fire? Were you hurt?”
“No, Dad, I’m fine, but like I said, I lost my board and audio equipment. It just happened, and the police and firemen are here right now sorting through everything. I really need to go so I can finish up with them and assess the damage.”
There was a pause as her father absorbed everything, but then he pushed again. “Mackenzie, maybe this is the perfect time to talk to Miller after all. With your equipment damaged, it might be the best time to get a real job and put this filming behind you. You had a good run and worked on a few fun projects, but this job with Miller could turn out to be a great career. It has health benefits, a great dental plan...”
Mackenzie’s head started pounding, and she rubbed her face absently. “I’m sorry, Dad, but the police really need to ask me some more questions, so I’d better go. I realize I’ve got a lot of work to do to rebuild my business, but that’s where I want to focus my time and efforts right now. If you run into Miller again, please thank him for his time, but I’m really not interested.”
“All right.” She could still hear the disappointment that was heavy in his voice. “Where are you staying? Are you safe?”
“Yes, Dad, I’m safe,” Mackezie answered, relieved that the conversation had shifted from her employment situation. “The US Marshals office here is helping me and has gotten me set up in a nearby hotel. I’ll have to find a new apartment, but I’ll let you know once I’m settled.”
“All right, then. Call if you need us. We’ll come help you move if you’d like.”
“Sure thing. I’ll let you know once I’ve decided where I’m headed. Bye, Dad.” She hung up and sighed. Her parents meant well, but they had never really understood her work and career choices. They thought making movies was a great hobby, but certainly not a full-time occupation. With every passing year, they seemed to get more concerned about her future, and nothing she told them ever seemed good enough to please them. She desperately wanted their approval but, at this point, she was unsure if she would ever actually get it. Their lack of support ate at her yet also drove her to prove them wrong and work even harder at becoming a success. She was going to make a name for herself in the film business, and one day, she would garner their support. She glanced back over at her ruined equipment. Right now, that day seemed very far away indeed.
A hand on her shoulder brought Mackenzie out of her contemplations, and she turned to see Jake.
“Good news. The local boys caught the two men that were shooting at us.” He showed her his phone, which had a mug shot of a man with dark hair and eyes. “Do you recognize this man?”
Mackenzie shook her head. The man’s face didn’t set off any bells, but the emptiness in his eyes scared her. He looked like someone that would hurt her with no qualms whatsoever.
Jake swiped the screen and showed her another picture. “What about him? Have you seen him before?”
This man’s face was narrower, and he had a large mole near his mouth. His lips formed a menacing sneer.
“Nope, I don’t know him. Sorry.”
Jake nodded and stored his phone. “Okay. They’re running criminal history checks on them now. The first one I showed you is a known associate of Beckett’s. It’s likely that this is all tied together. All we have to do now is figure out how.” He reached down, grabbed her suitcase and then motioned toward the door. “Let’s get you out of here.” He walked her into the living room, and after updating the two policemen, took her arm and led her toward the car.
“Will I be allowed back in there at some point to get the rest of my things?” Mackenzie asked as he opened the passenger door for her.
“Sure, at some point. Both the fire department and the police have to finish their investigations first. It’ll take a few days. Hopefully, by then we’ll have a handle on what’s going on here.” He closed the door, put her suitcase in the back seat, walked around the car and got in the driver’s side. “Everything about your projects sounds innocuous, except for maybe the homeless children documentary. Tell me about that.” He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot but looked over at her expectantly.
Mackenzie waited a moment before answering, wondering if they were going to be shot at a second time. Part of her wanted to stay indoors, where it might be safer, but she quickly remembered that men had broken into her apartment. There was no guarantee she was safe anywhere right now. She glanced at Jake, who also was taking a good look around them with a wary eye. At least Jake was helping her, despite the animosity he had shown her after hearing about her movie for the US Marshals.
A moment passed, then another. When nothing happened, Mackenzie took a deep breath, a wave of relief sweeping over her. She suddenly realized she had been clenching her hands. Her nails had left marks on her palms. She rubbed her hands against her jeans, trying to help the marks disappear. She thought back on her latest video project, hoping their conversation would erase some of the fear she was feeling. “Tallahassee has been experiencing a huge increase in homelessness lately, but it isn’t just adults that are sleeping on the streets. Due to the recent foreclosure crisis, families are losing their homes in record numbers, and there’s also a runaway component that is a big problem. A large part of the struggling population is teenagers, and I wanted to shine a light on that social issue. I’m hoping that if I ruffle enough feathers, the legislature and the Department of Children and Families will aim more of their resources into helping teens. A lot of the young adults I interviewed were foster kids who aged out of the system and didn’t have a job or home to go to.”
Jake turned a corner. “Who paid for that project?”
“A nonprofit charity named the Safe Harbor Group.”
“I’ve heard of them. They’re a pretty powerful advocacy group, from what I understand.”
Mackenzie nodded. “Yes, they’re a Florida-based organization with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami. Last year they sank a heap of money into lobbyists to get a bill passed through the Florida legislature to combat homelessness. It didn’t pass, so they hired me to make a video to highlight the problem, and they are gearing up to try again next year. They want to show my documentary on the local cable channels to garner support from the public, who they hope will pressure their representatives to vote for the legislation the next time around. It’s scheduled to air in about a month. I’ve got a small amount of editing to finish, and then I’ll be sending the final versions to their home office.”
“Is there any major opposition to the bill that you’re aware of?”
“Only the normal issues surrounding the cost of the legislation. Everybody seems to think helping the homeless is a good idea, but nobody wants to pay the tab. In the past, this type of legislation has been full of unfunded mandates, but this time around, the bill calls for some serious money to be spent on mental health services and child welfare programs.” Mackenzie suddenly sat up straighter and took a look at their location. “Instead of heading to the hotel, would you mind dropping me by my assistant’s house? It’s actually just around the corner from where we are now. I need to stop by and pick up my video camera and lighting equipment, and if she’s home, she can probably take me back to the hotel so you won’t have to. I want to take some live action shots of your team at work, starting tomorrow.”
Jake
