Chapter 28

Annabelle preferred to take the subway to work but, at this early hour, a taxi seemed safer and a lot more convenient, even if it was more expensive.

It was still dark when her cab pulled up in front of the Broadcast Center. She paid the driver and got out just as a blue Lincoln Town Car slid to the curb. Annabelle knew that one of the KTA hosts would be in the backseat. The hired cars that brought them to work at this ungodly hour came with the jobs. She was delighted to see it was Constance Young rather than Harry Granger stepping from the rear door of the car.

“Am I glad to see you,” Annabelle said, bussing her friend on the cheek.

Constance gave Annabelle a hug, her hand petting the plush brown fur that covered Annabelle’s arm.

“New jacket, huh?” she observed, squinting in the dim light that streamed from the lobby windows onto the sidewalk.

“Don’t even go there—I’m waiting for the animal rights activists to spray me with red paint any minute,” said Annabelle. “And it’s not new. It’s fifteen years old. Let’s call it ‘vintage,’ shall we?”

The two pushed through the revolving door and swiped their ID cards across the electronic scanner. In the lobby light, Annabelle marveled at how beautiful Constance was even without her makeup. Her alabaster skin was flawless.

“I missed you yesterday. How was your trip?”

“Good,” Constance affirmed. “The shoot went well, and I was even able to squeeze in a late lunch with my old boss at the Boston affiliate. But I’ve got to tell you, I hated leaving right after the show to fly up there. What did I miss?”

Annabelle filled her in on the interview with the FBI and the meeting with Yelena. “Our president is not a happy camper, Constance. I sure wouldn’t want to be in John Lee’s shoes right now.” She frowned. “Come to think of it, I wouldn’t want to be in Yelena Gregory’s either.”