Cold Open, A Sam North Mystery Read Online Free

again on camera.
    “The recovery of Steele’s body was recorded by a freelance cameraman who arrived on the scene. Liberty News has obtained that footage and will air it now. But this exclusive footage contains graphic images.”
    Townsend was in my ear. “Video is up.”
    I spoke and allowed enough time for the video to run twice, as planned.
    “A New York City Police Department Harbor Patrol unit responded, as did an Emergency Services crew, and Steele’s body was pulled from the river. Jack Steele was pronounced dead a short while later.”
    Townsend cued me. “You’re back up.”
    I took a breath and tried to phrase this perfectly, knowing this was the part that could come back to bite me in the ass.
    “As for the circumstances surrounding the death of Jack Steele … a police source tells Liberty that a suicide note has been discovered in Steele’s Manhattan apartment where he lived with his wife, Roberta. No further details are available at the moment.”
    I stood there and let it sink in, then wrapped and tossed it to the morning anchor team in the studio.
    “Once again, New York City Police Department sources confirm that Liberty News anchor Jack Steele has been found dead. His body was found floating in the East River at approximately two-thirty this morning. On the East Side of Manhattan, I’m Sam North. We go now to Liberty’s New York studios, where Kelly Hunter and Dan Miller are standing by.”
    I waited for Kelly or Dan to speak up, but all I heard was something that sounded like a sob off in the distance. It was awkward and uncomfortable. Finally, Hunter broke the silence.
    “Sam, it’s Kelly. This … this is shocking …”
    Miller chimed in from next to her on the couch back on the set.
    “Truly shocking …” Miller said.
    We now had it confirmed by both anchors that Steele’s death was shocking.
    “This … this … note the police say they have, Sam. It’s a suicide note?” Hunter asked.
    Of all the info Rinaldi had given me, this made me the most nervous. I hadn’t seen it. Rinaldi hadn’t seen it. It was a rumor at this stage and a mighty big one at that.
    “Kelly, as I said, a police source tells us that a note, and they are terming it a ‘suicide note,’ was discovered. We don’t know much more at this stage.”
    “Any idea what specifically the note says, Sam?” Miller asked.
    “Dan, at this point, that is all the information we have,” I said.
    Hunter’s voice was choked by sobs.
    “I … I just saw Jack yesterday,” she said.
    “Me … me, too,” Miller said, not to be outdone.
    Viewers now knew that, yes, many of the people at Liberty did in fact see one another at work. After a few more questions, Miller called this a “tragic, tragic event,” and the live shot was over.
    I stood there with sweat coating my forehead and waited for Townsend to clear me. Overhead, the dull thumping of helicopter blades filled the air. My phone vibrated with incoming calls and texts.
    “You’re clear,” Townsend said.
    Before I could move, Jennings was in my ear.
    “Don’t move, Sam. We’re going to need you back on in sixty seconds, Kelly and Dan are sobbing on the goddamn set. You’d think they could at least pretend to be professional.”
    I looked at Charlie, who stood there shaking his head.
    “We’re screwed, Sam. You know how much ad revenue Jack brought in?”
    There were more choppers in the sky now. Within minutes it was going to get very crowded over here.
    Jennings screamed in my earpiece. “Need to get you back on. Fast. They’re a mess.”
    My phone vibrated again, and I looked at an incoming number I didn’t recognize.
    “Yeah,” I answered over the din.
    “Is this Sam North?”
    It was a woman’s voice.
    “It is.”
    She spoke between sobs, and her voice had an edge to it. “You’re wrong,” she said.
    I pushed the phone against my ear and struggled to hear.
    “I’m wrong?” I asked, with an edge all my own.
    “Yes. Jack Steele didn’t