Sweet Little Lies (19 page)

T
he reason I knew it was done deliberately was that I had planned how every single segment of this series should flow. I wrote, directed, produced, and edited, so I knew down to the second what was on that film. What I did not script was the follow-up panel, which, for some reason, we decided to film live.

The series on high-speed rail research and funding was called
Project Mercury—Fact, Fiction, or Fraud.
It had run for the past five days with our highest ratings ever. Tonight we aired the final segment.Then we planned a live postshow panel that included myself, Congressman Walker, Lance, and Becky Fine, an independent accountant and auditor. Standing around the newsroom watching were Steven, Tracey, Carey, the three Js, Brandon, and various members of the congressman’s staff.

Taking a deep breath off camera, I caught Brandon’s eye for a second.There was a look of anticipation on his face that threw me for the slightest second. Then the red light went on and I began.

“Welcome back. I’m Christina Brinsley and I hope you enjoyed our in-depth look at Project Mercury. I’m joined by a number of esteemed guests this evening: Congressman Walker of California, Lance Porter—chief operating officer of the Chi-Wind Foundation, and Becky Fine—a forensic accountant who specializes in auditing government-funded entities. Welcome.”

After the choruses of “good evening” and “glad to be here,” I dove straight into the issue of the day.

“I think this documentary has shown what a great thing high-speed rail could be for this nation. The prevailing concern from our viewers is what is it going to cost, and who is going to pay for it. Mr. Porter, your thoughts?”

“China invested in the neighborhood of 300 billion dollars to get their so-called bullet train from idea to inception. And they are still expanding. Here in the U.S. it’s going to take that same level of financial commitment. The plan is to build a long-term funding effort from both public and private sources.”

“And are you prepared for the level of scrutiny that organizations such as Chi-Wind will be under from all the watchdog groups?”

“After this series, you bet we will.”

Smiles all the way around. I waited a beat and then continued.

“Congressman Walker, when we hear the term ‘public funding’—is that just code for more tax dollars out of citizens’ pockets?”

“Absolutely not. Let me talk a little bit about how the government earns money….” He launched into a preapproved, rehearsed two-minute speech where even his strategic pauses and my thoughtful “Is that so?” were planned.

When he wrapped, my face turned serious.“Now, sir, you have been under a lot of scrutiny lately.”

“Can’t take a leak without a witness these days.”

Oh, he was rolling out the good-ole-boy charm. I flashed a smile.“I know a little about that myself.”

“Indeed.”

“But, sir, according to our records there appears to be an amount of money missing from this project, totaling over 500,000 dollars. How do you account for that?”

“Well, I don’t. I believe somebody took it.”

We all chuckled.

“I’m assuming you do not mean you.”

“Correct. Somebody who is not me took it.”

“How do you respond to the questions about your lifestyle versus your income?”

“Budgeting and a wealthy wife.”

More laughter. Carey held up her hand in the sign that meant “break for commercial, it’s time to pay the bills.”

I turned to camera two.“When we get back, we’ll go a little deeper to find out where the money went and who is spending it. You may be surprised at the answers. Come back after the break. This is VNN, where your news is what counts.”

“And we’re clear.”

I turned sideways while the makeup guy patted and dabbed. Carey came up to the desk.“It’s going well, don’t you think?” I asked her.

Carey nodded. “The Js are in ecstasy. Ratings through the roof, advertising dollars pouring in, journalistic integrity … yada blah—it’s all win/ win.”

“I’ll take it.”

“Maybe you can put a little more stock in the reality of a happily-ever-after?”

I glanced over to where Steven was standing deep in conversation with two of the Js. I loved that he could talk to anybody, anywhere, about anything.“Maybe so. Just maybe.”

“See you after.”

“And we’re back in four…three…two…go!”

“This is Christina Brinsley. You have joined VNN in the
middle of a discussion panel following a five-part series on Project Mercury—a dream to build high-speed rail from sea to shining sea. Ms. Fine, you’ve been poring over the income and expense books from several foundations and state-run entities to align them with the allocated funds from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Can you start by explaining how an audit like that works?”

She launched into her preapproved, rehearsed two-minute speech, but when she came to the ending, it was different from what she’d shared earlier.“In this case, however, a second set of books was found at one of the foundations.”

My eyebrows raised and my pulse sped up. This was new to me.“Intriguing.Which foundation?”

“Chi-Wind.”

And this is where the term “dramatic pause” came from. There was everything but the ominous “da-dum-dum” pounded out on the organ. I recovered quickly and asked the next logical question.“When did you receive those?”

“Just this afternoon.”

“And what did you find out?” I saw Steven’s face; he looked as stunned as I felt.

“A lot of inconsistencies, unfortunately. There is income where we cannot locate the sources. There are a lot of cash withdrawals which always send up a red flag.”

I felt a little sick.“Why is that, exactly?”

“Well, as you may imagine, once money is converted into cash, it gets harder to trace and easier to make disappear.”

I did not want to ask the next question. In fact, I wanted to pull the plug on this whole thing until I could figure out what was going on. But this was live television, so I plowed forward. “And exactly how much cash are we talking about that has disappeared?”

“At my last count, 1.3 million dollars.”

“Did you say 1.3 million?”

She nodded.“Yes.”

“I am
vindicated!
” Congressman Walker announced. “My name is cleared! I would like to take this opportunity—”

I cut him off. “Congressman!” I turned blindly to camera one. “When we return, we’ll continue with these shocking revelations.You’re watching VNN, the people’s news channel.”

“And we’re clear.”

“What the
hell
is going on, guys?!” I said to the room at large. “Who knew about this? Have we verified the books? Why am I on TV with my drawers showing? Someone? Any-one?”As I looked, a smile spread across Brandon’s face and he turned to walk away. I yanked off the microphone and hopped off the stage to catch up to him. “What do you know about this?”

He shrugged.“I just do the research. I found out new information this afternoon, but as usual you were too wrapped up with your man to talk to me. I took it straight to Becky. That’s my job and my role as a law-abiding, tax-paying American citizen.”

“You sent me a text at two o’clock asking if I had time to chat.That’s what you call giving me a heads-up?”

“Maybe you need to reassess your priorities. Don’t get mad at me because your boyfriend isn’t squeaky-clean.You always seem to pick the wrong guy, don’t you?” He headed down the hallway.

I spun back toward the newsroom and shot Steven a look as I passed.

He put his hands up.“I don’t know anything about this.”

“You better not,” I hissed, and slid back into the anchor chair. I closed my eyes.
Deep, cleansing breath. Deep, cleansing breath.

“We’re back in three …two …one…”

“This is Christina Brinsley and you’re watching VNN. Before the break we heard allegations that over one million dollars is missing from the Chi-Wind Foundation books. Congressman Walker, do you know where the money is?”

“Once the money goes to the foundation, to Mr. Porter and Dr.Williams, I have no access to it. If anything, I believe this clears my name.”

“Well, that remains to be seen, sir. Mr. Porter, what if any light can you shed on this for us?”

For someone supposedly thrown for a loop, he looked surprisingly calm and serene. “I can tell you that I have no idea where this second set of books came from.”

“Well, who else has access to your financial reporting systems?”

“It’s just myself and Dr.Williams, of course.”

“So you are alleging what, exactly?”

“Well unfortunately, Christina, I’m looking over some documents that Betsy just handed me. It appears that several weeks ago, Dr.Williams opened up a personal account offshore with a starting balance of $78,192.64. Money that you and I both know was given to the foundation. Since then, there have been several cash deposits totaling over a quarter of a million dollars.”

I swayed a little in my seat before turning to the camera. “In light of these recent revelations, I find I have a significant conflict of interest and cannot objectively report on this story any further. When we return, this panel will be hosted by Tracey Tulum, who will continue to hunt for the truth.”

“And we’re clear.”

“Lance, what the hell are you talking about?” Steven yelled.“You know I don’t have any offshore accounts.”

“I’m sorry, buddy. I’m just looking at this documentation. It’s pretty damning.”

The set was deathly quiet as I unplugged my mic and motioned to Tracey. She was very pale.“Christina, oh my God.”

“Don’t worry about it. Focus. Here are my notes. These questions in red were the next up. My closing segment is here and here. You can totally do this.”

“Christina.” One of the Js called out, and I just put my hand out. There was only one person I wanted to hear from right now. He was arguing heatedly with Lance and looking as shell-shocked as I felt.

“Steven, can I speak to you in my office, please?”

“We’re going to want him on camera.”

“
No!
” we both said in unison.

“We’re back on in ten, people. Make the call.”

“My office…now.”

As we walked down the hallway, I heard Tracey speaking. “You are watching VNN, the place where your voices are heard and your questions are answered. In light of the information brought to light implicating noted professor and engineering wunderkind Steven Williams, I have taken over the panel discussion on Project Mercury.”

M
y BlackBerry was buzzing like crazy in my pocket as I followed Christina back to her office.What the hell had just happened? Was it my imagination, or had my whole life just imploded on nationwide television?

I couldn’t think and I had to think. I needed to think. I just needed a minute to sit down with Christina, sort out what just happened and decide what to do next.

“Maybe I should go back on air.”

She pulled me into her office, slamming the door and locking it behind her. “To say what, Steven? To what end? To deny it?”

“Of course to deny it! What else?”

“Do you know how many people go on TV to deny scandals like this?” she asked. Her arms were crossed tightly in front of her and she looked as irritated as I felt.

It suddenly occurred to me what was going on.“I was set up. Duped. Somehow made the scapegoated patsy in the whole thing.”

“Seriously, Steven—by who, for what reason? Generally,
people who say they’ve been set up look guilty as hell.” Her tone was accusing.

I took a step backwards as I absorbed that.“You think I’m guilty? Is that what you think?”

“I don’t
know
what to think, Steven. I just got blindsided on my own damn TV show. What the hell? What the
hell?
”

“What the hell what? I don’t know about any of this.” I looked at her face closely for the first time. “Wait a damn minute. You can’t possibly think I knew about any of this?”

“What is Perry’s money doing in an offshore account in your name?”

I couldn’t believe that I had to defend myself to her. Of all people! Wasn’t she supposed to be on
my
side? “How the hell should I know? You were right there when I got it. You’ve been with me every day since. Did you see me leave these shores?”

“Well, what did you do with the check after that night?”

“I stuck it in my top drawer at the foundation and forgot about it.”

“You put a check for nearly eighty grand in a desk drawer and forgot about it?”

“Yes! What’s the implication here? And I assume we’re talking reporter to subject? Do you seriously think I stole money? From you? From my own foundation? From the government? Are you kidding me?”

She shook her head slowly. “Thirty minutes ago, I would have said no. But all of a sudden I’m remembering you and Congressman Walker all buddy-buddy at the banquet. I’m thinking about your clothes and your loft and your car. You live well.”

“I’m a thirty-two-year-old man with very little debt and two six-figure incomes. Are you kidding me about this? Are you really making me justify my lifestyle to you? Because if that’s what’s going on here, that’s a huge problem for me.That’s bigger than the pile of crap I just had dumped on my good
name in public.This is about you and me now. Either you trust me or you don’t. Christina? You either believe me or you don’t.”

She remained silent. The look on her face was one I’d seen before. It was the accusing, disbelieving, wounded look she’d given Jay/ David when he was standing naked in her foyer. She had now lumped me in with the Jay/Davids of the world. And that was unforgivable.

“Wow, Christina. Between the two of us, only one revealed a huge flaw tonight. It wasn’t me. One test of faith and you failed. Just know that.You failed me miserably this evening. For the record,
love
”—I emphasized love—“the proper response is ‘Steven, I know you didn’t do any of the terrible things they’re accusing you of.We’ll get through this together.’”

She shook her head and tears started streaming down her cheeks. The sight of those made me even more angry than I already was.

“What are you crying about? Your whole world didn’t just get blown to hell. You are exactly where you thought you’d end up, right? The victim? Lied to by another man you should have known better than to trust?”

“I just don’t know what to think, what to believe.”

“And that’s the problem. You should believe in me.” I turned away. “This is sabotage. This is sabotage! Oh my God. This day sucks in ways I could’ve never anticipated. But maybe I should have.” Maybe I should’ve known she was not a girl for the long haul or the tough road.

“Who would sabotage you, Steven?”

“You are, right now.You’re killing us. Right now. All those years you picked the wrong men on purpose, and now that you have the right one, you’re looking for an excuse to bail. Well, guess what?”

“What?”

“I don’t want a woman who doesn’t trust me. I don’t want a woman who’s constantly looking for reasons to leave. I don’t
want a woman so damaged that I have to prove myself over and over again.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to clear my name. And I’ll find a way to do it because I believe truth prevails in the end. And I want out of this relationship because I believe it’s not supposed to be this hard. I don’t want to put the rest of my life on hold, waiting for you not to freak out when someone mentions marriage. I want someone who wants to be with me so badly that she’s willing to risk everything for it. Through good times and bad. Like tonight…these would be considered very bad times. But instead of being a comfort to me, you stand in accusation. I am actually having to defend myself to you. To
you!
You are supposed to be on Team Williams. ‘All in’—do you remember that? I want a woman who would look squarely in the eye of that camera and say ‘there is no way that
my
man is involved in that.’That’s what I want.”And clearly not what I had.

“I want to trust you. I want to believe you but …”

“Yeah, save it. I already know. It looks like neither of us are getting what we want here. I have no more time to waste on this. On us. On you. I have to look out for me. Good-bye, Christina.”

I opened the door. Clarke was standing outside. He looked from his sister to me and then put his hand on my shoulder.“I want to represent you. I have a theory. Do you have time to talk?”

I looked back at Christina, who was still standing in the middle of the room.“I’ve got all the time in the world.” I shut the door and walked away without a backward glance.