A Time to Keep by Rochelle Alers

Author:Rochelle Alers [Alers, Rochelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781460397152
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2006-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Gwen walked into the building housing the offices of the Teche Tribune half an hour before she was scheduled to begin work. As agreed upon with Nash McGraw, she would work Tuesday and Wednesday. She planned to do her interviewing on Tuesday, and revise and submit her copy to Nash before four o’clock Wednesday. Ads and copy for the weekly were submitted to a local printer Thursday for Friday publication. Nash said the residents of St. Martin and the surrounding parishes looked forward to the Tribune for their weekend reading. The weekly, with its distinctive hometown flavor, was a refreshing alternative to the New Orleans-based Times-Picayune.

She wanted to talk to Nash about an unsolved murder that had captured her interest once she began going through the back issues. Her need to uncover information on Gwendolyn Pickering was overshadowed by the 1964 murder of a high school prom queen.

Nash’s gleaming silver head came up when she rapped lightly on his open door. “Good morning,” she said cheerfully.

The editor’s blue eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected to see her. “Good morning, Gwendolyn. I’m glad you’re here early because I want to talk to you about that car accident that everyone in the parish has been talking about.” He beckoned her closer. “Come in and sit down.”

Nash watched Gwendolyn Taylor as she walked into his office. He’d thought himself blessed when Shiloh had come to him with her name and mentioned that she was looking for part-time employment. Within minutes of searching her name through the Internet, he knew he’d struck the mother lode. Gwendolyn had written hundreds of articles, many of them syndicated in other papers throughout the country.

During her interview, he felt she’d presented herself well. She was confident without being pretentious. She’d come to the interview wearing a business suit that would’ve been appropriate for a board meeting or an after-work dinner encounter. Today she wore a pair of black linen slacks and a delicate sky-blue linen shirt over a matching tank top, and despite her big-city sophistication she exuded a down-home style, which was certain to put those she interviewed completely at ease.

“I’d like you to get as much information as you can regarding this horrific incident.” Horrific had come out in three distinctive syllables. “First I want you to interview Jimmie Jameson, who’s now filling in for Shiloh. Get what information you can from Shiloh, who was the first one on the scene, and the arresting officer. Then I need you to talk to anyone at the D.A.’s office to find out what they’re charging that boy with.

“And, if you’re lucky I want you to talk to the boy’s folks.” Nash handed Gwen a piece of paper with the names and address of Willis Benton’s parents. “It might be a little difficult because Mr. Benton’s lawyer has cautioned him against speaking directly to the press.”

“Why?”

“Abraham Benton is a Washington lobbyist who prefers keeping a low profile.”

Gwen opened her purse and removed a pad and pencil. “What’s his lawyer’s name?” She wrote down the information Nash gave her.

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