Kate pressed the pause button, stopping the interview shed recorded at the shelter earlier that morning with Jenna Cooper. Her fingers raced over the keyboard as she transcribed quotes for her story.
It was 2:45 p.m. and Kate needed to finish writing before starting her night shift at the bureau, per Dorotheas instructions. The thought of it made her angry, but Kate had pushed all the crap over the Mandy Lee incident aside and concentrated on Jenna Coopers tragedy.
Reviewing the circumstances, she considered the little more shed learned about the helpful mystery couple, their demeanor, appearance and actions. Kate also considered the general points listed about a missing-persons investigation noted in the brochure from the Missing Person Emergency Search System that Frank Rivera had given her. And she drew on her own experience as a seasoned crime reporter. These facets had fed her growing belief that there might be more to Caleb Coopers disappearance than first thought.
What if these people had kidnapped the baby? Or maybe they were disoriented and wandered off? It was all just a little strange.
Kate removed her earbuds and went to Dorotheas office. The editor stood at her desk.
There you are. Good, Dorothea said. Heres a list of what I want. Tommys working on it, too.
Kate scanned the items on the page Dorothea gave her, all information, data and stats on tornadoes.
Graphics? You want me to gather content for graphics?
Our subscribers around the world cant get enough. And once Chuck gets in, well talk about what happened this morning and our concerns.
You mean with Mandy? Kate glanced around the newsroom, saw Tommy Koop, the news assistant, looking at a wall map, pretending not to hear them, but didnt see Mandy. Will she be there, too?
No. Shes still out on assignment. Ive already spoken to her.
Okay. I have a strong follow-up story coming on Jenna Cooper, the woman still searching for her baby. The possibility of a kidnapping has not been ruled out.
One of Dorotheas arching eyebrows arched higher. Kidnapping? Do you have police on the record saying this?
No, not yet. No ones really investigating a criminal case. At this stage the baby is considered missing in the storm, like so many other storm victims.
Well, we already have a lot of heartbreaking stories coming in. Your focus is graphics.
Kate looked at the sheet and the requirements for a breakdown of the ten biggest tornadoes in U.S. history by death toll, property damage, tracked path and total financial burden. She couldnt believe she was being tasked to do this kind of junior-level work. She went to the kitchen and fixed herself a large mug of strong coffee. Returning, she saw Dorothea in Chucks office doorway, waving for her to enter.
Chuck was standing at his desk, cell phone to his ear, finishing a conversation concerning upcoming visits to the damaged areas by the Governor and the President. Dorothea was sitting on the corner of his desk, her arms folded, pen twirling in the fingers of one hand.
All right, Chuck exhaled. Whats this again, Dorothea? You had concerns about Kate?
Kate went to the flea market site and a shelter this morning without telling us and began reporting.
Yes, so?
Its unfair to the other candidates.
Unfair, how? It shows initiative. The others are free to show it, if they choose.
Theres also an aspect of insubordination. I gave Kate explicit instructions that her shift was to start at three in the bureau and she disobeyed.
Chuck glanced at the time.
Its three now and shes here. Is there another issue, Dorothea? Because we both know Kates worked in newsrooms across the country. We can trust she knows what shes doing.
Theres also the issue of liability, her working when not assigned might void insurance coverage for employees, or temporary ones in her case.
Not really. News is a 24/7 job, and if a UFO landed at two in the morning wed expect staff to work without being assigned. Shed be covered. So long as she is not misrepresenting the company in an unlawful or unethical way. Did she do that?
No. Dorothea grudgingly acknowledged the fact. I wanted to raise these matters to ensure the fairness and safety of the candidacy competition for our reporter position.
I agree it must be fair. Chucks phone rang and he answered. Ill call you right back. Then to Dorothea he said, So what have we got Kate doing this evening?
Shes helping Tommy collect content for graphics.
Did you call Burt or Sabrina at the J-schools and get students in here to help with that? We need our reporters reporting. Were going full tilt on the search-and-rescue efforts, recovery efforts, the financial toll, the VIP visits and finding the best human-interest stories. New Yorks demanding everything. Kate, did you find any news when you were out this morning?
I have a follow on the mother who lost her baby boy in the storm.
I like that story. The picture you got before was great. Did we get a new photo?
Yes.
Write it up now, and starting tomorrow I want you to follow it through to the end, until this young mother finds her baby. What are the chances this baby was abducted?
Thats been raised, but nothings surfaced to warrant a criminal investigation.
Chuck shook his head slowly. Still a terrible story, because if hes dead, sadly, we have another tragedy reflecting the toll exacted by the storm. If theres a miracle and hes found alive, we have a huge story of hope. And we all know that people prefer the latter.
I want your story in an hour, Dorothea said, then left, walking the walk of someone defeated, for now.
Kate returned to her desk, her head spinning with wonder at what had transpired. Why had she been present for what was clearly a knock-down, drag-out battle between her two supervisors? Relieved by the outcome, she struggled to get back into her notes and the flow of the draft she had going on Jenna Cooper.
Excuse me, Kate. Tommy Koop stood at her desk.
Yes?
He lowered his voice. I just heard that youre not helping me with graphics, and thats cool. I thought it was weird that you were. But anyway, the night crew is ordering pizza tonight-are you in?
That would be great, thanks. She glanced around, thinking. Tommy, wait. Can I ask you something?
Sure.
Whats the deal between Dorothea and Chuck?
You dont know?
Kate shook her head.
Tommy leaned closer and almost whispered. They hate each other. They fight a lot in front of everyone. Dorotheas out to get Chucks job as bureau chief. By the way, Dorothea and Mandy Lee are BFFs and some of the reporters say that Dorotheas trying to make sure Mandy gets the job so she can start building her empire here. They say she has her eye on Washington.
Kate nodded slowly, all the pieces coming together.
And somethings up with Chuck, Tommy continued. Theres a rumor that hes got some kind of big personal crisis going on. No one really knows what it is, but Dorothea might be exploiting it to get his job.
Wow, quite a soap opera. I like Chuck Hes a good editor.
Everybody likes him. Ill come back to get your order and cash later.
Now that shed been enlightened, Kate turned back to her work, somewhat relieved to know that, like most newsrooms where shed worked, this bureau was a viper pit.
She flipped slowly through her handwritten notes on Jenna Cooper and went back to Frank Riveras brochure, noticing the point shed circled on the investigators checklist: Always ask people close to a case what they think happened.
Again, Kate went back to the asterisks in her notebook concerning the helpful mystery couple who had so far, to Kates knowledge, not been found. Helpful. Kate considered the word and her notes. The woman seemed infatuated with Caleb Then they were just there in all the craziness
Kate recalled a story shed done in San Francisco about a newlywed couple who went hiking in the Rockies. The bride had fallen to her death. Kate had reached a retired Ranger who shared the investigators manual concerning fatal wilderness accidents: First, always assume criminal intent, it said, something that had stayed with Kate. Grizzled detectives often told her that things are not always what they seem to be at first. It turned out the groom had pushed his bride during an argument about her former lover.
Again, the words in Kates notebook almost cried out to her.
Infatuated with Caleb Then they were just there
19
Duncanville, Texas
Remy Toxton watched greater Dallas blurr by her window as Mason Varno guided their pickup along the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway to the emergency shelter in Duncanville.
Far enough away, she thought.
It was at least twenty miles west of the flea market and a good place to get the babys condition checked. It was important to do this before Remy took the next step toward exchanging him for the rest of her money, and getting closer to her dream life with Mason.
She looked down at Caleb Cooper sleeping on her lap.
She had thought it all through this morning over the McDonalds breakfast Mason went out to get for them. A hospital or clinic might ask more questions and have security cameras, whereas a temporary shelter might be less formal and more understanding if tornado survivors didnt have all the answers.
I just wish to hell that stupid mother in the news would shut up about looking for her baby. She wasnt fit to care for this baby. Im taking him to a better place.
They were ready to do this, she thought.
Mason had shaved his stubble, put on a new Cowboys ball cap, and a long-sleeved shirt to cover his tattoos.
Remys spiked red hair was now cropped short and dyed dark brown. She wore black-framed, knockoff Prada glasses, which she got at the flea market. She also wore a plain cotton top that covered her tattoo. They didnt look anything like the couple whod helped that stupid mother.
After making a series of merges, exits and turns, theyd reached the recreation center that served as the areas emergency shelter.
All set, babe? Remy asked.
Mason nodded.
They entered the center with Mason carrying Caleb, looking every bit like young parents as they stopped at the first table, where three women were assisting people.
One of them was wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words Worlds Greatest Grandma. She smiled over bifocals at Remy and Mason. How can we help you folks?