Chapter 12
Loose Ends
Six weeks after Rich signed his contract with the Colson Agency, Amanda got a big package in the mail. It was the preliminary galley ready for Rich’s review. It essentially was a handmade copy of the book, complete with a proposed cover design. According to the contract Rich had fourteen days to review it, correct any errors, and approve it subject to the corrections that were noted. Amanda spent two days going over it and then took it to Rich’s office. Suzie showed her in and they embraced.
“So, you got the galley,” Rich said.
“Yes. They got it back to us pretty fast.”
“I should say so. Are they going to release it early?”
“No. It’s just that there is a lot of work involved in launching a book so they have to have it completed and advance copies printed four or five months prior to its release.”
“So, they’re right on schedule, then?”
“Yes. So, it’s important that you go through it and make any corrections within the next twelve days. I’ve gone through it and marked the corrections I saw, but you need to do the same thing and make any corrections I missed.”
Rich nodded. “I’m not the greatest editor, but I’ll go through it slowly and hopefully I’ll notice anything that is awry.”
“Good.”
“So, will I see it again before it’s finalized?”
“No. It will go immediately into production once you’ve put your final stamp of approval on it. They’ll make your corrections, proofread it one more time, and then send it to the printers.”
“So, have they given you a release date yet?”
“I don’t know, but the sooner you can look it over, the better.”
“Okay, I’ll get right on it.”
“Good,” Amanda replied and stood up. She started to leave and then turned back to Rich. “Is Erica getting used to the idea of being on TV yet?”
Rich shook his head. “No. She’s pretty worried about it. She’s a pretty private person so she won’t enjoy the publicity.”
Amanda shook her head. “I’m sorry. I hope she isn’t mad at you, or me, for making her do this.”
“She is, but she’ll get over it. Don’t worry. Family is important to her, so after it’s over she’ll move on.”
Amanda left feeling rather sick inside, knowing what she was about to do. The television interview was going to be much more traumatic than either of them expected. She was on her way to see a college friend at the Inquisitor to set in motion a media storm that would send The Pact straight to the New York Times Best Seller list. When she had proposed it to Sheila, she was stunned and questioned whether Amanda would have the guts to pull it off. Amanda knew Rich and Erica would be upset at first, but when the royalties started rolling in, they’d thank her. At least she hoped that would be the case. They claimed that the money didn’t matter, but she thought that was pretty much bullshit. Of course they were doing it for the money.
She wondered how Ryan would react to her clever little stunt. Would he ever forgive her, or would it mean the end of their relationship? Amanda thought a lot about their relationship, but for some reason a breakup didn’t worry her all that much. Did that mean she didn’t love Ryan or that her career was more important than their relationship? She supposed it did, and maybe it would be better if they split up now and not invest any more time in a relationship that had no future.
Sylvia Sams had been the editor of their high school newspaper. She was the gossip queen and knew everything that went on socially at the school. Her ambition in life had been to become an entertainment journalist, but that hadn’t worked out since she didn’t have the raw beauty needed for someone in front of a network camera. For a while she had worked at the Dallas Morning News and contributed to their entertainment department, but she was laid off when a steady drop in circulation mandated a reduction in the newspaper’s staff. She went on unemployment, but when it was about to run out and she was desperate, she went to the Inquisitor and applied for a job.
In her job interview she dazzled them with her knowledge of the entertainment industry and its stars. In fact they were so impressed they hired her on the spot, and she’d been working there now almost five years. Sylvia met Amanda in the reception area, and they went down the street to a sports bar and had lunch. After going through the buffet line and getting couple of beers they found a large booth in the corner where they could spread out.
“So, you got a new job, huh?” Sylvia asked.
“Yes. Can you believe it? I’m actually a literary agent now.”
“That’s wonderful. I knew you could do it.”
“Look at you. I read your magazine every week and love your stories. You’re a talented writer.”
“Yeah, well. It’s not that I’m such a great writer. The key is getting good stories and I’m the master at that.”
“I believe you, and that’s why I wanted this meeting.”
“Really?” Sylvia said.
“Yes, I’ve got a great story for you. One that will spark a media storm once it comes out and you’ll be right in the middle of it. It should do wonders for your career.”
Sylvia gave Amanda a skeptical look. “Where would you get a story like that?”
“Well, I kind of stumbled into it.”
She and Sylvia had not been close since graduating from high school. They’d kept in touch and ran into each other from time to time, but that was about the extent of their relationship, so for next half hour Amanda brought her up to date.
“So, when I told Ryan I had decided to be a literary agent he told me about a manuscript his father had up in his attic. I asked him if his father had ever tried to get it published, and he said no.”
“Hmm.”
“Anyway, I was intrigued, so I talked Ryan into letting me read it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And it was an awesome story. It took place some twenty-five years ago, so I wasn’t familiar with what had happened, but the gist of it was that Rich was appointed trustee over Erica’s estate and when her father died Rich stepped in and handled everything. She was seventeen at the time and Rich was nearly thirty. Apparently Erica had a crush on Rich and seduced him into a illicit affair, although Rich didn’t put up much of a fight. They were madly in love.”
Sylvia nodded. “Okay.”
“So, everything was fine until Erica’s aunt, Martha Collins, found out about the relationship and threatened to have Rich disbarred and prosecuted for statutory rape. Of course, they couldn’t let that happen, so Erica tracks down her aunt and goes to the motel she’s staying at to try to convince her not to prosecute Rich, except when she gets there Aunt Martha is dead.”
“Sounds like a good story, but I don’t see why the media will be interested in it now,” Sylvia said.
“Well, Rich’s new book, The Pact, will be coming out soon and, of course, it will follow the official story line—no surprises. Erica is charged with Aunt Martha’s murder but is found to be innocent by reason of temporary insanity. The problem is, the book is a lie.”
“A lie?” Sylvia asked.
“Yes, when I was up in the attic I found some revisions to the book in Erica’s handwriting. She rewrote several key parts of the book. In her version she found Rich at the motel unconscious next to Aunt Martha’s body. So, she and Rich’s friend Joe move Rich from the crime scene and dump him in an alley behind a tavern near his old office. When he starts to wake up she smacks him over the head with a brick and leaves him there in the alley to be found later. This provides him with an alibi.”
“So, Rich was the actual killer?”
“Yes, and he got away with murder because Erica took the fall for him. That’s why Erica made him commit to the suicide pact. She wanted to be sure he really loved her before she took the fall for him.”
“Wow! That quite a story.”
“It gets better. When the book comes out, Rich and Erica are scheduled to be guests on Jay Leno
.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. So, if the true story came out the same day, Jay Leno would have no choice but to confront them with it,” Amanda said.
Sylvia nodded excitedly. “Uh-huh. And the next day it would be the top story on the entertainment front and I’d own it.”
“Yes, you’d be the focus of everyone’s attention since you broke the story.”
“Okay, but how do I know what you’re telling me is true? How do I verify it?”
“Do you really have to verify it? Can’t you just say your information came from a reliable source?”
“Well, maybe, but it would be better if I actually had some proof that it’s true. Our lawyers might not approve the story without a little credible evidence of its accuracy.”
“How about if I let you read Erica’s handwritten revisions? Your people can do a handwriting analysis to prove its validity.”
“Where would I get a sample of her handwriting to compare?”
“In her trial some of her letters were introduced into evidence. They should be archived somewhere. I’m sure your people could find them.”
Sylvia nodded. “Okay. Your plan might work, but why are you doing this? Rich and Erica are going to know you were the leak, don’t you think?”
“I’ll deny it. Erica left her notes just lying around in the attic for years. Matt or Ryan or any of their friends who went up there over the years could have found it and read it. Anyway, don’t worry about me. I’ve got a plan to deal with that.”
“Right. And all the media attention won’t hurt the sale of Rich’s book?”
Amanda smiled wryly. “I shouldn’t think so.”
They both laughed hard.
“Okay, I’m in,” Sylvia said. “When can I get an advance copy of the book and see Erica’s revisions?”
Amanda grabbed her backpack. “Right now,” she said and pulled out a manuscript box. “This is a copy of the galley that Rich is reviewing right now.”
“What about Erica’s revisions?”
“I’ll give them to you just before the book is released.”
Amanda could have given her Erica’s notes then, but she was afraid the story might leak out prematurely if she did. She couldn’t take that chance.
“This is what I love about this job—the anticipation of breaking a scandalous story.”
Amanda laughed. “I bet.”
Sylvia rose her mug of beer. “Here’s to Rich and Erica, may God help them when this story breaks.”
Amanda smiled guiltily and rose her glass to Sylvia’s. “And may we all survive their wrath.”
They both drained their beers and left separately to put their plan in motion. Amanda, on an adrenaline high when she left the bar and got back in her car, had to stifle an urge to ignore the thirty-five-mile-per-hour speed limit downtown. She felt good about her meeting with Sylvia and could almost see Erica’s and Rich’s faces when Jay Leno confronted them. Sales would go through the roof, and movie producers would be in a frenzy to sign a movie deal. Her career would skyrocket!
As she was driving back to her office, she forged a plan to explain how Sylvia obtained a copy of Erica’s revisions to the manuscript. She’d have to enlist someone to break into Rich’s home, go to the attic, and steal the revisions. She wondered how that could be done without compromising herself. She didn’t want to end up in jail. Then she figured it out. She’d find some unsavory people, inadvertently let them know there was something of great value in the Colemans’ attic, and let their devious minds do the rest. It wouldn’t matter that they didn’t steal the revisions. The press would just assume the robbery was a ruse and the culprits photographed the revisions but otherwise left them undisturbed.
Rich had insurance, Amanda reasoned, so if they took other things it would all be replaced. She’d just have to be sure it was done when they weren’t home. She didn’t want anyone getting hurt. When Rich and Erica were off on Rich’s first book tour would be the perfect time. She’d have to time it very carefully and make sure the robbers knew they had to hit during the weekend while her future in-laws were out of town. She felt good when she got to the office with that loose end ironed out. Her plan was going to work, she just knew it.