Colton's Spring

Chapter 5

"I think this is fair and balanced," Harrison told Spring. "And about proportionate to the sentiments being expressed.

She sighed. "I just think we should include a few more letters from victims." She rifled through the pages of printouts. "Here, this one."

"From a case eight years ago," he said, "before Pritchard even moved to special victims." He gave her a level look. "We've weeded out the criminals as well as anyone who might have a vendetta. I think we've been more than fair. Perhaps even a little biased."

How could they be biased? Several of the letters they were including were positively vitriolic. She pointed to one in particular. "This woman writes in all the time. Do we really have to give her copy space?"

"She's well-respected in the community," Harrison pointed out.

Spring snickered.

"Okay, amongst the more religious members of the community."

"The zealots, you mean. She's led the group trying to get the bible included in the curriculum and have evolution removed. This is the twenty-first century, for crying out loud."

"If I take out her comment then I have to include another one expressing the same perspective."

"At least pick one which isn't quoting scripture about an eye for an eye," Spring asked.

Harrison went back through the papers. He shuffled until he came to one and pointed it out. Spring read it and sighed.

"Better," he asked.

"Better," she said. "And I really appreciate you doing this."

"You were the one who wrote yesterday's article. I offered to get someone else."

Spring shook her head. "It had to be me. I was the one who received the documentation, so I had to write it."

"Any word from the source?"

Again, she shook her head. "No, but I've discovered who the victim is."

Harrison's lips pursed. "And you're not going to tell me because even if you did, we can't print it."

"Pretty much."

"Are you going to approach her?"

"Not yet," Spring said. "First, I want to find out who sent the package. I don't know if it was her."

"Any more quotes from Pritchard or his lawyer?"

"Aside from 'I've fired my lawyer'? No, nothing."

"And you didn't tell me this because...?"

"Because she refused to be fired."

Harrison smiled. "Man, Chantale Byrne has a set of brass balls."

"Hey," Spring exclaimed, "that's unbelievably sexist."

"But true," Harrison pointed out. "And it's not like I'm going to print that in the paper. I'm just admiring her from afar. Somehow I don't think the mild mannered professor would be so mild mannered if he knew what I was thinking about his wife."

Spring's brow shot up. "Lustful, are we?"

"She's a beautiful woman," Harrison said. "As is her sister, the doctor. Very different in appearances, but both beautiful."