Can you give me the status of a case Im reporting on? Kate asked.
Certainly, if it helps to clear it. Our goal is to reunite families and we need the press to help us. Rivera went to a laptop. Whats the name?
Cooper, Caleb Cooper, C-A-L-E-B. Cooper is common spelling.
Sounds familiar, Rivera said.
After entering the name in the database, he took a moment to read the file. Then he summarized for Kate that Calebs mother, Jenna Cooper, reported her five-month-old son missing from the Saddle Up Center, along with two unidentified adults.
Its still open, Rivera said. Nothing has surfaced on this one.
What about the adults, anything at all on them?
Its still open, Rivera said. Nothing has surfaced on this one.
What about the adults, anything at all on them?
Nothing. Weve got very few details on them but weve been cross-checking the information we have.
What about the M.E., anything from the temporary morgues?
Nothing. Rivera shook his head, rubbed his chin then he saw a note in the case file that hed missed.
Hang on a sec, he said, turning to an analyst working near him. Ellen, take a look at this case. You had this one open not long ago.
The woman whose ID badge said Ellen White stood and read the screen over Riveras shoulder.
Yes, Ellen said, for a reporter with Newslead. Thats the news service which reported this case, right?
Thats right. Why, whats going on? Kate asked.
You tell us, Rivera said. Youre the second Newslead reporter to ask us about it this morning.
The second?
That woman was here earlier. Ellen White indicated a woman walking along the rows of cots, glancing at her cell phone screen and those in the community hall, as if she were looking for someone.
Kate froze when she recognized the woman. Mandy Lee.
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Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas
Kate was at a loss.
Standing in the Rivergreen Community Hall, questions whirled in her head.
Why was Mandy, her competition, looking for Jenna Cooper?
Why was she following Kates story after Dorothea rejected the idea?
Kate thanked Rivera and White then made a beeline to Mandy.
Excuse me, Kate said. Hi, I thought you were going to Irving today. Whats up?
Oh my Lord, Kate, why are you here? Youre supposed to be on the night shift.
Did Dorothea ask you to follow my story on Jenna Cooper?
Your story? Mandys high-boned cheeks turned red. Sweetie, its not your story. Its Newsleads story. And since we put it out there, its really anybodys story now, isnt it? All I did was enquire as to whether or not they found the child. By the way, why are you here? Does Dorothea know? Mandy raised her cell phone. Would you like me to call her and check for you?
I dont believe this. Kate rolled her eyes. Im here on my own time.
Mandy tapped a glossed nail on Kates laminated ID tag.
If thats the case, it would appear youre using Newslead to advance your own interests, whatever they may be.
What? This is bullsh- Kate pulled back on her rising anger.
As she turned from Mandy she met the eyes of an elderly man and woman, their faces bearing the cuts and scrapes of survivors, looking up from cots near them. Theyd witnessed the exchange.
Suddenly Kate was jabbed by a pang of shame for letting newsroom politics play out here, of all places. It was unforgivable, unprofessional. Immediately Kate apologized to the couple, dismissed Mandy with a wave of her hand and walked away.
Seething as she moved through the hall, she tried in vain to comprehend why Dorothea would not only push her off her story, but then steal it from her and give it to Mandy.
Why would I want to work with people who do this?
Because she needed the job, thats why.
She needed the high pay and benefits. She needed the security for Grace and for herself. Bills were piling up at home. Newslead was a big organization with bureaus everywhere. If she could get through this and land a job, she might have a shot at a better bureau elsewhere.
I cant give up.
Kate left Mandy and the issue behind her.
Tapping her notebook on her thigh she continued moving through the hall for the next ten minutes until she stopped. Two rows of cots over from where she stood, Jenna Cooper was sitting with Cassie and talking with two other women. Clothes, towels and toiletries were stacked next to them on the pallet.
Reporters?
Kate didnt think so. One woman had a clipboard and an official-looking ID hanging from her neck. Kate wasnt sure about the other woman. She had her hand on Jennas shoulder. Jenna was dabbing a tissue to her eyes, Cassie was holding a stuffed teddy bear.
A crisis worker and a friend of Jennas, maybe?
Kate slowly moved toward them, keeping a respectful distance but close enough to hear parts of their conversation.
No, you cant give up hope, but you also have to focus on who needs you now, on the things you can and should do now, the woman said.
Im trying to reach my husband, Jenna said. The people here gave me this cell phone. Since last night, Ive been texting, leaving him messages to call. I got through to his dispatcher who said Blakes on the return leg of a trip to Alaska. Hes in Washington State, in the mountains, in an area with weak service.
Jenna looked up, saw Kate and invited her to join them.
This is the reporter I talked to. Jenna nodded to the women.
Kate introduced herself, apologizing for interrupting.
Hello, Kate, Im Wendy DeBello. Im with trauma counseling services. The woman had a folded edition of USA TODAY under her clipboard, which had picked up Newsleads stories and pictures.
Holly Lawrence. Jens sister. I got in from Atlanta last night.
Whatve you heard on Caleb? Jennas voice was raw and quivered. Have you been to the flea market today? Weve heard nothing this morning. Theyve restricted access. Now family cant get in, only officials and media. For safety, they said. Were going to wait at the line this morning. I need to be as close as possible. Tell me what you know, please!
I was just there. Im sorry, theres no news. Theyre still searching the site, the entire flea market, still getting people out.
All the pain bubbling under Jennas skin was in her eyes. Here was a shell-shocked woman battling to hang on to hope, any hope. And, as sickening as it was, Kate was going to intrude at her most vulnerable time.
It was a part of being a reporter that she hated.
Forgive me, Jenna, Kate started, but I wanted to follow up on your situation. Maybe you could tell me more about the strangers who helped you.
Did they find them? Is there new information?
No, no, nothing like that, but can you tell me, or remember anything more about them?
Okay.
Kate switched on her small digital recorder. She held it in view as she prepared to take notes, as well. Jenna thought, then with her voice shaking, she gave Kate an inventory of the few details she could recall. The woman was white, had a good figure, a pretty smile and was in her twenties, short spiky red hair, jeans and a low-cut top.
And wait, maybe a tattoo. Jenna touched the top of her chest. Here, a butterfly, or bird, something with wings.
Kate noted it.
The man with her was white, the same age, about six feet, muscular build. He had jeans and a T-shirt with a motorcycle or a dog, I think. Lots of tattoos on his arms, maybe flames, I dont know. He had stubble on his face and he never spoke.
Anything else?
Theyre complete strangers. I never saw them before in my life, but the woman seemed kind of forward, kind of infatuated with Caleb.
Infatuated? Kate noted the word and put an asterisk next to it.
She got all sweet on him at the table where I bought some clothes. Then we saw them in the center, I mean they were just there in all the craziness, and so quick to help us when the storm hit. I had these terrible feelings that they may have taken Caleb somewhere, got confused and everything, or-oh, God-maybe they just took him!
Did you tell anyone about your feelings?
Yes. I talked to some officials, and some police officers. Theyre so overwhelmed, but they said a kidnapping couldnt be ruled out as a possibility. But it was highly unlikely because no evidence of a kidnapping has surfaced, and so many people are still missing that anything may have happened. Their theory is that Calebs case is related to the storm.
Kate made a note: Kidnapping a possibility but no evidence.
Kate began weighing the additional details in a new light. The word Jenna had used, infatuated, got her thinking, but her thoughts were cut short when the cell phone Jenna was holding rang.
Hello? She repeated it louder. Hello, Blake?
Tears rolled down her face.
Blake, wait, I cant hear, I need to- Jenna stared at the phone helplessly. Wendy took it, increased the volume and handed it back. It was now loud enough for their conversation to be heard by everyone.
Whats going on, Jen? Ive been out of reach. I saw the news in the motel about the tornadoes in Dallas. Jen, are you and the kids okay?
No! Jenna broke down. Were at a shelter. I cant go home yet.
Whats wrong?
Calebs gone!
What? Hes what? I dont- Jen?
The house might be gone, too! Oh, God!
Great gulping sobs exploded from her. Wendy was rubbing her shoulders. Cassie had buried her little face into her teddy bear and nuzzled against her mother. Jenna was holding her tight.
Kate took a picture with her phone, fighting a surge of guilt.
We were at the flea market when it happened, Jenna said, relaying the story to her husband. We cant find him! Hes so small and I shouldve been holding him! I shouldve held him with Cassie. Its my fault. Im so sorry, Blake. We need you here. Cassie and I need you, Blake!
Jenna was trembling and a great groan that evolved into a wail erupted from the pit of her stomach and she lost her grip on the phone. Kate stared at it on the floor, lights blinking as Blakes voice, now tiny, remote, pleaded from it.
Jen? Jen? Im coming home. Ill tell Arnie, Ill get on a plane. Im coming home!
Kate picked up the phone, placed it in Jennas hand and gently raised it to her ear.
Hes coming home, Kate said softly.
Hurry! Jenna wept into the phone. We need you.
Kate turned away, blinking back her own tears as images of her own life-losing her sister, Graces sparkly little fingers, her fight for a job-burned by at the speed of light. Listening to Jennas agony and standing amid the sea of suffering storm survivors, Kate asked one question over and over.