Page 17 of Dead Air

"No need. I was helping Claire."

"Still." Fiona leaned forward. "I know what it means to chase justice when others want to let sleeping dogs lie. Your partner deserves resolution." Her eyes brightened with familiar ambition. "Cold cases require fresh perspectives sometimes."

Lawson caught the subtext. Fiona was positioning herself as a potential ally. Or perhaps seeing another career-making story. "Is that why you wanted to meet? Professional interest in Monica's case?"

"I help people find truth. You help people find justice." Fiona spread her hands. "Our methods differ, but our goals align."

"Methods like obtaining sealed evidence?" Lawson held Fiona's gaze. "Radio calls from active investigations?"

Fiona's fingers stopped moving on her glass. "I didn't provide Blackwell with that recording."

"But you know who did."

"I have theories." Fiona sipped her tea. "Disgruntled officers. Administrative staff with access. Maybe someone with a grudge against you."

"Or a journalist looking for column inches."

Fiona set her glass down with careful precision. "That recording helps no one at the Chronicle. We focus on local politics. Business development. Community issues."

"Monica was local." Lawson kept her voice steady despite the surge of anger. "Her murder was a community issue."

"Which we covered extensively five years ago." Fiona folded her napkin into perfect quarters. "This podcast does nothing but reopen wounds for ratings."

"Unless it solves her murder."

"Is that what you think will happen?" Fiona leaned forward. "Blackwell finds what the entire Savannah PD couldn't?"

The question carried loaded implications. Either the department was incompetent or deliberately obstructive. Neither option reflected well on Lawson nor on her colleagues.

"You reached out to me." Lawson redirected. "Said it was important. Yet you haven't told me anything I don't already know about Blackwell."

Fiona glanced at her watch. "I thought you deserved a warning from someone who understands her methods."

"Methods like what?"

"She left law practice under unusual circumstances." Fiona's tone shifted. More casual. Too casual. "Makes you wonder why she really left law."

There it was. The real purpose of this meeting. Classic journalist technique that Lawson had encountered during dozens of investigations. Probe for information while pretending to provide it.

"Why did you really ask me here?" Lawson kept her gaze fixed on Fiona. "Claire already warned me about Blackwell. You have nothing new to add."

Fiona's smile tightened at the corners. "Professional courtesy. One woman looking out for another."

"We worked together once on the Dolores Bates situation." Lawson leaned forward. "Now suddenly we're girlfriends sharing warnings?"

"I thought after what happened at the regatta …" Fiona let the sentence trail off. "You helped me when things went sideways with that man. I wanted to return the favor."

"Again, that was a favor for Claire." Lawson watched Fiona's reaction. "This feels different."

"Different how?"

"Like you're fishing for something. A story angle. Your own cold case breakthrough."

Fiona gathered her purse. "This conversation has taken an unexpected turn."

"Has it?" Lawson remained seated. "You contacted me about a podcast that uses leaked evidence. Evidence only someone with department access could provide."

"I protect my sources." Fiona stood. "Always."