Apparition Alley by Katherine V. Forrest

Author:Katherine V. Forrest [Forrest, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Gay & Lesbian
ISBN: 9781883523800
Publisher: Spinsters Ink
Published: 2010-05-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

With her shoulder aching and tiredness invading every bone in her body, Kate drove up Kings Road toward the condo. Her attention was drawn to a shiny new white Mazda, still bearing its dealer plates, illegally parked beside the fire hydrant in front of her building. The woman behind the wheel started the engine as Kate slowed to pull into the garage under the condo; when Kate opened the electronic gate and drove in, the Mazda zipped in behind her before the gate could close.

Kate climbed gingerly out of her car, her eyes never leaving the Mazda as the driver pulled into the nearest parking spot and sprang from her vehicle. The shoulder bag she pulled out with her so closely resembled the one Kate carried that Kate immediately suspected that like hers, it too carried the tools of a trade—and she had already gloomily guessed the nature of the trade.

The woman, in her mid-thirties, wearing dark pants and an oversized candy-striped shirt, approached Kate. Hitching dark-rimmed glasses farther up on her nose, she said, “Detective Delafield.” The voice, Demi Moore–throaty, matched the woman’s audacity, as well as the feline femininity of her appearance. “Corey Lanier, L.A. Times.”

Jim Newton was the usual feature story writer for the Times on police issues, but Kate recognized the name from an account of the shooting of young Darian Crockett, which had run under Lanier’s byline. A reporter coming to where Kate lived was a far different matter from covering a police-involved shooting. “How did you get my address?”

Corey Lanier’s smile was amused and a little incredulous; she removed her glasses and propped them on top of honey-colored, shoulder-length hair, her gray-blue eyes coolly appraising Kate as she said, “You’re actually asking a reporter that question? Next thing, you’ll want to know if I can type and spell.”

“Please leave my property, Ms. Lanier.”

“The name’s Corey, and that’s crap, okay? This common area is not your property. I know you hate the press, but let’s just put that aside—”

“I don’t intend to put anything aside,” Kate snapped, slamming her car door. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Look. I’m working on a story, and you’re part of it.”

“That’s ridiculous. Not to mention impossible, without my cooperation.”

“Your cooperation is what I’d like to discuss.”

“Forget it. We have absolutely nothing to talk about.” Kate headed for the stairway.

“I’m working with these facts, Detective Delafield.” Corey Lanier trotted beside Kate to keep up with her. “I know you’re the defense rep for an officer brought up on a bad shooting charge. The story I’m working on is a police conspiracy against gay officers. Officer Luke Taggart is right in the middle of it.”

“I have no information to give you.” But Kate involuntarily slowed her pace, shocked by Lanier’s words.

“Look, I just want to talk, okay? Off the record. Why don’t we take a walk, I’ll tell you what I know. Everything completely off the record, okay?”

Kate looked at her, allowing the full dimension of her skepticism to show in her face.

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