In case you are wondering who you’ll meet during my investigations, here’s the rundown of the motley crew, as Papa would call them. They’re friends, family, and colleagues, and they play a major part in all my stories.
This feisty Midwestern girl hasn’t changed a bit. Spirited, inquisitive (some even say obsessed sometimes), and sarcastic. No one expected me to become one of the most sought after journalists in my first job after college. OMG! I was even stunned. But when one of my investigations helps dismantle a child sex trafficking ring and receives national attention, news outlets and watchdog groups came knocking on my door. They wanted the aggressive and voracious reporter that brought down some evil guys, so I became their perfect candidate for exposing bureaucratic fraud and corruption.
Yep. That’s right. My papa. He’s a serious guy who loves the women in his life, check that, his wife and only daughter, with everything he has. He’s also an accomplished businessman who plays by the rules, but holds nothing back, regardless of the circumstances. And he’s foul-mouthed and sarcastic as hell to boot. Obviously, it’s something he’s handed down to me, genetically speaking.
Papa’s wife and my stepmom. She’s twenty-six years younger than Papa, a brilliant legal scholar despite of her choice in men (sorry Papa, I had to say it), smoking-hot, and loves Papa with everything she has.
Jerome works with me at Government Integrity Watch. He began as the receptionist, but that changed pretty quickly. A man of many talents, he’s also a freaking financial genius. Jerome’s married to Gary Rycroft who works as a bond analyst, and together they enjoy a few of the finer things in life.
Syd’s GIW’s Investigative Support Specialist. A former cop, she knows how to get things done with a lot of contacts in strategic places. And now, she’s learning to work with her two adoptive, adult children, Jerome and me.
Jim’s GIW’s President. Three decades a successful corporate attorney, he’s a rock, mentor, and ardent supporter of his investigators, though he finds it challenging to keep us in line sometimes.
