It was good they’d had this talk, he decided, feeling the tension drainout. A smooth relationship would make the time go much easier. Then something occurred to him.
“As we move forward in the spirit of collaboration, I’d like to reconfirm we don’t do anything with this story until we talk it over.”
“Agreed.” She stood up, and Wes followed her gaze to the attic.
“It’s like a treasure hunt mixed with a gambling table,” he said. “I keep thinking, one more cabinet and I’ll have all the secrets.”
“One last roll of the dice and we’d have it,” she said.
“Here’s hoping we get snake eyes.” He headed toward the stairs, then turned back. “Also, I fixed your demarcation tape. It was crooked.”
He was curious to see if her promise would hold. For a second, he thought her usual rage would take over. Then she shook her head and laughed.
They were good. Or at least getting there.
Twenty-two
Nadine put aside a box filled with prairie-style nightgowns wrapped in their original but yellowing cellophane. Searching the attic was both physically uncomfortable and emotionally demoralizing, because although each box could hold the secret they needed, too often she found herself sorting through something like empty plastic containers of L’eggs hosiery. After a week, they’d found nothing.
When her phone buzzed, she almost pounced on it. She badly needed a break.
Raj quit, Lisanne texted.
What?
There was an opening in sports, and he applied. They gave the job to Kyle.
It took Nadine a second to place him.The intern?
Former intern and current sports reporter for the Herald.
Nadine shook her head.Raj lived sports. He was goalie for his university hockey team.
I know that, wrote Lisanne.You know that. They asked if he knew what an assist was.
Oh, that hurt.Good for him then. Where’s he going?
TSN. He figured he’d give television a shot.
We’ll take him out for drinks when I’m done here, Nadine wrote.
How’s the secret assignment going?
It’s going. Haven’t found what we need.
And Wes?
Fine. To stop the questions, Nadine picked part of Lisanne’s big story she could talk about without envy.How’s Ying?
Brilliant. She mentioned an ex. It was a girl.
And?
I casually mentioned my ex, Becca, replied Lisanne.Making progress. Neither of us are fully out at work so I’m going slow.
Seems wise.
Got to go, Hetty called a meeting. Daniel changed his mind and told her she couldn’t hire that writer she wanted.