Finally, a promising break. Promising, but most alarming.
Paige had listened to the call first thing Monday morning and transferred it downstairs immediately. “Don’t mention it to her, Paige,” the security chief instructed. “I’ll talk to Eliza about it.”
Saturday afternoon was not an extremely busy time for the switch-board at the Broadcast Center. Records of calls made around two o’clock would help the telephone-company computers winnow down the suspect list.
Connelly listened to the call again and made entries on his computer.
The caller had said he lived near Eliza’s HoHoKus home.
The caller read the northern New Jersey newspaper as well as New York City’s Daily News.
The caller had a dog.
The caller had taken it to a new level now. He had threatened Eliza’s daughter.
Beads of perspiration broke out on Joe Connelly’s creased forehead.
“I think it’s time we get a security team guarding your house.”
Eliza gripped the armrests of her office chair, stunned at the enormity of what Joe had just told her.
Janie.
She was at school right now. Some maniac could walk right in with a machine gun and take her. Or worse. How many times had she reported a story like this? Eliza couldn’t catch her breath and she closed her eyes tight, as if the darkness would make the terror that filled her go away.
“This is no time to panic, Eliza.”
Joe was right. She couldn’t clutch now. She had to keep her wits about her. Janie’s life could depend on it.
“I’ll make the phone calls and set things up,” she heard Joe say. “We’ll have security on your house by this afternoon.”
Eliza nodded numbly. “I should call the school and Mrs. Garcia,” she murmured.
“I can do that,” offered Joe.
With every fiber of determination that she possessed, Eliza straightened in her chair. “No, I’ll call.”
Some sick lunatic was not going to take over her life.