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Darcy’s food and water on my way to bed, thankful for her doggie door. Perching on the edge of my cherry four-poster, I kicked off my heels, too beat to even put them back on their shelf. I figured out what bugged me about the sheriff’s story as I snuggled into my pillows.
    Why would TJ Okerson be worried about his upcoming baseball season if he planned to swallow a fistful of Vicodin?

3.

    Exclusive

    My head was no less stuffy the next morning, but I had work to do. I trudged into the newsroom at seven-thirty to write my story on TJ before the budget meeting, while texting Parker so he would check the article before I turned it in. I was paranoid that my allergy meds had made my head so foggy I’d get something wrong.

    TJ Okerson’s favorite color was green. He loved football, the beach, and his twin little sisters. As a junior, he led the Mathews Eagles to a state championship last season, appearing set to follow in the footsteps of his famous father, retired Super Bowl champion quarterback Tony Okerson.
    “He had the best smile,” his mother, Ashton Okerson, said. “I know the saying is that someone’s smile lights up a room, but TJ’s smile lit up the world. My world, anyway. He made it a better place.”
    Ashton and Tony talked to the Telegraph exclusively about their son Thursday evening, after Tony found TJ’s body on the beach near their home on Gwynn’s Island that morning. Local law enforcement officials said the death appeared to be a

    I paused, staring at the blinking cursor. I didn’t want to type the word “suicide,” because my gut said there was something else there. On the other hand, the Okersons believed Sheriff Zeke. I didn’t want to upset grieving parents and friends, either.
    I blew out a short breath and sipped my coffee, scrunching my nose when my beloved white mocha syrup tasted more like tomato sauce thanks to my stuffy head.
    “How’s it coming?” Parker asked from behind my left shoulder. I smiled and turned to face him, waving a hello to his girlfriend as she dropped her bag to the floor in the cube next to mine.
    “Slowly,” I said, studying his face. The dark craters under his emerald eyes were unusual, and told me I should probably keep my mouth shut about why it was coming slowly.
    Parker loved this kid, and I didn’t want to make my friend sadder. “These stories are always hard. And his parents were so nice,” I finished simply.
    He shook his head. “Of all the kids I’ve ever met, TJ was the least likely to do something like this.”
    I laid a hand on his arm and caught Mel’s eye. She looked tired, too. She just shook her head, a pained look on her face.
    “I’m so sorry,” I told Parker.
    “What did the cops say?” he asked.
    “That they’re looking into it, but they think it was a suicide.”
    “Why?” He stepped back and shook his head.
    “Why what?”
    “TJ loves his baby sisters. He loves his family. I just saw him two weeks ago. He was happy. Why would he do this?” Parker sat heavily on the edge of my desk and dropped his tousled blond head into his hands. Mel massaged his shoulder and offered me a helpless shrug.
    I tried to pull in a deep breath, but the stuffy nose netted me a small gasp.
    “His parents don’t know. The cops don’t know,” I said. “It doesn’t sound to me like a typical suicide, if there even is such a thing.”
    Parker raised his head and leveled his green eyes at me.
    “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” he asked.
    “I’m not sure what I’m saying,” I replied hurriedly. “My gut says there’s something off, Parker.” So much for keeping my mouth shut.
    “Are the cops out there really looking into it, or are they placating Tony and Ashton?”
    “I can’t tell. The sheriff seemed like a nice guy, but I don’t know him or anyone else in the department. I’m flying a little blind, here. He said he’s waiting for tox results, but they don’t have their own lab, so that could take a