“What I meant. Quite a blowout, huh? You catch the garter?”
“No, the bridesmaid.”
“Which one?”
“She was blond.”
“Big tits or the skinny one?”
“I can’t remember. Have you ever heard of Kerra Bailey?”
“The one on TV?”
“You know who she is?”
“Sure. She’s a local reporter, but she also shows up every once in a while on that—”
“She came unannounced to my office today.”
After a stunned silence, his friend chortled, “Holy shit! Are you kidding?”
“No.”
“She came to see you?”
“Yes.”
“What for?”
Trapper withheld mention of the photograph and its startling revelation. He told Carson only that Kerra wanted to interview The Major. “She asked me to pave the way for her.”
“To which you said?”
“Several expletives that boiled down to no. But she’s not done asking.”
“How do you know?”
“She gives off a vibe.”
“She vibrates? This just got interesting. Hold on.” Trapper could hear Carson murmuring an apology to the new Mrs. Rime, followed by several seconds of rustling, then a closing door. “Tell me everything.”
Over the sound of Carson noisily peeing into the toilet, Trapper gave him a condensed version of Kerra’s unexpected arrival. When he finished, Carson asked, “Does she understand that you and the pater aren’t exactly simpatico?”
“She does now. But that didn’t sway her. She still believes I could be useful.”
“Are you going to help her?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
“Look, Carson, I realize it’s your honeymoon and all, but if I hadn’t taken you to happy hour at that topless club, you and your bride never would’ve met.”
Carson was quick on the uptake. He sighed. “What’s the favor?”
After he and Carson disconnected, Trapper shucked his jeans and got into bed, but he took his laptop with him.
He went on to YouTube and watched every story and interview featuring Kerra Bailey that he could locate. He had wished to find fault, had hoped to see a struggling amateur. But on camera she came across as poised, smart, and informative, but also warm and personable. She had a sharp wit, an incisive toughness without meanness, but she didn’t allow professionalism to overshadow compassion.