AS ERICA LEAVES THE CHURCH and rushes to work, her phone rings.
“This is Erica.”
“Nylan Hastings here.”
Erica stops, holds the phone close to her ear, and covers her other ear with her fingers. “Nylan.”
“I want you to come to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with me,” he says. The dinner is the most glittering journalistic event of the year, drawing the biggest names in media and a flock of Hollywood stars. “Jimmy Fallon is the MC, Meryl, Brad, and Denzel are all confirmed.”
Erica feels slightly disoriented for a moment. Sure the dinner is a big deal, but what about Kay Barrish’s murder? And does he consider this a date of some kind? Because that’s out of the question. “Um, of course, Nylan, I’d love to come.”
“Spectacular. I can get Harry Winston to loan you some diamonds.”
“Nylan, you’ve heard about Kay Barrish?”
“Terrible.”
“And sad and horrifying and disturbing.”
“I want you to fly out there today. You own this story. Our ratings are going to go through the roof.”
“Lesli told me you’ve worked with that caterer, Lisa Golden, before?”
“I don’t work with caterers, Erica. I have people who handle that. Listen, I’ll arrange a few appointments with designers. Do you have any favorites? Jason Wu, Tom Ford, YSL? You just let me know. Even I’m putting on a suit. We’ll make a beautiful couple.”
“Nylan, I’m going to represent the network,” she says firmly.
“Touchy-touchy,” Nylan says. Then he laughs.
Erica is creeped out—and shocked. He doesn’t really care about journalism, about truth—they’re just a means to an end. And that end is ratings and parties—and power. And what about Kay Barrish herself, the woman, and the hopes she held for the nation?
“Best for last: George Clooney is at our table.”
Erica hangs up and picks up her pace. To even mention designer clothes and movie stars in the same breath as the murder of Barrish. The man has ice water in his veins.
Still, she must admit, the Correspondents’ Dinner is a big deal. All her idols will be there: Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters. But swathed in diamonds? Not her style. She has been told, however, that sapphires do wonders for her eyes.