Free Halfway to the Truth by Anthony Mays Page A

morning. I’m meeting him at eleven o’clock. He even agreed to let a photographer go along with me.”
    “Impressive. I didn’t expect that. I’ll send Bobby with you. He took those long-range photos, so he’ll know what to look for. And just in case,” he added, “we’ll equip him with a hidden camera as well. Probably wouldn’t be a good idea to put it on you. That way you at least have deniability.”
    “Good!” he said with conviction, slapping his hand on the desk. “You did a wonderful job on this Reese. Sorry if I was so rough on you. You’ll learn that my bark is worse than my bite. I’m only riding you because I don’t know how tough you really are. And in this business, you have to be tough — especially if you’re going to be an investigative reporter.”
    “I accept your apology and appreciate your concern for me as well. I’ll admit I’m learning on-the-fly, but I can do this. Just give me your support.”
    “You got it honey. Now go write up the questions you want to ask those dockworkers. We’re going to print your story, so make them good. Ask yourself, what would I want to know about these men? Why do they do what they do?” He saw the look on her face and shut up.
    She got up and left his office heading back to her desk.
    “Hi Reese!” shouted Shelley waving from across the room as she approached her. “Hope you don’t think I’ve been ignoring you? You okay? Apartment alright for you?”
    “Yes, it’s all good. Thank you for asking. We’ve both been busy so it’s my fault too we haven’t had time together. Want to do lunch later? We’ll catch up.”
    “Sure! I’ll meet you at your desk around noon.”
    “Sounds good Shelley. See you then.”
    Reese and Shelley went in opposite directions.
     
    “Mr. Drakos, your son is here to see you. May I show him in?”
    Viktor was standing in front of a large picture window looking through binoculars when he was intruded upon. Looking over his shoulder he said, “Yes, send him in.”
    He returned to his binoculars looking out to the wetlands behind his home. He observed an egret hone in on its prey and swiftly snatch it in its hard, sharp beak. He watched as the fresh kill moved down the long, slender throat of the bird.
    “Good morning father.” Nikolaus took up a seat across the room. “Seeing anything interesting?” he said, looking at his manicured nails.
    Viktor maintained his gaze on the bird as he spoke. “You ever realize how much nature mimics real life Nikolaus? Out there, there’s the hunter and the hunted. The victor and the victim.”
    “Are you talking wildlife or business?” he quipped.
    “There’s no difference. And you would do well to remember that,” he said, turning around and laying the field glasses on top of a marble sofa table.
    The manservant returned with a tray that held a coffee pot, two cups, and napkins.
    Viktor sat directly across from his son, as the tray was placed on the table between them. “Would you like some coffee?” he asked picking up the copper and wood handled Greek coffee pot.
    “No thanks, I’ve kind of lost the taste for frothy Greek coffee. But don’t let me stop you from enjoying a cup.”
    Viktor poured a dark, frothy mixture from the container into one of the cups. He picked it up and sat back into his seat. “Kind of early for a visit. What’s on your mind?” He took a drink while maintaining eye contact with his son.
    “I thought you would want to know there’s a new reporter in town. Appears Doug Williams hired her as an investigative reporter. I had her checked out. She came from a small town on the other side of the state. She’s pretty green from what I hear, so I’m not sure why Mr. Williams would have made her an investigator.”
    Viktor kept sipping from his cup as he listened to his son.
    “Anyway, she’s been assigned to do a piece on dockworkers and she’s solicited my help.”
    Viktor leaned toward the table and put his empty cup back on the