12
March 28
Daphne's alarm blares in the morning, she rolls over and slams her hand onto it and the radio begins to play.
She never understands how radio presenters sound so cheerful in the morning while she fights a losing battle to keep her eyes open. She knows she'll be asleep if she doesn't get out of bed now, so she forces herself to get up.
She goes about her usual morning routine, gets dressed, grabs her phone, and makes a coffee. She reads the new message from her sister in which she has sent a photo of the driveway back in Cooperstown and a crying emoji.
She pulls on her coat, grabs her keys and laptop, and leaves for work.
The snow has finally melted, much to Daphne's relief, she hates the snow. It's still cold outside but she can manage with that. The entryway inside the building is no longer a slip hazard.
She climbs into her car, puts her laptop on the passenger seat, turns the engine on, and the heating up. She pulls out of the parking lot and takes her route to work. As she drives, she turns up the volume on the radio and the presenters discuss the news.
'Do we know why the arrests have been made?' One presenter asks, Tom Bradley she thinks his name is, 'We know that a man and a woman have been arrested.'
'Something to do with a murder a few years ago?' Another presenter asks.
Daphne stops at a red light and listens to the presenters. She questions how they know about the case, the only people who know are her, Fred, and Larissa. Neither would say anything.
'Jennifer Hopkins' death was over a year ago, the police arrested her killers.'
'Yes, no further suspects have been arrested in the Hopkins case. This is an unrelated crime.'
Daphne watches the lights change and presses her foot on the accelerator.
'Do we know anything about the victim?'
'It's believed to be Steven Shelby. His body was found in Anacostia Park back in 2020 when we were isolating. His murder is still unsolved.' Bradley speaks with an intriguing tone that would lure any listener in, but not Daphne who turns the radio off.
She pulls into the parking space outside the office building next to Fred's car where he is waiting for her. He climbs out when she pulls up.
'Did you hear the news?' He asks. 'Yes, who do you think told the media?' Daphne asks.
'Someone working for the police? Maybe it was someone from Sabrina's workplace?' Fred suggests.
They enter the building and take the elevator to the fifth floor. When the doors open, they enter the office and hang their coats on the hooks.
Kramer and Green appear from the kitchen area and stop them before they walk to their desks.
'Hey, Fred.' Kramer says, 'We gave our article to Gilroy yesterday, but we want you to know that we left out details regarding…the information we told you last week.'
'Thank you.' Fred replies and Kramer shakes his hand.
Gilroy pops out of his office, 'Blake, a word.' He says, eyes flashing around the office before the fix on Daphne. He slips behind his office door.
Daphne follows her boss into his office.
Fred doesn't trust Gilroy, there's something about him that just puts him off. Since their first day working at the Washington Post, Gilroy talked non-stop about profits and "the perfect headline", understandable from a business point of view. But Fred lost any respect for Gilroy after he told Daphne an article she wrote wasn't "exciting enough".
Daphne reminded Gilroy the article was about two missing fourth graders who were reported missing after they skipped school and hadn't returned home. Days later their bodies were found in the river. There were no signs of foul play and police ruled the deaths as accidents.
Fred glances at Kramer and Green, both look as confused as he does. 'Did he look kinda on edge?' Fred asks. 'When does he never look on edge?' Green asks.
Daphne closes the office door behind her and Gilroy tells her to take a seat. She can see he has a copy of her article in front of him. 'Is there a problem with the article?'
Gilroy slumps in his seat, 'No, I'm just curious why you didn't name "Witness A", "Suspect A" and "Suspect B".' His tone is sharp and accusing. Daphne suspects he has been finding faults in her article - a punishment for getting in the day before the deadline.
Her eyes narrow and her blood boils, she reminds herself not to lose her temper, 'Because "Witness A" asked not to be named in the article, and the police lieutenant asked not to mention the names of the suspects due to the ongoing police investigation.'
'You've written the witness as if they're a family friend or someone who knows Steven.' Gilroy adds, 'And what about his children?'
'His children are below the age of fifteen therefore I can't legally name them in any article, unless you want to deal with the backlash? Plus the children were bullied enough for having a dealer as a father, can you imagine how much worse it is for them now he's dead, an what would happen if I named them in an article?' Daphne challenges.
'It doesn't make sense.' Gilroy examines the paper copy of her article, pushing his glasses up his nose.
'It makes perfect sense.' Daphne replies, 'People will know who the real Steven Shelby is.'
'But people won't know who Suspects A and B are and what role they play in this.' Gilroy says.
'It's not about what role they play, it's about what they did. It'll come out eventually, I'm taking the attention away from them and focussing it onto Mr Shelby and the kind of father he was.' Daphne explains. She catches Gilroy rolling his eyes and stares at him, speechless. Crossing her arms over her chest and doesn't take her eyes off Gilroy..
Gilroy huffs, 'Do you know who informed the media about the case? It's all over the radio.' She's annoyed with his swift change of subject, it tells her everything she needs to know from here on.
'I have no idea, I heard it on the radio this morning.' Daphne replies bitterly. Gilroy nods, he can bark for answers all he wants but Daphne's not going to release any names. 'That's all.' Gilroy waves her away and Daphne leaves his office.
Daphne finds Fred in the break room with Kramer, Green, and Alexander Johnson who sits at the table.
'So where is she?' Kramer asks. 'I have no idea.' Alexander replies, 'She ditched me part way through researching, said she was doing her own story, God knows what about.'
'What's going on?' Daphne asks accepting her mug from Fred. 'Harriett left Alex to write their article.' Fred informs her. Daphne sees dark circles under Alexander's eyes, he stands from the table and makes himself another coffee.
'I got it in early this morning, Gilroy's been on my case about it, I haven't told him Harriett was MIA.' Alexander's voice is as tight as his clenched fists.
'I think you should. She wasn't helpful when I wrote an article with her a few years ago.' Green says. Fred thinks back to last year when he and Daphne were investigating Jenny Hopkins' murder, Daphne was away the weekend Jenny's body was found, and Harriett turned up at the scene.
'What did Gilroy want?' Fred asks and the others look at Daphne, she explains her meeting with Gilroy. Green makes an unsavory comment about Gilroy.
Fred and Daphne head to their desks. She opens her laptop and types Steven Shelby into Google.
Days ago, when she first searched for him, the latest article had been published in 2020 with nothing much to say about Steven Shelby or the case. But now there are multiple new search results. Articles without real information, only assumptions, and exaggerated stories.
Fred watches as she clicks on the first article, published early this morning.
They stare at the photos on the headline, Steven Shelby is the biggest photo, and next to his is a smaller, cropped photo of Sabrina Shelby. The headline - in big bold letters - reads KILLER WIFE!
'They did that quick.' Fred says. 'How did they know?' Daphne asks, her skin turning white.
A brief subtitle underneath reads Steven Shelby is a victim of an unsolved murder in April 2020. Could new evidence find his ex-wife guilty? A woman and a man have been arrested following new evidence, the first in four years.
Daphne's phone rings, she sees an incoming call from Larissa, and she answers the call. 'Have you heard the news?' Larissa asks. Her voice is almost a whisper through the phone, 'They're talking about it on Channel Four.'
'I have seen it, it's all over the news.' Daphne sighs. 'I trust you didn't tell anyone, do you know who did?' Larissa asks. 'No. I assume it's someone close to your mom and Tony, a colleague maybe.' Daphne suggests. 'She was arrested at work.' Larissa adds. 'How are the kids?' Daphne asks.
Larissa sighs. 'Lily turned the TV on this morning and Channel Four was on. She and Mickey watched it before Grandpa turned it off. She's been crying in our bedroom all morning and refuses to come out. Posie and Mickey keep asking questions.'
'I'm sorry, I don't know how they found out.' Daphne says. 'There's nothing anyone can do about it now, I think that cop is coming over soon.' Larissa says.
Daphne hears voices in the background, 'I have to go.' Larissa says quickly and she hangs up the phone.
Daphne puts her phone on the table and slumps in her chair, 'What did she say?' Fred asks.
'The kids have seen the news. I think Judy is going over.' Daphne replies.
Fred runs his hand through his hair, 'The kids have seen it?' He asks. Daphne nods, 'Larissa said they're asking questions, but why shouldn't they?'
Her phone rings again, this time it's Lieutenant Judy Brown.
'Hello?' Daphne answers.
'Please tell me you didn't tell the media the identity of our suspects?' Judy asks.
'Of course not.' Daphne replies and explains her phone call with Larissa minutes ago.
Judy hums, 'Poor kids. I'm goin' over there now t'speak t'the kids. Maybe suggest t'the grandparents that they take them away for a few days, till this all blows over.'
'It won't.' Daphne says bluntly.
'People know. The attention will be focused on the suspects and not so much on the kids.'
Daphne shakes her head, Judy has no idea what she's talking about. 'Kids don't forget things quickly.' Daphne snaps. 'Do you think leaving town for a few days will solve their problems? Larissa has been bullied at school for her father's addiction and his death, imagine what they'll do to her when they find out her mom's the killer!'
Enraged, Daphne hangs up the phone and drops it onto the table. Her blood boils and she clenches her fists.
'Daph?' Fred reaches for her hand but she stands up, ignoring his gesture, 'I'm going outside.' She marches out of the office, grabs her coat, and steps into the elevator as it arrives, Eileen from editing passes her.
Daphne removes a packet of cigarettes from her car's glove box and slams the door shut. She sits on the wall and lights a cigarette. The first draw of the toxic nicotine fills her lungs. It feels good but doesn't shake the suffocation that hangs over her like a dark cloud. She exhales the smoke and draws in another.
She doesn't notice Fred has come to sit with her until his hand rests on her leg, rapidly bouncing up and down.
The smell of nicotine is repulsive, he's never smoked in his life. If she were drunk he would lecture her about the dangers of smoking and the number of annual deaths, but he knows right now she needs it.
'Do you want to talk?' He asks softly. 'About what?' Daphne puffs out the smoke. 'I'm annoyed too but we can't do anything now, and I know that upsets you.' He watches as she brings the cigarette to her lips and draws in the smoke.
The tobacco is acrid but each toxic draw soothes her boiling blood, she puffs out the smoke and stares blankly ahead. Ash forms at the tip, Daphne taps the cigarette against the wall and it drops off.
'Talk to me, tell me what you're thinking.' Fred says. Daphne draws on the cigarette, and puffs out the smoke, 'I don't know what to think, Fred.' She takes a final draw on the cigarette before she drops it on the ground and stamps out the glowing red tip.
'I spent hours putting the article together trying not to mention names. But now, everyone is gonna know who they are, and there's nothing I can do.' Daphne's voice is brittle and Fred pulls her into his arms.
Fred's fingers combing through her hair and his lips gently pressing against her head, she clings to him. She tries to stop the tears spilling from her eyes, but a rouge one rolls down her cheek. She wipes it away.
'You're holding something back.' Fred says softly.
Daphne takes a deep breath, there's so much she wants to tell him. He's already got a lot on his mind with the discovery of his father. But she knows she'll have to tell him eventually.
She pulls away from him and forces herself to look into his eyes, 'I think it's time to move on from here.' Fred raises an eyebrow, 'What do you mean?'
'I've been thinking about it, but tried talking myself out of it.' She shuffles her feet, 'I want to move back to New York City.' Daphne sees the color drain from his face, 'Gilroy has put things into perspective for me. I love my job, but not here.'
'You're certain?' He asks, she sees him biting his lip.
'Yes.'