The First Time I Broke

# Chapter 1: The Assignment

"You want me to interview Victor Blackwood?" I stared at my editor in disbelief, certain I'd misheard him.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight. "That's right. Exclusive interview, his first since the acquittal."

"But why me?" The question came out more plaintive than I intended. I cleared my throat and tried again. "I mean, this is a major profile. Shouldn't it go to someone with more experience? Diane or Robert, maybe?"

"Blackwood specifically requested you," Marcus said, sliding a folder across his desk toward me. "Said he was impressed by your coverage of the Westside Development controversy. Thought you were fair."

I took the folder automatically, though I made no move to open it. Victor Blackwood—real estate mogul, philanthropist, and until three months ago, murder suspect in the death of his business partner. The trial had been the biggest news story in Boston for months, with every news outlet fighting for any scrap of information. The Sentinel, where I'd been working as a reporter for the past four years, had covered it extensively.

And now Blackwood wanted me to interview him. Me, Eliza Reed, who typically covered local politics and community issues, not high-profile murder cases.