Read Online Murder on the Lunatic Fringe (Jubilant Falls Series Book 4) by Debra Gaskill - Free Book Online Page A

more advertising. They say they want more good news on the front page, but the truth is nothing, nothing sells better than sex offenders, fatal car crashes or homicides.
    “The day I have a story where a sex offender is shot, or where a pedophile dies in a car crash, the circulation department practically pees themselves with joy over the jump in single copy sales. You can only put so many stories of Happy the Clown visiting a kindergarten class on the front page!”
    “I just thought—”
    I turned and started back up the stairs, then stopped. After all, she is your boss, a little voice said. These last eight months since she’d taken over for her father had been tough, but she was learning. She’d also brought a large pile of cash from her fourth divorce settlement that staved off further staff furloughs or cutbacks. There was even talk of new computers in the newsroom.
    “All right Earlene, I’ll tell you what,” I said, clutching my cup handle so tight my knuckles hurt. “If you want to put together a group of community members for a meeting, I’ll sit down with them and I’ll listen. I won’t promise any more than that.”
    Earlene clapped her hands, like she’d just been promised a trip to the zoo.
    “I have some folks in mind for the group. Let’s meet this afternoon.” She turned and, steadying herself with both railings, headed back downstairs to her office.
    I sighed, knowing I’d just been railroaded. Kill me now, God. Kill me now. At least the meeting was after deadline.
    Once in the newsroom, I flipped on all the lights and turned on the police scanner. Dennis Herrick usually got here right after I did. Photographer Pat Robinette, and reporters Marcus Henning and Elizabeth Day would be in momentarily. Graham would follow them about fifteen minutes later, after he’d stopped at the police station for morning reports.
    I stared up at the white dry-erase board on the newsroom wall, where reporters listed their upcoming stories. So far, the front page would have Graham’s gorge rescue story from Sunday with photos, and Marcus had an update on the city swimming pool. Since she hadn’t been here on Friday to update me on Monday’s stories, Elizabeth hadn’t updated the board. I knew she had two stories ready to go—a profile on the new principal at Jubilant Falls High School and the story of a Golgotha College sophomore who just returned from a mission trip to Romania. The one that fit would be the one we used.
    I walked into my office just off the newsroom and flipped on the computer. As everyone got settled in, I perused the Associated Press wire, looking for national and state stories of interest.
    Right on schedule, Graham wandered into my office doorway, holding the weekend police reports.
    “So how’s Duncan?” he asked.
    “He’s got a lovely shiner, but he’s fine,” I answered.
    “How do you want to handle this?”
    “We don’t make a big deal of any other minor assault. Just because the victim is my husband doesn’t mean we should change policy. List it in the blotter.”
    “Already got it written out for you.” Graham handed me a sheet of paper.
    I took it from him and began to read: “ Doyle McMaster, 31, of Jubilant Falls, was arrested Saturday about noon following an assault at the Grower’s Feed Mill. According to police reports, McMaster got into a physical altercation with the victim after McMaster reportedly used a racial slur. A second man was also struck when he tried to intervene in the altercation. McMaster was charged with misdemeanor assault; both victims’ injuries were minor and were treated at the scene.”
    “It’s not a ‘physical altercation,’ it’s a fight. You also didn’t include McMaster’s address or the feed mill address,” I said, handing the story back to him. “Change those and it’s fine. Didn’t you tell me McMaster was possibly involved in some hate crimes in the next county?”
    Graham nodded. “Assistant Chief McGinnis said