Black Iris

Big news

Iris

I didn't go home with Blake. I didn't even speak to him after the day in court was done. I just stood up, found my parents, and left with them. He sent me a few angry texts before I switched my phone off.

"Was that okay?" Ma asked, when we were in the car driving away, finally free of the press.

I thought of her words on the stand, and reached out to gently touch her arm.

"It was perfect."

Ma asked if I wanted to go home. Back to the farm. But I told her no. I had things to do here first. I borrowed her phone, not wanting to switch mine on again, and told her to take me downtown.

As the number rang out, I was worried it wouldn't be picked up. But just when I thought it was going to voicemail, someone answered.

"Hello?" A gravelly voice spoke. I hadn't heard that voice in a long time, and it caught me off guard for a second.

"Daniel," I said, once I'd collected myself. "It's Gwen. Do you still work in advertising?"

"Gwen? Guinevere West?"

"Yes, Dan. Do you still-"

"Oh god, Gwen, I've been trying to get onto you for months. The police keep telling me to be patient, and that they couldn't share info about you, but you wouldn't talk, and-"

"Dan, please," I begged. "Do you still work in advertising?"

"Yes, Gwen, but-"

"So you know a good photographer? Someone in the city, that might be able to get to downtown right now?"

"Just answer my question, goddammit, I need to know-"

"Yes." I said, cutting him off. He stopped stumbling on the other end of the line. My voice trembled when I talked, lifting my hand to my face to knead my temples. "The answer the question you want to ask. It's yes. But please, Dan, this is important. Can you get a photographer to downtown Denver in the next hour?"

He was quiet for a moment. Then, in a breathless whisper. "Yes. I can. Just... let me know where we need to go."

"I'll text you the address in a few minutes. Thank you, Dan," I said, oozing with gratitude. Then it morphed into guilt. In a heavy voice, I added, "and, I'm sorry."

Before he could reply, I hung up.

I bit my lip, thinking for a moment. If I wanted to do this, I needed to do it right.

So I searched for another number, one that I knew was saved on my phone, but might not be available online.

The only number I could find was a public one, not her mobile. But if I was lucky, I might be able to get through.

I called it.

"Hello, CBC Denver, how can I help?"

"I need to speak to one of your reporters, Bella Saunders. I have something for her."

"I might be able to put you through, could you tell me your name?"

I let out a small breath. "Guinevere West."

Not Iris. Not pet. Gwen.

There was a pause.

"Let me see what I can do."

A few minutes later, Saunders' voice echoed through.

"Hey Gwen, what's up?

"How soon can you print a story?" I asked, my head spinning.

"That depends what we're printing. But these days, most of our articles are digital, which can have a turnaround of a few hours if it's urgent. Do you want to do another interview?"

"Yes," I said. "And I can get you photos."

"Photos of what? And what's the angle, Gwen. Because I don't know if I can do the caring mother rejected lover angle we did the last time, given how connected you and Blake seem. But if you can tell me about the video people think is you jumping out of the car..."

"I don't want to do any angle. I just want to tell the truth. I can tell you about the car. I can tell you about everything."

"Everything?" She echoed.

"Yes. Whatever you need to know. But it needs to be soon. It needs to be today."

"What you're talking about... it sounds like an exposé. That's big news, Gwen."

"I know. And it might be even bigger. But can you do it?"

She murmured. "I'll be honest Gwen... we've already been working on an investigative story on the whole trial. We have a lot on you both. So, if we were to do it now, it would be a push, but I could write it up tonight. I can talk to the editor, get a few other people on to make sure it's solid. If it gets approved, we might be able to get it out no later than 9am tomorrow morning."

Before the trial.

"I'll send you the address."

After I spoke to Saunders, the next step was location. Both Daniel and Bella were waiting on the place to go. I had a few ideas. There was Blake's apartment, but then I didn't want him to walk in, or find out what I was doing. Then there was the apartment he'd rented to fool Ophelia into thinking I had broken free of him, the dodgy place with haphazardly placed juice boxes in the fridge and too-clean new furniture. But even that might get back to him, and I wasn't sure if the landlord would even let me in. I thought briefly of the target car park, but it was too public.

Then a thought dawned on me. A memory.

The smell of books and dust. Faded green carpet. College students whispering in the corner while 'studying.'

And one, who always found an excuse to talk to me.

I called the library, praying that the librarians I used to work with were still there. To my relief, my old manager answered.

I didn't have to ask twice. She told me she'd close up the upstairs study area, say there was plumbing problems, and I could have the space free to myself.

So I sent the address across to Daniel and Bella. Then, I paused, letting out a shaky breath. My sides were aching, and I bit my lip, breathing through the pain.

Hold it together, I told myself. You have to make one more call.