“Where have you been?”
“Working.”
“How did you get that cut on your lip? Have you been fighting again?”
“No, Ma, I took a stumble.”
“You been drinking?”
“A couple. Look, it’s just for one night.”
Jack heard her groan. “I don’t like it.”
“One night. C’mon, cut me some slack.”
He heard her grumble.
“Love you, Ma, thanks.”
Tyson returned and winked. “You’re golden.”
Chapter 8
Kelly’s digging into Dana Grant’s background had paid off. Although the HR department of the Chronicle held nothing, and the landlord from her last apartment couldn’t offer a lead, a source of Zach’s down at the post office had. The forwarding of mail was a common procedure when someone moved, however, that kind of information was private and only kept in the system for a year. It had been fourteen months since she’d vacated her position at the Chronicle without giving notice. The sudden departure and the timing of her involvement in the Zodiac case had only fueled Kelly’s suspicion.
Zach emerged from a brown side door at the USPS building off Evans Street with a smug expression on his face. “Boom. I got it. Now who’s your daddy? Huh?”
Kelly extended her hand eager for the address but Zach pocketed it.
“Uh-oh, not so quickly. Now how about that drink?”
“Zach, we don’t have time for your games, Johnson is expecting something of significance by next week. Now give me the damn address.”
“Anyone tell you, you look hot when you’re frustrated?”
She rolled her eyes and sighed, shifting her weight from one foot to the next.
“And did anyone tell you, you’re a dick?” She turned to leave.
“Yeah, actually they have,” he said strolling down the concrete steps. Three large USPS vans rolled past them. “Look, there is a bar across the street. I’ll share with you what I know about the case.”
“You don’t know anything, Zach. It was Dana who wrote up the article.”
Kelly’s long cream-colored trench coat flapped in the breeze. It had been raining for the better part of the day and had only let up twenty minutes ago.
“Oh, but I worked alongside her. If anyone knows Dana, it’s me.”
Kelly cut him a glance. “Forget it. What I need to know I’ll find out from her.”
She heard him jog up behind her and fall in step. “You do know this is probably a waste of time. Here’s what I say we do. We take advantage of this opportunity, book a five-star hotel and first-class tickets to Colorado and…”
Kelly stopped walking and gave him a hard stare. “Colorado?”
He suddenly realized he’d let the cat of out the bag. He wagged a finger in her face. “Ah, but you still need the rest of the address. Searching for her there would be like finding a needle in a haystack.”
He was right. She had no choice but to go and get a drink with the creep. Kelly grumbled. “Ugh. Let’s make this quick,” she said dashing across a slick road heading for a brewery called Speakeasy Ales and Lagers. Inside was a cozy, laid-back atmosphere with a stone bar, metal stools and sofas pressed up against the walls around the room. There were roughly ten people inside listening to low ambient music.
They took a seat at the bar and Zach ordered two beers. He scooped a handful of nuts into his mouth and scooted his seat closer to hers. “So what’s your story?”
“I already told you.”
He laughed. “No, I meant you. I don’t see a ring on that finger of yours. I would have expected a fine-looking woman like you to be hitched by now. So has he not popped the question?”
“There is no he.”
“Ah, I see. So what’s her name?”
She frowned. “Why do you immediately assume I’m a lesbian?”
“Well you’ve kind of got that vibe.”
“And by that you mean?”
“The short hair, the I hate men vibe. I bet you even have one of those feminist stickers on the back of your car. Am I right?”
He picked pieces of nut from his tooth then sucked the end of his finger.
She blew out her cheeks. “Geesh. You really are good at reading people.”
“I know. It’s an art form,” he said tossing more peanuts in his mouth and slapping his lips. She considered telling him the truth but if he did think she was a lesbian maybe he would stop coming on to her. The bartender set two Samuel Adams in front of them, and Zach slid a twenty-dollar bill across the table. “And don’t forget the change.” The bartender narrowed his eyes at him as Zach turned away, completely oblivious to his insult. He sniffed. “But here’s the thing. I can cure all of that.”
She shook her head. “Cure what?”
He pointed at her. “You know…”
Kelly wanted to just let it slide but she couldn’t. “You know, Zach, it’s 2018. A woman can be whatever the hell she wants today.”
“I know, my landlord is getting a sex change next year.”
She groaned and took a sip of her beer looking the other way. It was embarrassing to even be associated with him. She couldn’t stomach the thought of spending another minute with him let alone a couple of days. And sharing a hotel? Forget that. She’d rather sleep in a hostel surrounded by thieves and predators. The barman returned with Zach’s change and he took a look at it and pocketed it all without leaving a tip. He grabbed the bowl of nuts off the counter and got up. “Let’s get cozy on the sofa and I’ll fill you in on what I know about Dana.”
“This seat suits me fine.”
“First rule of being a good reporter, Kelly. You’ve got to ease up, let your hair down and be willing to do whatever it takes to get that story. You want that story?”
“The story, yes. You, no.”
“Suit yourself. But let me tell you something… you go barging into Grant’s life bombarding her with questions and you’re liable to
