Tully didn't hear anything afterproducer. Edna's voice turned into white noise. She leaned forward. "Who is it?"
Edna pressed the phone to her chest. "Two guys from the affiliate in Seattle were injured in a bombing. Actually, the reporter was killed. The producer, John Ryan, is in critical condition." She went back to her call. "What was the reporter's name?"
Tully drew in a sharp breath. All she could think was:Johnny. She closed her eyes, but it didn't help; in the darkness she collected a dozen painful memories: sitting on the deck of his houseboat, talking about her future . . . dancing at that ridiculous nightclub in the seedy part of downtown all those years ago . . . seeing him look at Marah for the first time, with tears in his eyes. "Oh, my God," she said, getting to her feet. "I have to go."
Edna looked up at her, mouthed, "What is it?"
She could barely form the words; they burned her mouth. "Johnny Ryan is my best friend's husband."
"Really?" Edna looked at her, then said into the phone, "Maury, put Tully on the story. She has an in. I'll call you back," and hung up. "Sit down, Tully."
Numbly, she complied. Her legs had practically given out anyway. Those memories kept hammering her. "I need to help Katie," she muttered.
"It's a big story, Tully," Edna said.
Tully waved that off impatiently. "I don't care about that. She's my best friend."
"Don't care?" Edna said sharply. "Oh, you care. Everyone wants this assignment, but you have an in. Do you know what that means?"
Tully frowned, trying to switch gears from her worry. It seemed vaguely wrong, to make this about her career. "I don't know."
"Then you're not the woman I thought you were. Why can't you get an exclusive and comfort your friend?"
Tully thought about that. "When you put it that way . . ."
"What other way is there? You can get an interview that no one else will have. A thing like this will put you on the map. Could get you the news nook."
Tully couldn't help but be seduced by that. The news nook was a desk on the morning show's set from which the day's biggest news stories were covered. The recognition factor for anyone assigned there was high. Daily national exposure. Several people had made the jump from news nook to host. "And I can protect Kate from everything while I'm there."
"Exactly." Edna picked up the phone and dialed the number. "Hart can get us an exclusive, Maury. It's as good as done. I'll vouch for her." When she hung up, Edna's look was steely. "Don't let me down."
All the way from the restaurant and back to the office, Tully convinced herself that she'd done the right thing. At her desk, she threw her coat onto the back of her chair and called Kate. The phone rang and rang. Finally the answering machine picked up:
You've reached the Ryan household. Neither Johnny nor Kate can come to the phone right now, but if you'll leave a message we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
At the beep, Tully said, "Hey, Katie, it's me. I just heard—"
Kate picked up the phone and disabled the answering machine. "Hey," she said, sounding completely lost. "You got my message. Sorry about the machine. Those bloodsucking reporters won't leave me alone."
"Katie, how—"
"He's in a hospital in Germany. I'm catching a military flight in two hours. I'll call you when I land."
"Hardly. I'll meet you at the hospital."
"In Germany?"
"Of course. I'm not going to let you go through this alone. Your mom has Marah, right?"
"Right. You mean it, Tully?" Kate's voice lifted on the last question, took on an edge of hope.
"Best friends forever, isn't it?"
"No matter what." On that, Kate's voice broke. "Thanks, Tully."
Tully wanted to say,That's what friends are for,but the words stuck in her throat. All she could think of was the exclusive she'd promised Edna.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
