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The person Zack had once been was a far cry from the man he was now.
Didn’t he know?
“That is not who you are.” She wanted to take his hand in hers, but her trembling fingers wouldn’t allow her to. “I don’t see you that way.”
“How do you see me?” His Adam’s apple bobbed.
“You are a child of God. Your past does not define you. You have been made new and now live in the Spirit, producing good fruit.” Naya poked her finger at Zack’s chest. “You love Jesus. You’re patient, respectful, funny. You encourage me and are servant-hearted in everything you do.”
“I want to be that man.”
“Youarethat man.”Oh Lord, help Zack see where his identity lies. Give him confidence to live it out.“You’re a hero, Zack. Not just to me. To a lot of people.”
He stared at her, his eyes red.
Naya picked up Zack’s phone and pointed at the headline. “And I can assure you I had nothing to do with this piece.”
“I believe you. But someone wrote it. And whoever it was put my job in jeopardy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a two-day suspension. While things are sorted out.” Zack shoved his hands in his pockets. “I want to know who tookthe pictures. Sylvia couldn’t have sent them from a jail cell.” Confusion laced Zack’s tone.
He was right. On the surface, the evidence incriminated her. She was the only one who’d been with Zack when he found the truck.
Naya pinched the bridge of her nose. “Someone must have been hiding in the shadows.”
“Would Tucker have known there was evidence on that trail?”
“It’s possible.” She blew out a breath. “Although, it hurts to think he’d do that to you after I told him he could have the story. I gave him all my files, but there was nothing in there about that box Powells gave you. You showed it to me after.”
She tried to think what Tucker might have discovered.
“It’s okay if you can’t remember everything, Naya. You’ve had a lot going on. I’ll take care of it. You should rest.”
Naya didn’t want to leave Zack to figure this out alone, but her mind was foggy from the past twenty-four hours and the stress her body was under. “I’ll call my boss.”
“Promise me you’ll get some rest too.” Zack stood up and pocketed his phone.
“I don’t think rest will come until we get to the bottom of this.” Naya shrugged. The side-eye Zack gave her told her he wasn’t buying that answer. “I’ll try.”
“I’ll let you know what I find out,” Zack said, then he headed out.
Naya grabbed her laptop and sank onto the couch. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape this story.
Right now that was a good thing, because Zack’s reputation was on the line.
She might not be able to change the past, but she could work to change the future.
For all of them.
THIRTY-ONE
Zack found a parking spot at the Tribune’s office site and climbed the steps to the third floor. A large sign with the paper’s branding and logo sat above the entrance. The overhead bell chimed at his entrance, and the receptionist glanced up from her computer screen.
“How can I help you?”
“I’d like to speak with Tucker. He’s a reporter here.”