My Sister's Grave (Tracy Crosswhite, #1)(41)

Their dicey professional relationship did not improve. Vanpelt had somehow obtained confidential information about a gang murder investigation on which Tracy was the lead detective. Two of Tracy’s witnesses had been gunned down within hours of Vanpelt airing the information on her show, KRIX Undercover. Caught off guard by a competing news crew at the scene of the murders, an angry and frustrated Tracy had not minced her words about Vanpelt having blood on her hands. And the Homicide Unit had frozen Vanpelt out, refusing to talk to her, until Nolasco had issued an edict directing them to cooperate with all media.

“How’d you get my direct line?” Tracy asked. The media was supposed to go through the Public Information Office, but many reporters found ways to get through to direct desk numbers.

“Various channels,” Vanpelt said.

“What can I do for you, Ms. Vanpelt?”

She said the name loud enough to get Kins’s attention across the bull pen. Kins picked up his phone without even bothering to acknowledge her. They had a system in place.

“I’m hoping to get a comment for a story I’m working on.”

“What’s your story about?” Tracy mentally flipped through her case files. Only the Nicole Hansen investigation came to mind, and she had nothing new to discuss.

“Actually, it’s about you.”

Tracy leaned back in her chair. “And what makes me suddenly so interesting?” she asked.

“I understand your sister was murdered twenty years ago and that her remains were recently found. I was hoping you would be willing to discuss it?”

The question gave Tracy pause. She sensed more at play. “Who did you hear this from?”

“I have an assistant who goes through the court files,” Vanpelt said, dismissing the question with a bullshit answer—but one intended to let Tracy know that Vanpelt knew about Dan’s motion for post-conviction relief. “Would now be a good time to talk?”

“I don’t think that story has much public appeal.” Her second line began to buzz. She looked over at Kins, who held the receiver in his hand, but now she was curious as to what Vanpelt knew. “What’s the premise?”

“I think that’s pretty self-evident, don’t you?”

“Enlighten me.”

“A Seattle homicide detective who spends her days putting murderers behind bars seeks to free the man convicted of murdering her sister.”

Kins gave her a “what’s up?” shrug.

Tracy raised a finger. “Is that part of the court files?”

“I’m an investigative reporter, detective.”

“Who’s your source?”

“My sources are confidential,” Vanpelt said.

“You like to keep certain information private.”

“That’s right.”

“So you know how I feel. It’s a private matter. I intend to keep it private.”

“I’m going to report the story, detective. It would be better to have your side of the story when I do.”

“Better for me or better for you?”

“Is that a ‘no comment’?”

“I said it’s a private matter, and I intend to keep it private.”

“Can I quote you?”

“It’s what I said.”

“I understand the attorney, Dan O’Leary, was a childhood friend of yours. Care to comment on that?”

Calloway. Except the Sheriff would not have called Vanpelt. He would have called Nolasco, Tracy’s superior. Rumors swirled that Nolasco was one of the men doing the hokey-pokey with Vanpelt and providing her with information. “Cedar Grove is a small town. I knew a lot of people growing up there.”

“Did you know Daniel O’Leary?”

“There’s only one middle school and one high school.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“You’re an investigative reporter; I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Did you recently accompany Mr. O’Leary to meet with Edmund House at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary? I’ve obtained a copy of Mr. House’s visitor list for the month. Your name appears just above Mr. O’Leary’s name.”

“Then print that.”

“So you won’t comment?”

“As I said, this is a private matter unrelated to my job. Speaking of which, my other line is ringing.” Tracy hung up the phone and swore under her breath.

“What did she want?” Kins asked.

Tracy looked across the bull pen. “To stick her nose up my ass.”

“Vanpelt?” Faz slid his chair back from his desk. “That’s her specialty.”

“She says she’s doing a story about Sarah, but she’s more focused—” She decided not to finish her thought.

Kins said, “Don’t sweat it too much. You know Vanpelt, the facts don’t interest her.”

“She’ll get bored and go make up another story,” Faz said.

Tracy wished it was that easy. She knew Vanpelt hadn’t found the story on her own. It had to have come from Calloway, and that meant Calloway was talking to Nolasco, who didn’t need much to make Tracy’s life miserable.

It also wasn’t the first time Calloway had threatened to get Tracy fired from her job.