Disclaimer: As always I do not own any part of Gilmore girls, just borrowing the characters.
Mitchum drove home in silence. Unbeknown to most people he enjoyed the radio, even singing along, it was something he did in the comfort of his car alone, music helped his mind switch off, release some of his tension after work, but after meeting with his son his mind wouldn't, or couldn't switch off. The situation that had arisen was something he never saw coming. He didn't like surprises. When Hugo had first gotten in contact with him, he hoped maybe it was just some wannabe reporter trying to get a story to make a name for himself. It wasn't until Jeff had called him that he realised the true severity of this situation.
The previous Thursday.
It was late Thursday night and Mitchum had been held up in the office, he usually got home at a reasonable hour the last few years and him and his wife had tea, discussed their days and anything else that was on their minds. It was already gone 9PM and as soon as the phone rang he naturally assumed it was Shira. Although she knew he would be late he had said he would try be home before she went to bed. Out of habit he checked the caller id before answering and recognised the number straight away. It was Jeff, him and Jeff had worked together for years and he was one of the few people Mitchum trusted, he was a damn good reporter and when he told Mitchum he was retiring he was gutted. He had managed to convince him to stay involved and do some freelance as and when he wanted, much like he had his daughter in law. If Jeff was calling at this time of night it must have been one hell of a scoop.
"Jeff! How you been, I'm assuming if your ringing me at this hour you've got a good story for me!"
"I've got a story Mitch but trust me, it is not one you are going to like, your obviously still at the office is it okay if I come down, trust me this needs to be discussed in person"
"Of course, no one else is here, you know the door code come straight up"
"See you in 15 Mitchum"
With that the line went dead. Mitchum wasn't one for small talk, in fact he was rather blunt, often to the point of being rude in most people's opinions, not that it mattered to him but Jeff was the opposite. Always did the pleasantries, broke bad news gently, he would even take the time out of his day to personally greet all his staff when he got in and left. Most people loved him and it had left a gaping hole when he left the times office. This was one of the main reasons he wanted Logan to settle in New York. Just like Jeff he had the knack with people, people naturally gravitated towards his son, and between him and Rory they could run that place with their eyes shut. She was a fantastic writer and great editor; he was more than happy to know when anything happened to him his son and wife would do the family and company proud. For Jeff to be so short and blunt and not talk over the phone this was serious. That had Mitchum uneasy. His gut was nearly never wrong and as soon as he heard his friends' tone, he knew this would not be good.
He starting replaying the conversation he had with Hugo, Hugo and him had met a few years ago at a charity event, he ran an online publication that had really taken off, his reporters where currently following the Obama campaign and he used that as his excuse for refusing the callers so called information. Hugo said the man who called him never went into much detail about the facts and proof he had and refused to give a name, stating he wanted to be anonymous but that he knew stuff from personal experience. Between himself and Hugo they shrugged off the call, he couldn't count on his fingers and toes how many calls he had each week with people saying they knew this that and the other. But this was his family. This was personal. This was another reason he was at work late; Hugo knew a few guys in tech and had managed to trace the number back, but as Mitchum was researching it proved to be a dead end, the phone was a burner phone, bought in cash only last week, in New York. He began looking into people the kids had gone to college with, he just couldn't shake the feeling this would cause problems. Again, he didn't really get anywhere with looking people up, he had tracked down a guy called Seth who he'd personally met a few times, he knew the family well but he hadn't been around since him and Paris had parted ways. But he was off in California at present, he had joined a lab team who were currently working on vaccines and antibody reactions. He didn't think he was involved to begin with but in times like this you can never leave a stone unturned. It's almost always turned out to be someone people knew, welcomed into their home or even classed as a friend. This is why Mitchum's moto was keep your friend's close enemies closer, he was ever the cynic, he didn't think you could ever trust anyone 100%. He just knew now that Jeff had received a similar call to Hugo. Gut instinct.
The 15minutes passed quicker than Mitchum expected, or Jeff broke every speeding law to get to the office in record time. The man who he had known for over 30 years walked into the door, solemn look on his face. Mitchum motioned to the chair in front of his desk and Jeff sat down, Mitchum didnt miss the folder he had in his right hand. Jeff also had a nervous habit of twisting his wedding ring when he was in deep thought or worried and the wedding ring hadn't yet stayed still since waking into the office. Mitchum stood and poured the pair a small glass of whisky. He took his seat across from Jeff and pushed a glass over as he began speaking.
"I think I know why your here Jeff, I would love to think you want to come back but I have a sneaky suspicion this is family related, my family to be exact am I right?"
Jeff chucked at the joke about coming back, it added some much needed light to the situation because the aging man knew as soon as Mitchum saw what was in this folder the mood would change. Significantly. He simply nodded at Mitchum's comment. He placed the file on the table and pushed it towards Mitchum, but kept his hand on top of it.
"What do you know already Mitch?"
"I received a call from Hugo yesterday, he said a guy who wanted to remain anonymous had some information about my daughter in law. Apparently whilst my son is off at work, she is having an affair Finnegan Morgan, and you know Finn, he makes quite the impression but anyone who knows him also knows he has been friends with my son for most of his life and acts like the brother Rory never had. Let alone to make such an accusation against my daughter in law! You know me Jeff I don't trust many people but I would put every penny I have on the fact that this is bullshit. Hugo told him straight that this wasn't his sort of story and nothing else was said, the guy hung up. I managed to trace the number but took me to a burner phone, so this guy is covering his tracks and well, I just knew this wasn't going to be left at that one conversation, I guess I can just thank my lucky stars that the information has fallen in your lap and not a rivalling publication"
"Well you've got the gist of things then yes, but in this folder is all the information he apparently has, he rang me up yesterday as well and as soon as I heard the name Huntzberger I knew I had to play along, he's obviously not from our world because anyone in media or publishing knows what me and you are like, he must have seen I'm freelance and made the call, I went along with him and he did seem quite well educated, he said he knew the group personally and had suspected things for years, so again I'm thinking Yale, that's were Rory and Logan met isn't it, I then tried to coax him into meeting, so I could see this proof he supposedly had, but he said he was he staying anonymous and under no circumstances would give a name or meet in person, he said something about protecting himself, I mean for fuck sake your not the mafia! So he agreed that he would do a drop off of the information and he would get back in contact with me over the next few days giving me chance to look through it. That's were I've just been, he left it behind a bar downtown, no cameras I could see in the area and it was like a ghost town when I got there, but I don't think for one minute he wasn't watching me! I could feel eyes, you know what it's like after you've been in the game as long as we have sometimes you just know. So I started driving towards my house, I couldn't see anyone tailing me but did notice a blacked out SUV a few cars back from me a few times, but as I started to approach my house it disappeared, so I got out and made out I was doing the gate code and as soon as I knew it was clear rang you and came here. This kid sounded young Mitchum but he meant business. He wasn't even bothered about money, just said he wanted people to know the truth. I have flicked through the file but not in detail. You know what they say 2 sets of eyes pick up more than one, so I hope you haven't got plans"
Mitchum simply shook his head, if this guy didn't want money what's the motivation for it? Scorned ex? As far as he knew Rory didn't have any exes, she wasn't the type of person to make enemies, his son had never called anyone his girlfriend in his life and Finn was seeing the Lynn's girl. It didn't add up, he took a deep breath and Jeff moved his hand and opened the file. It was already quite thick. It was full of photos of Rory, taking walks, drinking coffee, in central parc and one of her and Finn dancing at her wedding. The more he flicked through the more the anger started to boil inside him. Whoever it was had attended the wedding or knew someone who had to obtain these pictures, some were published but the reception was private. A chill ran down his spine as he saw photos of Rory and Logan's apartment, zoomed in pictures of Rory walking around the house, some of Logan leaving and others of what appeared to be her and Finn watching tv. The file was getting thinner and Mitchum thanked god because he didn't know how much more he could take seeing. This was practically stalking! And then he froze, he saw one of his daughter in law hugging Finn and him holding something in his hand, he squinted trying the see what it was and he felt sick. He was pretty sure it was a pregnancy test. The next was the pair jumping around excitedly, and the last picture was Rory out shopping holding up a pair of baby booties. She was pregnant. He was going to be a grandad.
The two emotions clashed so violently in his body he didn't know what to do. The joy he felt for his son and even himself was so warming and yet the anger he held that someone was insinuating this wasn't his son's child made him sick to the stomach. There was nothing else in the folder just some scribbled notes stating when Logan was away and when he was home, this guy was a freak! He and Jeff went through every photo in great detail, they were trying to pinpoint where he must have been standing to get these shots, seeing if he left anything behind to give him away, but there wasn't upon first look. This was a problem.
Jeff and Mitchum finally left the office at just after midnight, he would be the eyes and ears and tell Mitchum anything and everything, he planned to tape the phone call to try and see if they could recognise the voice, ask casual questions to try and find something out. He wasn't Mitchum's best reporter for nothing. If he had the bit between his teeth he would not give up. This was personal, Jeff may not be blood related but he was the closest thing to a brother Mitchum had, just like Rory and Finn.
He replayed the meeting in his office numerous times, he had the pictures locked in the family safe. He was of course the only one who had the combination, he may be a changed man in many respects however somethings he knows just like his wife will never change. The 45-minute drive seemed endless, the silence deafening. He spoke to Jeff minutes before Logan arrived, still no word. He didn't know what his son was going to do, Logan was too quiet, the disappointment in his face pulled at Mitchum's hardened heartstrings. He knew this wouldn't be the last they heard from Mr anonymous, but what would happen next he didn't know. Mitchum had some favours he needed to pull in. Quickly.