Who are ‘they’?  Who has forced you to lie to the camera now to protect them?”
    “Stop, Cassie.  Please”
    “Answer me, Fiona.  You came to me with evidence that there had been rampant theft of campaign funds.  Now you’re saying that you were wrong, that you made a mistake in reading the records,” Cassie pushed.
    “Yes, okay? I made a mistake,” she cried, turning away from the camera that she only remembered was rolling when Cassie returned her gaze back to it.
    “Well, Tamara, it seems that more questions have arisen from today’s developments in Senator Ginty’s use of the campaign funds.  Back to you.”
    “And that’s a wrap,” Cassie’s cameraman said as the flashing light on the camera blinked off. 
    “Something’s up, John. I need to speak with Fiona.”
    “You’re too late, look,” he motioned as Fiona stepped into a cab.  “Something’s happened to spook that poor girl.  That darned Senator has long tentacles and I think he’s squeezing her to shut her up.”
    “You got that right.  Darn, what a disaster.  The network is not going to be happy about this ‘lil snafu.”
    “Ah, my dear, you have a way with words.” John laughed dryly.
    “Yeah, great.  Just great,” Cassie sighed.  “I’m gonna get my ass kicked for this.  I pushed so hard for this story and for the live cross.