Ducking back into the car, Kim turned back the front page of the newspaper. The story was on page two:
EXCLUSIVE TO THE MORNING SUN TIMES:
Dr. Kim Reggis, a respected cardiac surgeon and the former head of the department at the Samaritan Hospital and now on staff at the University Medical Center, has taken the law into his own hands vigilante style. In response to the tragic death of his daughter on Saturday, he allegedly disguised himself with blond hair color, got a job at Higgins and Hancock under a false name, and then brutally murdered another worker by the name of Carlos Mateo. It is thought that the motive for this unprovoked killing is that Dr. Reggis believed his daughter died of meat slaughtered at Higgins and Hancock.
Mr. Daryl Webster, the president of Higgins and Hancock, has told the Times that this is a preposterous allegation. He also said that Mr. Mateo was a valued worker and a devoted Catholic, who tragically leaves behind an invalid wife and six young children…
Kim angrily tossed the paper onto the passenger seat. He didn’t have to read any further to be disgusted-and concerned. He started the car and drove back to the motel. Carrying the food and the paper, he entered.
Tracy heard him come in and poked her head around the bathroom door. She was toweling her wet head, having just gotten out of the shower.
“You’re up,” Kim commented. He put down the food on the desk.
“I heard you go out,” Tracy said. “I’m glad to see you back. I was a little afraid you might leave me here with the idea of sparing me. Promise me you won’t do that.”
“The idea crossed my mind.” Kim admitted. He sank dejectedly into the only chair.
“What’s the matter?” Tracy asked. Although she knew there was more than enough on Kim’s mind, he seemed far more despondent than she expected.
Kim held up the newspaper. “Read this!” he said.
“Is it about the man at Higgins and Hancock?” Tracy asked fearfully. She wasn’t sure she wanted to read the details.
“Yes, and about me, too,” Kim said.
“Oh, no!” Tracy cried with dismay. “You’re already associated with it?” She stepped into the room while wrapping herself in the thin towel. She took the paper and read the headlines. Slowly she sank onto the edge of the bed, turning the page to read the rest.
It didn’t take Tracy long. When she was finished, she closed the paper and put it aside. She looked at Kim. “What a character assassination,” she said somberly. “They even included mention of your recent arrests and that your hospital privileges have been suspended.”
“I didn’t get that far,” Kim said. “I only read the first two paragraphs, but it was enough.”
“I can’t believe this has all happened so quickly,” Tracy said. “Someone must have recognized you at Higgins and Hancock.”
“Obviously,” Kim said. “The man we killed wasn’t trying to kill Jose Ramerez. And when he failed to kill me, the people who were paying him opted to destroy my credibility and possibly send me to jail for life.” Kim laughed mirthlessly. “And to think I was worried about the legal ramifications. I never even considered the media. It surely gives you an idea of the money and power of this industry in this town that they can manage to distort the truth like this. I mean, there was no investigative reporting in this article. The paper just printed what the meat industry told them. They have me murdering a God-fearing family man in cold blood in a fit of revenge.”
“This means we don’t have twenty-four to forty-eight hours to decide what we’re going to do,” Tracy said.
“I should say not,” Kim said. He stood up. “It means we should have decided last night. And for me it also means there’s no longer a question. I’ll fight this travesty but definitely from afar.”
Tracy stood up and stepped over to Kim. “There’s no longer a question for me either,” she said. “We’ll go together and fight this together.”
“Of course it will mean we’ll miss Becky’s service,” Kim said.
“I know,” Tracy said.