Nick didn’t think he’d ever seen her so mad. Actually, the last person he’d seen this angry had been his grandfather when the story about his mother ran. When a person was this angry, it was hard to think straight.
That was why he was going along.
To make sure she didn’t do anything that would get her court-martialed.
It didn’t take long to track down Robinson. He was at his desk at the newspaper office. When he looked up and saw Heidi bearing down on him, Nick thought he saw a flash of fear in the man’s eyes before he lifted his chin in defiance.
Heidi stopped at his desk. “I’d like to speak with you, if that’s all right.”
Admiring her calmness, Nick decided to stay back and let her handle it. At least until she decided to do him bodily harm.
John cleared his throat and rose. He grabbed his jacket and slipped into it. “Actually, I was just on my way out the door. I just got word that someone was arrested for the training center bombing—and that it’s somehow related to the Red Rose Killer.”
“Right. I was there.”
Robinson froze. “What do you mean you were there? How were you there? How many times do I have to tell you that this is my story?”
“Then why do you have to steal my notes to get a story printed? Why are you trying so hard to discredit me?”
He flinched. “I don’t have to stand here and listen to this garbage.” He reached for his car keys and Heidi moved fast, swiping them from the desk. They hit the floor and skidded under the chair. “Hey!”
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell Lou what you did.” She crossed her arms.
“Are you nuts? You can’t just come in here and act like this.”
“Like what, John? Like a woman who is confronting a man who is not only a liar, but is willing to do just about anything to ruin her career?”
“I’m not—”
She stepped forward and Nick tensed. His phone rang and he shut it off, unwilling to have any distractions at the moment. He might have to intervene.
But Heidi didn’t lift a hand, she simply thrust out her chin. “Yes, you are. You stole my recorder, listened to my notes and picked the one thing that would be sure to bring the hammer down on my head—and possibly my career. All you had to do was make sure those working the investigation wouldn’t talk to me. How did you get into my email account?”
“Heidi, you’re delusional. I don’t know where you’re getting all of this, but I’ve got to go.”
“It should be easy enough to prove,” Nick said.
Robinson stilled. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about getting one of our IT people over here and letting them examine your computer. If you hacked into Heidi’s account, it can be found. If you didn’t, then no worries.”
Robinson’s face went bright red. “This is ridiculous! Get out of my space!”
“Have someone come over and check it out,” a voice from behind Nick said.
Heidi spun. “Lou?”
Her boss shrugged and met Nick’s gaze. “I don’t want to think one of my reporters would do such a thing. Have someone come over and prove he didn’t do it. That way, we’ll shut everyone up.”
“Lou.” John rubbed his hand across his lips. “Really? You know I wouldn’t—”
“Right. I do. But she doesn’t. I’m doing this for her, too.”
“Thanks, Lou,” Heidi said.
“Don’t thank me. You’re going to feel pretty foolish when we prove you wrong.”
She huffed. “I’ll take that chance.”
John’s jaw got tighter. “Fine!” he exploded. “I did it.”
* * *
Heidi blinked, her shock holding her silent for a moment. Had John actually admitted it? Nick nudged her and she snapped her mouth shut. Her shoulders slumped. “Why?” she whispered.
John groaned and dropped back into his chair. “Because I’m afraid I’m doing a lousy job on this story and just last week, I overheard Lou saying what a great reporter you were and I thought if I offered some kind of proof that you could possibly be the anonymous blogger—and were reporting false information on top of that—then Lou would get rid of you.”
“So you were jealous?” She gaped, then shot a look at her boss, who looked ready to stroke out at any moment. Her gaze swung back to Robinson.
He shrugged.
Heidi turned again to Lou, who gave a disgusted grunt and shook his head. “I’m disappointed in you, Robinson.”
“I know, sir. I’m disappointed in myself.”
“I should fire you.”
Robinson flinched. “Sir...” He lifted a hand as though to argue his case. Then he dropped it. “Whatever you decide, sir.”
“Don’t fire him,” Heidi said.
All eyes turned to her. “What?” Lou asked.
“You don’t have to fire him.”
“I can’t let him get away with this.”
“I agree. But...can you just take appropriate disciplinary action and let that be it?”
Lou stared at her for a few seconds before shaking his head. And Nick watched her, his expression a cross between pride and disbelief—and what she thought might be a smidge of admiration mixed in.
She shrugged. “Don’t ask me to explain. I can’t. I just know I don’t want him fired.”
“I’ll print a retraction, then—or something,” Lou said. “Actually, Robinson will. He’ll print a confession.”
“No,” Nick said. “We don’t want the paper’s reputation to suffer.”
“Then how are we going to fix this?” The man looked ready to explode.
“I think,” Nick said, “you could have Heidi write a piece about how her email was compromised by someone she trusted, someone who’s had a grudge against her and wanted to smear her name and the readers will buy it. Not only is it true, but with everything that’s been happening to her—and the fact that she’s been reporting on it—the readers will also be sympathetic that she’s being targeted. Of course, she will talk about grateful she is for her boss’s support and the support of the paper overall.”
“I like that,” Lou said.
“She can also point out how the paper holds to the highest standards of professionalism.”
“Because that’s true, too,” Lou grunted. He turned his glare on John. “Get out of here until I can calm down long enough to think straight. I’ll call you later and let you know what I’ve decided.”
“Yes, sir.” He shot a look at Heidi. “I’m sorry. That was lower than low and completely unprofessional. I’m sorry and, if I get to stay, it won’t happen again, I promise.”
Heidi nodded. As John left, she let out a low, slow breath and ran a hand over her hair. “Wow. I did not expect that.”
“I don’t think any of us did,” Lou said.
She looked at Nick. “Can someone really tell if he hacked my email?”
“Probably. Truthfully, I have no idea. Are you ready to go or do you have something else you need to do here?”
She raised a brow at Lou and he waved a hand at her. “Go find a story.” He headed for his office. “Preferably who the thief on this base is,” he shot over his shoulder. “And I’m not talking about a recorder and story thief, I mean the guy stealing the medals!” His door slammed and Heidi flinched.
Then she cleared her throat. “What now?” she asked Nick.
“I think we should go back to my place and you should rest.”
“Or write up my article you just assigned me.”
He shot her a wry glance. “Sorry.”
“No. It’s brilliant. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
He took her hand and led her out of the building. She took a deep breath and looked around. “It’s nice not to be looking over my shoulder and wondering if someone’s going to try and kill me.”
A low laugh escaped him. “I’m sure.” Then he frowned. “But Sullivan is still on the loose. And if Gentry is to be believed, Sullivan had him blow up the center as a distraction, which means Sullivan still has plans. Evil plans, no doubt.”
“So, what do we do?”
“We do what we can to find out who’s stealing the medals.” He looked away, then back at her. “Heidi, I—I apologize.”
“To who? For what?”
“To you. For jumping down your throat about the article.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have to apologize for that. Your reaction was completely understandable.”
“No. I knew better. Deep down, I really didn’t think you’d do that, but when I couldn’t find a better explanation...”
Heidi squeezed his hand. “Really, Nick. It’s okay.”
“Let me make it up to you.”
“Hmm. Okay. How?”
“You feel like Mexican tonight?”
“That sounds good.”
“So, I’ll pick you up at six?”
She smiled. “How about we just meet at the front door?”
He laughed. “That works.”
His phone rang, and he raised it to his ear. After a moment a dark look spread across his face. “I understand,” he said into the phone. “Thanks.” He hung up.
Dread curled through her. “What is it?”
“Lance Gentry just escaped custody.”
“What? How?”
“He attacked one of the MPs escorting him, got his weapon and took off on foot. They chased him and lost him in the woods. They’re bringing the dogs out, but if he manages to get off base, he’s as good as gone.”
“He lives on base. He knows how to come and go without detection.”
“Yeah. Which means we’re back to looking over your shoulder.”