“Addison—is that his name?—said that the feds have taken over center ring, and he’s chalking that up to your disappearing act. He’s pissed, and that’s putting it mildly.”
Kerra said nothing for a moment, then, “If I’m questioned again, I’m going to have a lawyer with me. But for right now, I’m going to unplug. I’ve already emailed the news director telling him that I need to use some sick days.”
“This story is still hot, Kerra. He’ll have a conniption.”
“Too bad.”
“Where is John Trapper?”
“I don’t know. As I said, we parted ways. I’m going to hang up now. I’m exhausted.”
“Kerra, wait! You can take sick days after tonight’s broadcast. Whatever you need to perk you up, I’ll provide. Massage. Martini. A shot of vitamin B-twelve. You name it.”
“That’s generous, but no thank you.”
“For all the reasons we’ve discussed, I implore you to reconsider.”
“Sorry, Gracie. My decision is final.”
Shifting away from her cajoling tone, she said, “Well, your decision doesn’t affect just you, you know. Have you thought of that? It’s my career, too. Think of the crew.”
“Their careers will survive, and so will yours.”
“What about yours?”
“Goodbye.”
The line went dead.
Gracie huffed out a breath and clicked off. “I kept her on for as long as I could.”
Sheriff Glenn Addison was standing over her. “Why would she want to have a lawyer?”
“Because she’s no fool,” Gracie retorted. “You, on the other hand…”
“You could have pressed her harder about Trapper’s whereabouts.”
“Isn’t that your job, sheriff? You lost track of your key witness, so you hauled me down here and coerced me into sitting all day in this swell office of yours, waiting for her to call, so you could find her.” With scorn, she added, “No wonder the FBI has taken over your investigation.”
“It’s a coordinated effort involving several agencies.”
Gracie harrumphed. “Good sound bite, and, like most sound bites, it’s ass-covering.” She enjoyed watching him turn livid.
“We appreciate your cooperation, Ms. Lambert,” he said stiffly. “You’re free to go.”
She picked up her handbag and walked toward the door. “I hated what I just did. It felt wrong and deceptive, but at least I know that Kerra is safe at home.”
“If she is.” The sheriff turned to address the phone techie sitting at a desk across the room. “Get it?”
“Got it. She’s in downtown Dallas.”
He recited the address that Gracie knew to be Kerra’s condo. She gave Glenn Addison a smug smile as she went out.
When Kerra exited her building, Trapper flashed the car’s headlights so she could see where he was parallel parked a block away. She jogged down the sidewalk and got into the passenger seat. He asked if anybody had seen her leaving her building.
“The concierge—not your concierge, a male one—was on the phone. We didn’t acknowledge each other. If he saw me, it wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary. I frequently walk to work and back.”
“Go okay?” he asked.