When I was growing up, my grandfather used to preach about sins of commission and sins of omission. One was just as bad as the other, he thundered. To know it's wrong and do it anyway was sin. But knowing right and failing to do it was also sin.
Why not just lynch her? I thought. I had always noticed how much politicians resembled wolves, but I'd never seen them turn on one of their own quite this way before. But then Gloria wasn't really one of their own. She was a woman.
Even boxes of papers and news clips from previous jobs, normally stored in a hall closet, were strewn from the front door through the living room. I almost giggled at the thought of some burglar reading five-year-old news from towns a thousand miles away in search of whatever he was looking for. But most of my dismay was reserved for what the bastard did to my books. I owned somewhere near 2,000 books. Most of them weren't worth more than 50 cents at a second-hand store, but they were mine. When I moved to Texas, I had 17 boxes of books, three boxes of clothes, and two boxes of kitchen items. The burglar had pulled all the books off the shelves, of course. But they'd trashed a bunch of them, exactly how many I couldn't tell for sure. They'd stomped on some, torn others. I just stared in shock. I valued many things more than my books, but I had to admit destroying books ranks high on my list of despicable acts. As I wandered through my apartment, the police asked me questions for their report. I answered absently. It was hard to focus on when, where, who, and what, when your mind can only scream “why?” at you. But then, I was sure I knew why. Those damn papers of Anderson's. I hoped the person was convinced now that I did not have the things. I doubted it, however. There were too many other places I could have kept them. Including the newspaper office. I asked the officers to have a patrol swing by the office frequently during the nights to come, and they agreed to file a request for surveillance. I wasn't too worried; we had excellent security at the office. Newspapers tend to be paranoid. “You can't stay here,” Carolyn said gently, as I stopped to pick up the fragments of a clay figurine I'd bought the summer I'd worked in the fish camps in Alaska. “Come to the house; we can clean up tomorrow.” “Can you see anything missing, Katy?” the officer asked. I shook my head. “No, nothing obvious.” “Well, it isn't your typical B&E,” he observed. “That's too good of a VCR to be passed up. And you didn't surprise him.” “They were looking for something specific,” I said. “I don't think they found it.” The police took their reports away and Carolyn and I locked the apartment door and went around the corner to her place. She escorted me to a bedroom, gave me clean towels for the morning and turned back my bed. “Katy,” she said, and paused. I looked at her. “Tell me honestly, do you know where the papers are?” “No,” I said. I could tell she believed me and was relieved. “You know the ironic thing? I wouldn't have even known the papers existed if the murderer hadn't started looking for them.” She turned to leave, then looked back at me curiously. “Why assume it's the murderer who's looking for the papers? Couldn't it be someone else?” That question haunted me as I tossed and turned throughout the sleepless night. What made me so sure I was looking for one person?
~~~~~~
It's a known fact that newspapers and news agencies are under attack, even more so these days... We have learned through the last decade that owners of news companies have chosen whether they wish to report the news... Or, respond to political pressures... It's happening at every level of government, unfortunately.
The book takes you directly into the news business where readers can learn the process of putting a newspaper out each day. A time-controlled activity that puts pressure on each staff member to get their work done to the mandated and tight schedule. Kate carried most of that responsibility, while the Editor's time was his own... This diversion of the overall story is quite interesting and actually acted to pull the new editor more into his overall responsibilities. Kudos to the author who brought a sensitive topic into play amidst an overall larger scheme of political control...
Bob Anderson also worked at the local bank. Interestingly, his murder occurred around the same time that the Federal Deposit Insurance group had sent two men in for a routine review--seemingly. But with Anderson's death, many began to be concerned about what actually was going on... And a major owner of Texas banks was already sniffing around, working to learn whether the bank would be forced to close...
I winced. I don't care how cynical some think I am —
I never can accept man's brutality. Knocking him out would have made sense from the burglar's point of view. But kick in the ribs of an unconscious man? An unconscious 80-year-old man?
“If you don't mind, can you tell me what happened?” Thelma took a deep breath. “Do me good to talk about it, I think. “William plays cribbage at the VFW on Thursday afternoons. I went shopping with some friends in Dallas. When I got home, I let myself in the front door. The place was a disaster. Papers everywhere — I didn't know we owned that many papers. Cushions tossed out of the sofa and chairs. I started calling for William.” She paused and took another steadying breath. I said nothing, but just squeezed her hand again. “I found him on the floor in the kitchen. The back door was swinging open. I checked to see,” her voice broke, then firmed up again. “I checked to see if he were still breathing, and then I called the cops.” “Do you know what they might have been looking for?” “The cops think money; but there wasn't any. I don't know. We've been getting anonymous telephone calls at night asking us where the papers are. They didn't make any sense, but then neither does this.”
So what had happened at the bank that had caused such turmoil? Katy knew something was up since he'd called her to meet. Now she was hot on the trail as to what actually could be behind his death as well as with the bank. I enjoyed the character of Kate Williams. She seemed to me to be exactly what a news rep should be... When she learned about the bank auditors, she went to meet with them and successfully began to share information beneficial to both the town and the federal employees. And she started meeting with people--everybody was looking for papers that Bob Anderson supposedly had gathered--and they thought she had them...which put here in danger... But that didn't stop her from, since she didn't have them, working to either secure them or figure out what the issue was that he'd wanted to share with her.
Actually, it was a fairly simple issue--a project where many could make millions of dollars versus something to respond to the whole community... You see, a park for the town had been built in a location that was perfect for community use. But it would also be perfect for a major housing development which would bring both money and people into the area... Instead of looking at it as a list of priorities to be considered, some were working behind the scenes to ensure city council members were going to support major new development... And power and money was driving the decisions so much so that other deaths would be added before the whole sordid mess was discovered...
“Trust me, Johnny,” I said. “I'd have printed it if I had it. If I find those papers and there's proof to it, I will still print it. But I don't know where they are, and I haven't got them.” Johnny looked at me, his face white. “Then who does?” I shrugged again. “I don't know. All I know is that more than one person would like to have them.” Johnny snorted. “Honey, that's the understatement of the year. If those documents have what I think they do — and knowing Bob, I'm pretty sure I'm right — every developer in the state would want a copy. And behind them would be every politician in this neck of the woods, and some beyond.” “Not to mention the law?” It was half statement, half question. “Honey, there's enough evidence available, and I don't doubt Bob found most of it, to make some assistant attorney general a fancy career.” “And the banking authorities?” Johnny didn't touch that one. “Johnny, what is in that stuff?” He grimaced. “I may be an old man, but I'm not dumb enough to tell you that. It'd make fame and fortune for a reporter too. I've already said too much to you, thinkin' you already knew. Believe me, Katy, you're better off not knowing any more than you do.” “Damn it, Johnny,” I said forcefully. He jumped at my swearing; good girls don't say damn. “My neck is on the line, and I haven't the foggiest idea why. You could at least tell me that.” Johnny shook his head. “It goes back many years, Katy. A lot of ancient history. I wish Bob had left it at that.”
There is an understanding world-wide that news agencies are being attacked--or they are being forced to choose which "side" upon which they want to build their business... As with the title, Sins of Omission, has taken over... Lies and power grabs attempt to respond to what is often corruption, rather than a routine and steady investigative reporting that brings out the truth.
First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Some have raised the question of whether the Free Speech Clause and the Free Press Clause are coextensive, with respect to protections for the media. Continue on - Overview of Freedom of the Press
Over the last decade, especially, we have watched as special interest groups have worked to change or decrease the power of the Press. It is my thought and recognition that books such as Sins of Omission is a fantastic, yet clear, way to learn more about what concerns all Americans--Assurance that Truth is to be spoken consistently without attempts to obfuscate and confuse readers rather than enlighten all readers, by providing solid documented information. Truth!
For me, and for many people this book will allow us to see what happens when lies or manipulation is used to change reality purely for personal reasons, including corruptive acts. Breedlove certainly puts readers right in the midst of an editor's work to provide prompt, timely, and yet, totally-documented stories that ensure we are prepared to live daily in a safe and secure manner, without fear of later discovering that we have been lied to... I highly recommend the book for these reasons...
Besides the fact that, it is a great book that keeps you reading, guessing, and working along with the characters to solve murder mysteries, it also provides examples of how those who are rich/powerful or corrupt may use violence to get what they want, no matter what.
Folks, if we don't work to ensure fiction is "only" fiction and not, mainly, reflective of the acts of evil men, or women in a few cases, we might never know the Truth that sets us Free to Be all that we can be...
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