Noah didn’t respond immediately. He picked up his phone, his thumb resting against the screen. “I think they’re both after the same thing.” Noah shifted, staring at his phone, “There’s something else that’s bothering me about all this.”
“What’s that?”
“I hadn’t really noticed it before because I try not to think too much about this shit,” he said, lifting his gaze over his cell, “but Claire fits my father’s profile. She’s got the same hair color. The same body type. She’s about the same age as all the girls he raped and killed.”
“That’s fucked up.” Ziggy didn’t swear often, but that was the only way to describe the thoughts she was having. “I’m not sure what to do with that.”
“I’m not either, but we need to have a conversation with her.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Nope. But as long as you stay in this room, I think I’m safe from her doing anything inappropriate or saying something I can’t take back.” Noah picked up his phone and typed out a message.
A moment later, his phone buzzed, and he snorted.
“She wants to meet in private,” he said.
“Of course she does.”
His thumbs flew across the screen and then he set the cell down. “I told her she had to come to my office,” he said. “That I also had something I needed to speak with her about.”
“This should be interesting and perhaps entertaining.”
“Now, there’s the Bowie sense of humor I love and adore.”
Ziggy chose not to retort. She didn’t have the same quick wit as the rest of her family, but if she kept going, she might land on something that wasn’t so funny and upset Noah. She’d done that before.
She stayed where she was, settling into the chair instead of moving. If Claire had something planned, she’d have to adjust it now. That was good. It put Claire on the defensive.
Christ. Ziggy hated games.
A knock sounded at the door, and Ziggy refused to glance over her shoulder.
“Come in,” Noah said, waving his hand. But he didn’t stand up, and Ziggy found that odd Noah was always a gentleman, even in situations where he didn’t have to be.
Claire stepped inside, glancing between Noah and Ziggy with narrowed eyes before recomposing herself with a half-smile.
“You wanted to speak with me,” Claire said.
“I do,” Noah said. “Have a seat.”
Claire crossed the room and sat with her ass barely on the chair. She smoothed her skirt once before letting her hands rest in her lap, with her ankles crossed, her back stiff, and her chest puffed out like she needed someone to notice.
A long, awkward silence filled the room, while Noah’s phone sat in the middle of the desk, screen up, though no one could see Claire’s texts. It was still a statement.
And yet, Claire said nothing.
Ziggy decided to play the game. “We’ve been pleased with your work.”
“Thank you.” Claire turned and smiled. “I do love doing research for Noah’s show.”
“That’s great,” Noah said. “Because Ziggy and I would like you to join the research team for the Davidson cover-up story.”
“Oh, really? That would be amazing,” Claire said.
Only, Ziggy didn’t think her response was all that enthusiastic, considering the size and scope of that story. “You’d have to put in some extra hours, and we’ll work to get it approved because we wouldn’t be able to have you working on other stories.”
Claire bit her lower lip. “I don’t want to pass up a great opportunity. However, I can’t walk away from the Salazar story with Hugh.”