The Other Woman

12

Lucky she checked her voice mail. While she’d been leaving a message for Trevor, Alex left a message for her. Now she sat in a row of empty chairs outside the closed door of the Register’s fifth-floor conference room. What on earth can this be? She’d told Alex about the girl in the red coat. Was it something about that? Her interview with Gable? Maybe Alex had gotten caught in his affair. Maybe because he’d hired her, she was going to be fired. But that didn’t make sense.

The door opened. “Jane? Can you come in?” Alex had his hand on the doorknob, his eyes on hers. He looked-worried?

She widened her eyes, silently inquiring. What? She thought he held up a finger, as if to say, Everything is fine. But she couldn’t be sure.

He gestured her inside. At the head of an oval table she recognized Taylor Burleigh Reidy, the paper’s executive editor, in pinstripes and black-framed reading glasses. Another suit she didn’t recognize was flipping the pages of a green leather-covered volume. Next to Reidy sat a-fashion model? Even with her dark hair yanked into a stubby ponytail, no makeup, wearing a denim jacket and black leather skirt, she was cover girl material. Twenty-something, hip, gorgeous. A stick. Next to the girl, an empty chair.

Everyone in the room was looking at Jane.

“I’m Tay Reidy, Jane. Please. Take a seat.” He stood, indicating the empty chair. His trademark silver hair slicked back from his aristocratic forehead, his suit impeccable. A braided rope bracelet circled one wrist. He smiled, waving a hand over the group. “We’re so pleased to have you on board. Right, Alex?”

Alex nodded.

“But we must ask you a favor,” Reidy continued. He pointed to the man beside him, giving him the floor. “And Ethan Geller here, our legal eagle, says it’s legally-how’d you put it, Ethan? Appropriate. Beyond reproach.”

Jane pulled out her chair as Reidy talked and sat down, frowning. Beyond reproach? Appropriate? What is? Every one of her nerve endings turned to high. Everything is fine was so not true. Under the table, her foot tapped.

“Whatever you decide, Jane,” Ethan said. “But you’re not in violation of any law. Either way.”

“It’s an incredible opportunity for us,” Alex said. “And of course, since you’re on our team now, we want to get our show on the road before anyone else calls you.”

“She doesn’t know, Alex. Look at her. She doesn’t know what we’re talking about.” The brunette swiveled her chair to face Jane, then leaned forward, hands on her bare knees. “There’s another Bridge Killer victim. That’s why I texted you, roomie.”

Jane’s heart dropped. Then raced. Roomie? This girl? Is Tuck? Her bewilderment could not be more complete. Another bridge victim? No, she didn’t know. How would she know? And why would they think she’d care?

“Alex?” Jane said. “Did Lassiter’s campaign-?”

“Tuck, why don’t you tell her,” Alex interrupted. “Tuck’s the one who’s breaking the story.”

“It’s Sellica Darden, Jane.” Tuck’s voice was even, almost compassionate. “Her body was found by the Moakley Bridge. The Bridge Killer’s new victim is Sellica Darden.”