Kenzie’s temper flared. “You didn’t really want to do a story about SAR work. You’re trying to get to Harrison through me.”
Wendy looked genuinely taken aback. “No! Your story is running in tomorrow’s paper. Sorry. I just thought I’d leave you with the card just in case. If you don’t feel comfortable giving it to him, then don’t. I came here to see you.”
“Sorry if I misjudged you.” The surprise on Wendy’s face convinced Kenzie that Wendy hadn’t been trying to manipulate her. “I’ll give it to him when I see him again.”
“I heard the two of you were involved. I’m jealous.”
“No comment.” Kenzie had never dated a celebrity before, and it was strange to have to say that.
Wendy saw through her. “Don’t worry. I don’t do that kind of journalism.”
Kenzie went back to the store, let Wendy out, and went back to searching for a new cat food supplier. Not a minute later, she got a text from Quinn.
Do you have a plunger? The toilet is clogged.
Wasn’t that just what she needed?
* * *
Conrad wentout into the backyard with Gabby, got a rake from the garage, and started raking leaves. He needed to finish this before the first big snowfall, and anything was better than sitting in the house, curtains drawn, while reporters took turns knocking on his front door. Didn’t they get the message?
Gabby bounded about the yard, barked at the rake, and ran through the piles of leaves, making it difficult to get anything done, but she was so damned cute that he didn’t care. Soon it became a game. Conrad raked together a pile and hid her favorite toy beneath it, and she dove in and retrieved the toy, tail wagging.
He found himself laughing.
“What did you do to get the media so riled up?” The old woman next door stood on her back porch in a floral housedress, a broom in her hand.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Don’t try to pull the wool over these eyes, young man. They wouldn’t be standing out there if you hadn’t done something.”
“Okay, fine.” Conrad tossed Gabby’s toy into another pile of leaves, watched her dive in after it. “I survived when the rest of my team was killed climbing Mount Everest. The media wants the gory details.”
“You must have had an angel watching out for you.”
Yeah, right.
The pile of leaves rustled, shifted, and out popped Gabby, toy in her mouth.
“Mount Everest, huh? You ever make it to the top?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am—twice.”
“Only a damned fool does something like that. I guess that explains all those muscles—and why you run around outside naked as a jaybird. Not enough oxygen to your brain.”
Conrad turned to face her, saw that she was smiling, and couldn’t help but laugh. “That only happened once—and only because I thought everyone would be asleep. I didn’t know you were watching.”
She gave a noncommittal humph. “Why can’t you just tell those reporters that you don’t want to talk?”
“I tried that.”
“Bloodsuckers.” She turned and walked inside her house.
He went back to raking, only to hear her voice again a moment later, but this time it was coming from the front yard.
“What’s the matter with you people? You’re disturbing the whole neighborhood. This guy doesn’t want to give any interviews, so why don’t you move along? If you block my sidewalk or set one foot on my lawn, I’ll call the sheriff.”
Stunned, Conrad stared toward the sound of her voice.
