Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare

Author:Pamela Clare
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Single Mothers, Grand Junction Region (Colo.), General, Romance, Romantic Suspense Fiction, Suspense, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯), Women Journalists, Fiction, Prisoners, Love Stories
ISBN: 9780425217627
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2008-03-31T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

“AS I’M SURE you know, credibility is a newspaper’s most

valuable asset.” Glynnis sat in Tom’s office, her hands, with

their fake nails and French polish, clasped in her lap. “The

Independent simply cannot afford to let this go without a

suitable public response. Pending the outcome of your

case, you’re suspended with pay.”

“Wh-what?” Sophie gaped at Glynnis, unable to believe

what she was hearing. “Suspended? But that could take

weeks!”

“Months,” Tom added.

“It doesn’t matter how long it takes.” Glynnis adjusted the

jacket of today’s red pantsuit. “The paper cannot keep you

on staff as long as your character is in question.”

“But the heroin wasn’t mine! I’m being set up!” The doubt

she saw in Glynnis’s cold eyes cut like a blade. “Tom, you

know I’m tel ing the truth, don’t you?”

“Of course. There’s no question of your innocence, Alton.

This is clearly an act of retribution against you as a

journalist.” He spoke matter-of-factly, but she could see that

he was furious. “Unfortunately, the paper is more concerned

about its image than standing by you, even though this

incident is a direct result of your doing your job.”

Sophie could have bought him a beer, hugged him,

kissed him on the cheek.

Glynnis looked like she wanted to kil him. “This is about

what’s best for the newspaper. Might I remind you that this

is the second incident in which Ms. Alton’s character has

been cal ed into question?”

Tom rol ed his eyes, shook his head.

Glynnis went on. “Think of it as a paid vacation. I’m sure

a lot of people would love—”

“I don’t want a vacation! I’m a journalist!”

Glynnis ignored her. “If you’re acquitted, your job wil be

waiting for you. If not, your employment wil , of course, be

terminated. In the meantime, please take anything you need

from your desk. Security wil come to take your Denver Indy

ID and your key card and escort you from the building

shortly.”

Take her ID and her key card? Escort her from the

building?

They were treating her as if she’d already been fired.

The breath left her lungs in a single, slow exhale, leaving

her empty.

Tom stood, his size dwarfing the publisher. “That won’t

be necessary, Glynnis.”

Glynnis rose to her feet, too. “It’s standard operating

procedure—”

“It’s bul shit!” Tom’s shout made Sophie jump. “Alton’s

been a valuable member of my staff for four years, and you

are not going to treat her like a fucking criminal!”

Glynnis stood there, glowering, her lips pressed tightly

together, nostrils flared. When she spoke, her voice was as

smooth and cold as ice. “Report to my office in ten

minutes.”

And then she was gone, her heels clicking down the

hal way.

Feeling as if she were made of wood, Sophie wil ed

herself to stand. She took her ID and key card, which hung

on a chain around her neck, lifted them over her head, and

set them down on Tom’s desk. “Thank you, Tom.”

“I’m sorry, Alton.” He reached out, put a hand on her

shoulder. “If it were up to me, you’d be at your desk working

on deadline.”

Sophie nodded, fought back the tears that pricked her

eyes. “I know.”

She turned and walked to the newsroom, aware that Kat,

Natalie, Matt, and Joaquin were watching her and waiting

to find out what the shouting had been about.

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