“Interesting. Most of the people there were the usual arts crowd.” He poured himself a cup of coffee as he passed the small kitchen. “What plans have you been hatching without me?”
“None. We wanted to wait until you were here. Matthew was just telling us about the youth center.”
Harry looked at Matthew. “You’ve seen it?”
“Hazel took me there after I talked about my proposal. I was impressed.”
“That’s what Bonnie said, too. Are you going back?”
Matthew’s gaze moved to Ashley. “Maybe tomorrow.”
“Let me know when you’re going. Bonnie raved about the center so much that I’d like to see what they’re doing.” Harry sat on the end of Ashley’s bed. “Okay, everyone. Spill the beans. What did I miss after I went to work?”
Bonnie made herself a cup of coffee and sat beside Harry. “Ashley and I interviewed Ann-Marie. Our early morning stake-out paid dividends. The story will make headlines across America.”
“We’re not such a bad team, after all,” Harry laughed.
A blush spread across Bonnie’s face. “I’ve become immune to your more annoying habits.”
Harry’s eyebrows rose.
Ashley cleared her throat. “Before you start squabbling, you need to know that there’s an anniversary special ofThe Twilight Zoneon TV tonight. Apparently, they’re showing deleted scenes that have never been seen before.”
“I’m already recording it,” Harry said smugly. “On my own TV.”
Bonnie’s mouth dropped open. “You can go back into your apartment? Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I just did. After the FBI called, I booked a cleaning crew straight away. They took care of the black dust that was everywhere.”
Bonnie left her coffee on the desk. “If you’re going back to your apartment, I should go back to mine. What about you, Ashley?”
“I haven’t been given the all clear by the FBI. I’ll contact them tomorrow and see if they think it’s safe.”
Matthew knew what he thought. “They haven’t found the person who was following you. Staying in your apartment on your own wouldn’t be a good idea.”
Ashley looked around the hotel room. “It’s better than being here. I miss my normal life. Even Mrs. Moretti said it’s not the same without me.”
Bonnie smiled. “She enjoyed helping us. Has she seen anyone hanging around the building?”
“Not since the last time.” Ashley pulled out a notebook and handed it to Matthew. “Can you write down what Hazel said? It will help us work out what we’re doing next.”
Matthew reached into his back pocket. “Already done. I made some notes after I visited the youth center.”
“Not bad for a cowboy,” Ashley murmured.
Matthew felt a rush a pleasure, not at her words, but at the look she sent him. Her grin was as uncomplicated as it used to be when she lived in Bozeman. He missed her unguarded moments, the times she would surprise him with her quirky sense of humor.
Bonnie stood in front of a large piece of paper that someone had attached to the wall. “Okay. How many stories do you need to write, Ashley?”
“One about Stephanie Welsh and her husband’s affair. Another about the money Jasmine took from other projects to fund Gareth Welsh’s political career, and one about the youth center.” She glanced at Matthew. “I might as well show people what the fraud has meant for the projects that were supposed to receive funding. Is the center open on Friday?”
Matthew nodded. “Someone will be there from nine o’clock.”
Ashley bit her bottom lip. “Let’s arrive as soon as they open. That will give me time to write the article before my deadline. Hopefully, Jasmine won’t be there.”
“I’ll take the photos,” Harry said. “If Jasmine is there, she doesn’t know me. I could distract her while you run for cover.”
Bonnie made a note on the side of the paper. “I’ll put that down as bodyguard duties.”
