chapters 1 through 5 of crime beat are now up on AO3
EDIT: I FORGOT TO ADD CHAPTER 5 LMAO
Chapter 1: Prologue: The Beginning of the End: READ HERE
Chapter 2: The Reporter: READ HERE
Chapter 3: The Detective: READ HERE
Chapter 4: The First Shift: READ HERE
Chapter 5: The Barrens: READ HERE
I'm excited to start slowly sharing this story! I wrote the first ten chapters of crime beat earlier this year, but I finally got around to editing some of the chapters this week. I won't update this one frequently, as my priority is wrapping up my other WIPs, but the near loss of the final chapter of cruise ship has me worried so I wanted to get at least some of it out there just in case! I hope you all enjoy this one <3 huge shoutout to @hockeyspiral23 who helped me out by reading the very early drafts of the first chapters and giving me feedback
Summary:
At 25, crime beat reporter Violet Sorrengail is already one of the most accomplished journalists in California, with an investigation into bribery at the LAPD gaining her national attention and fancy job offers in New York. But a panicked phone call from a source leaves her rattled — and seeking answers she can’t hope to get with a press badge hanging around her neck.
LAPD Detective Xaden Riorson is fighting a losing battle. The Aretia Hills Station he practically grew up in is crumbling under the weight of understaffing caused by the scandal, gangs that seem to become more emboldened by the day, and distrust from the people he’s sworn to protect. Worse, he's being saddled with training a reporter who thinks she's a cop, even as the gang that bribed the station's officers continues running rampant.
Xaden and Violet couldn't be more diametrically opposed, and their partnership couldn’t get off to a worse start. But as Violet begins to uncover how the scandal that led her to the LAPD isn’t as black-and-white as she’d always believed, Xaden becomes more and more convinced that there is something she — and the LAPD — is hiding.
or
Violet completely disregards journalistic ethics to get shit done and Xaden is just along for the ride
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Anger rolled off the detective in waves, and Violet’s own rose to match it. This kind of insular, we-do-no-wrong attitude was one of the many reasons she didn’t trust cops — and why she didn’t trust a single word about Sergeant Izar’s supposed suicide.
“Oh trust me, I would love nothing more,” Riorson hissed. “But unfortunately for the both of us, I’m stuck with you.”
“That’s the first thing you’ve said today that I actually agree with,” Violet snapped. Uncrossing her arms, she narrowed her eyes. “Now, can we get to my training, or are we going to stand here rehashing your grievances for the rest of the day?”
Riorson blinked, then took a step back, giving her an apprising once-over. For a moment, Violet started regretting matching his hostility, as the silence stretched on and she began wondering if he would simply wash her out for her unrestrained words.
“Fine,” he finally said. “You want training, Sorrengail? I’ll give you training.” He smirked, and it contained a degree of malice that made Violet’s hair stand on end. “Just don’t complain to me when you realize you’re in over your head.”
