Page 6 of Vanish From Sight

Maggie chuckled, shaking her head as she walked over.

“Even if you had gotten it out this morning, locals won’t read it until Monday. They are days behind. Heck, I only check my mailbox once a week.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, half-listening.

“And seriously, another story about death, so soon after the Sutherland case? Why don’t you let me give this one to Carl?”

“Carl?” That got her attention. She pulled off her glasses and leaned back in her leather chair. “Are you kidding me?”

Maggie smirked.

Lena knew she was yanking her chain. Carl McNeal was a cocky reporter who had been working with the newspaper for far longer than she had. He’d cut his teeth in journalism with a position over atThe New York Timesuntil he opted to retreat to the quiet life of Saranac — though that wasn’t exactly the truth. After a little digging, Lena discovered the NYT had canned his ass for lying. Still, Maggie didn’t see any harm in it. She said the news wasn’t truth, just poorly bended lies.

Anyway, instead of inspiring up-and-coming investigative journalists, he preferred to slither around the office, slurping coffee, throwing in his two cents where it wasn’t needed and spouting stories of his time in the field as if he was some Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. It was a pathetic sight but somehow, he managed to do no wrong in the eyes of Maggie.

The phone jangled, interrupting her train of thought.

She expected it to be another tip or an update on the breaking story of the unknown woman pulled from the lake over in High Peaks.

Lena lifted a finger and Maggie winked at her before walking away.

“Good morning,Adirondack Daily Enterprise,” she said, holding the phone in the crook of her neck while continuing to type.

“Is this Lena Grayson?”

“It is.”

“My name is Hannah Chang; I was hoping I might be able to get your help. I saw on the website that you are accepting ideas for stories that you would look into.”

“Go Public. Yes.”

“I emailed you a story but no one replied.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, we’re a little backed up at the moment.”

“Two of my dogs have been stolen.”

Lena stopped typing; she chewed on the inside of her cheek. “I’m… sorry to hear that. Um. Well, we generally investigate stories that aren’t getting much attention and are of interest to the public. I can’t guarantee yours will be selected. We get a lot of people submitting ideas and…”

The woman groaned. “And this is why it continues.”

“Continues?”

“Gangs stealing dogs. My dogs are not the only ones that have been taken. Zeus and Penelope are just two of many. And no one is doing anything about it.”

Lena picked up a pen and jotted down on a sticky note a few items she needed to collect from the grocery store before she forgot. “Um. Have you alerted the police?” she asked, distracted.

The woman laughed. “The police don’t do anything. They treat pets like a lost phone. It means nothing to them. And even if these good-for-nothing A-holes get caught, they would just slap them with a fine and send them on their way.”

“Well, to be honest, I’m not sure how we can help.”

“I’ve seen your pieces. The news gets the attention of people. You shed light on wrongdoing and hold the powers that be accountable. These people need to be held accountable.”

“Sure, but…”

“But what? You’re desperate for stories, aren’t you? I’m handing you one on a silver platter, and video footage to go with it.”

That got her attention. “Video?”