Widow, Virgin, Whore - A Novel by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Author:Deanna Lynn Sletten [Sletten, Deanna Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Deanna Lynn Sletten
Published: 2011-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Katherine entered the offices of the King County Journal with the sole purpose of leaving the school board articles with Earl before hurrying off to meet Jeff for coffee. The Seattle Times had called her yesterday requesting she do an in-depth article about his fundraising group and how the money was distributed within the community. This was in addition to the series of articles she was already writing. Barry had also told her he was open to any other ideas she might have in addition to the AIDS series. "I like your style of writing," he'd said. "Hit me with ideas any time you think of them." That was an offer she definitely couldn't refuse.

Earl was on the phone as she approached his desk. She quietly slid the copy on his pile marked 'Incoming' and turned to leave but he waved her to stay. Impatiently, she stood there while he ended the call.

"Hello, Katherine. How's it going?" he asked as he placed the phone in its cradle. "Sit down, please. I'd like to talk with you."

Katherine refused the offer to sit. "I'm in a hurry, Earl. I'm meeting someone. What do you want?"

Earl cleared his throat and met Katherine's blunt gaze. "The publisher has seen your series of articles in The Seattle Times," he began. "She was disappointed that we didn't run them first."

Katherine raised her brows. "Did you inform her that you turned down the idea when I presented it to you?"

Earl raised his hands in a gesture of defeat. "Now Katherine, I realize that I was wrong about the articles. Obviously, AIDS is a subject that interests a great deal of people. But we all make mistakes, don't we?"

Katherine stared at him without reply. He sat back in his chair and crossed his leg over his other knee, trying to regain his confidence through his pose. "She suggested you move the articles over to our paper first, then The Times, and whoever else, can pick them up over the wire. Since you are an employee of the Journal, it only seems fitting that we run them first."

Katherine stared at Earl, aghast that he would even suggest such a thing. "Are you kidding? I can't do that."

"Now Katherine, you do work for us, after all."

"Correction, Earl. I'm a freelance writer for the Journal, not an employee. And as a freelancer, I can sell my work anywhere I want." Katherine crossed her arms and glared at him. She didn't like where this conversation was heading.

Earl pushed back deeper into his chair, causing his jowls to become more pronounced. He looked like a cornered bull dog. "There's no sense getting upset, Kathy. You've worked for us a long time and I'd hate to see anything get in the way of your job here."

Katherine's eyes narrowed. "What? Are you telling me you'll fire me if I don't agree to let you print the articles first?"

"I'm just saying..."

"I know what you're saying. But the truth is, Earl, you screwed up and now you have to pay for it, not me.

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