He said nothing, just tapped his chin with his clasped hands.
She didn’t stand up long against his unflinching stare. He’d find out soon enough anyway. “I’ve been approached to describe those last few minutes I spent alone with The Major.”
“You mean on TV?”
“Yes. The network wants the anchor to interview me on the evening news.”
“In New York?”
“No, from here. Via satellite. Preferably live.”
“Are you going to do it?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“What would decide you?”
“For or against?”
“You have to ask?”
He was taking to the idea exactly as she had predicted he would. With resistance. “I’m sensitive to how you might feel about it. That’s the main reason I’m hesitant to do it.”
“Oh. Your hesitancy has everything to do with my feelings and nothing to do with the fact that you’re a material witness—the only one—to the attempted assassination of a public figure.”
“I’m also a newswoman.”
“Ah.”
“Yes, ah! I have a career, Trapper. This is what I do.”
Now that she’d had hours to consider it, she acknowledged that Gracie’s points were valid. Her career could be irreparably damaged if she refused. Since their conversation this morning, Gracie had called twice to ask if she’d thought it over and come to a more sensible decision. “But no pressure,” the producer had quipped.
Now Trapper was applying pressure from the opposing side. Challenging him, she said, “Why are you so against it?”
“Common sense. It’s a bad idea. Have you discussed it with Sheriff Addison or anyone investigating the case?”
“Not yet. It’s only been proposed. I haven’t committed.”
“If you do it, you should be committed. Going on TV and talking about the minutes leading up to the shooting?” He shook his head in a way that said she was nuts. “I don’t think it’s sunk in with you the danger you’re in, the threat you pose, the—”
She held up her hand to stop him from feeding her fear, which his parting words the night before had engendered, which his presence here now reinforced. “I don’t pose a threat to anybody. If I do the interview I’ll underscore that
I couldn’t identify the guilty parties because I didn’t see them. That’ll be the end of it.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. I don’t know what more I can say.”
“Say you’ve told me everything.”
“I’ve told you everything.” She enunciated each word, gave them time to sink in, then gestured toward the door. “Now, I’ve answered your questions, which you have no authority to be asking. I’m tired. Please leave.”
“All right. Just one more question and I’ll go.”
His capitulation had been too easily won, and her suspicion must have showed, because he added, “I promise.”
“What’s the question?”