Page 39 of Vanish From Sight

He slurped coffee.

She rolled her eyes at him, knowing that he was just tryingto get a rise out of her, but she refused to let him. “Don’t you have to be somewhere?”

He leaned back against the counter, eyeing her. “It’s in the bag.”

“Hardly. I’m sure the victim’s family would appreciate if you put in a little more effort,” she retorted, trying to remain neutral and calm. Carl laughed, as if her comment was nothing more than a joke.

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “I’ve been at this game for a long time. I’m on top of things.”

She smiled. “The cops haven’t told you anything, have they?”

He didn’t want to answer that but she knew it was the truth. Two advantages she had was that folks knew she’d been married to Noah, and was a local. Carl on the other hand was an outsider. No one recognized his journalism awards or achievements here. Maybe that’s why he was trying too hard to impress people.

“There are other ways to get information,” he said.

“And how do you expect to get that?”

“Like I said. I have my ways.”

“Sure you do. Pity you don’t have connections.”

“Didn’t exactly help you, did it?”

She offered back a confused expression.

He sipped at his drink. “Finding the truth relies on more than running with every theory that springs to mind.”

Lena bit her tongue, resisting the urge to give him a reason to complain to Maggie. As Carl strutted around the room, she couldn’t help but wonder how such an arrogant man had become successful as a journalist in the first place.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.

“Oh, I don’t know, just my observation after reading the article you did about the woman pulled from the lake beforethey put me on the story. I should mention, it looks as if someone needs to proofread their work a little better,” he sneered, eliciting a few chuckles from a few of the others in the room. Lena bristled, feeling a surge of indignation at the way he was belittling her hard work. “It seems as if Maggie brought me on just at the right time.”

“I’m glad you find that amusing.” She gritted her teeth, wishing the microwave would heat the food faster. It dinged and she removed her lunch. “Perhaps you should focus on your own job,” she added. Lena took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, but she could feel her patience wearing thin.

Carl smirked, clearly enjoying the power dynamic between them. “I’m just yanking your chain, Grayson. If you need help writing those obituaries, just give me a shout.”

Another reporter snorted.

“I don’t need your help with anything,” she snapped, her voice rising. “And if you can’t take this job seriously, maybe you should retire.”

The room fell silent. Jokes aside, it was clear her frustration and anger had crossed the line. Carl looked a little taken aback. Then he just shrugged, as if her comment was nothing more than a childish comeback. “Why do you think I’m here?” he said.

His insinuation that theAdirondack Daily Enterprisewasn’t work was noted by the others who had busted their asses to get a position at the paper. They got up and walked out. “Come on guys, you know I didn’t mean it like that,” he said as his face flushed.

“Hey, it’s okay. They might not understand but I do,” Lena said.

“You do?”

She pulled a face, nodding.

Lena shifted gears, figuring she would play her own games.

“Yeah, I mean, I understood from the day I saw you pull up out front.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“BMW.” She held up her little finger and wiggled it as she walked backward out of the break room. “Got to find a way to compensate, right?”