The Deception Read Online Free PDF

to such lengths was to gain recognition. She’d hoped a few scandalous articles would raise her profile in Sydney. She might have been a well-respected journalist among the political circles in Canberra, but that meant little on a paper like the Daily Mirror , where the toughest political questions were generally asked by the resident cartoonist.
    If it hadn’t been for her brother, she’d never have given up her lucrative job as a political reporter and headed north to Sydney. Dylan’s drug addiction had demanded a change of scenery and Sydney boasted the best rehabilitation centers in Australia.
    By lifting her profile and gaining a local readership, not only could she ask Max for a raise, but she’d reach an even greater audience when she eventually wrote about what was really close to her heart—serious social issues that affected people every day: the breakdown of the family unit, the rise of unemployment, domestic violence, homelessness, drug abuse. They were issues that affected everyone. People needed to be informed; people needed to be educated.
    And now what? The entire escapade had been for nothing. Without the byline, nobody would even know the story was hers.
    Knowing further argument would be useless, she threw herself back into her chair. Her gaze lit on the faded picture of her mother where it sat on the shelf above Savannah’s computer. It was the last picture she had of her, taken right before her death. Savannah couldn’t believe it had been six years.
    Her anger folded. Another sigh escaped—this one heavy with sadness and regret.
    What would you have done, Mom? You always knew how to get what you wanted.
    Savannah’s mother had been the most determined person she’d ever known. Even now, she couldn’t help the sharp pang of regret at the thought that she’d never told her how much she’d admired her. And now it was too late…
    Tears burned behind her eyes. She stared at the woman with mischievous hazel eyes who smiled back at the photographer. Savannah’s father had taken the photo. It had been shot right outside her apartment, only hours before her parents had embarked on their ill-fated holiday around outback Australia.
    Her mother had been a university English professor and Savannah knew her love of writing had come from her. Along with the innate sense of social justice she attributed to her politically active father, it was no wonder she was upset at not receiving recognition for her article.
    What started out as a bit of scandalous fluff to satisfy her editor had turned into a serious story with monumental implications. If everything Malee told her was true, there was enough criminal activity going on in the Black Opal to put the owners behind bars for a very long time.
    “Is everything all right?”
    Savannah turned. Barbara Layton propped her hip against Savannah’s desk. Upon discovering Savannah was an orphan, her much older colleague had taken it upon herself to watch out for her. Now, Barbara’s warm brown eyes were filled with kindness and concern.
    “Yes, thanks, Barb.” Savannah scrabbled for a tissue in her handbag and blew her nose. Turning to face her, she offered her a wry smile. “I guess you heard?”
    Barbara pushed back her heavy gray bangs. Her smile was wide and genuine. “It’s a great story. You did well, kid. And your first front page in the paper with the largest circulation in Sydney! Whoopee do!”
    A small smile curved Savannah’s lips. “Yeah, my first front page. Not bad, hey?”
    “You betcha. The first of many—you mark my words. I’ve been here a long time, hon, and I know talent when I see it. And you’ve got talent, kid. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”
    Barbara left her with a reassuring pat on her arm. Savannah’s anger and disappointment faded. She was a good writer, dammit. There would be more front page stories and next time, her name would be right up there alongside it. She’d write the kind of stories nobody else had