Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry(90)

An early morning run in the Park had helped clear her head. She was tempted to call another magazine on the list she had made when she heard her cell phone vibrate. The screen identified Charlie Maynard, her former editor.

“Charlie, what a great surprise.” She glanced at the clock. “It’s not even ten in New York, so it’s before seven in LA. I thought part of being retired was sleeping in.”

“I’ve been up for a while,” he said. “Gina, I’m going to talk fast. They just called my flight. Empire asked me to come back and fill in until they can find a new editor. I accepted. I was going through the stories that are in development and I was surprised to read that you had pulled the story you were doing on REL News.”

“I did no such thing.”

“That’s what I figured. Do you still like chicken with garlic sauce?”

“Yes, I do, and egg drop soup,” Gina said, laughing as she recalled past impromptu dinners with Charlie.

“I’ll get in at three-thirty. I’ve got meetings starting at five. You come over to the office at seven-thirty. We’ll eat and you’ll tell me what’s going on at REL.”

“I’ll be there, Charlie. It’s great to have you back.”

“Don’t tell Shirley,” he said, referring to his wife, “but it’s great to be back. Got to go. See you tonight.”





100





A big hug from Charlie Maynard was Gina’s welcome when she entered the interim editor in chief’s office. They spent five minutes getting caught up on their personal lives before Jane Patwell brought in the Chinese food. For the next twenty minutes, between bites of chicken, Gina outlined her pursuit of the REL story. Charlie mostly listened, asking a few questions along the way.

“The CFO at REL, the one they just fished out of the river, how does he fit into all of this?”

“I have no idea,” Gina said. “Scenario number one: He was the one doing the abusing. Concerned that he might be publicly identified, he commits suicide to avoid the embarrassment. Number two: He wasn’t the abuser, but he was part of the cover-up. Kills himself to avoid public shaming.”

“Number three,” Charlie interjected, “is that the same person or people who got rid of Ryan and Stephenson arranged his suicide because he knew too much.”

“Believe me, I thought of that. But I’m trying to avoid the temptation to see a conspiracy behind everything that happens.”

“Have you had any more contact from your mystery emailer, the one you referred to as Deep Throat?”

“In my last message I expressed in pretty strong terms that it was time to come forward. But so far, nothing.”

“And the only victim who’ll talk to you is Meg Williamson?”

“She’s the only ‘living’ victim we know about. It’s a bit of a stretch to say she’ll talk to me.”

“So where do we go from here?”

“I’m wondering if we have enough to get the police involved.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Charlie said, “but the question is where to start.”

“Our stronger case is Paula Stephenson. Shortly after demanding that REL News renegotiate her settlement, she dies in a questionable suicide.”

“If your retired detective, Wes Rigler, is onboard, things will move a lot faster if he goes with you to make the case to the Durham police. If you try to do this yourself, you’ll end up talking to a bored desk sergeant.”

“Agreed. But how do we get them to look into Cathy Ryan?”

“If the Durham police believe the Stephenson death should be further investigated, the Cathy Ryan situation would be further evidence that something strange is going on with women who used to work at REL. One case would support the other. The FBI would at least listen if they were approached by the Durham police. The Bureau, of course, is the only agency with the resources to conduct an investigation in Aruba.”

“I don’t know,” Gina said. “We need something stronger.”

“Yes, we do,” Charlie agreed, “and for another reason as well. I have tremendous respect for the FBI and the work they do. But their decision, justified or not, to investigate a major news organization is going out on a limb. It will open them up to an avalanche of criticism.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Gina sighed. “We definitely need something stronger.”

Charlie tried to stifle a yawn.

“You must be exhausted,” Gina said.

“It has been a pretty long day. Submit your expenses on the Nebraska trip and we’ll cover them. Keep going, Gina, but be careful.”





101





Gina left the subway station and began the four-block walk to her apartment. Lisa had texted her while she was meeting with Charlie. She and some friends were meeting for a drink at the Sugar Factory. Did Gina want to join them?

I behaved myself this time, Gina thought to herself. She had limited herself to one glass of wine.

She turned off Broadway and was one hundred yards from her apartment when she heard her cell phone ring. The call was from a number she didn’t recognize. She was tempted to ignore it, knowing in all likelihood it was yet another annoying robocall. Despite her misgivings, she answered.