“Don’t you find it strange that Lyle showed up today?” Emerson asked.
“Not really. The media listen to police scanners all the time,” Nikki replied.
“Where were all the other reporters?”
“I saw a few in the parking lot when I left. Didn’t you see them?”
“No. Who verified Lyle’s creds?”
“Media Relations. What are you thinking?”
“I’m following my gut.” Emerson returned to her desk and called downstairs to Media Relations. “This is Detective Easton in Homicide. I’m calling about Lyle Barnham, the reporter fromDMVMagazine. Can you tell me who verified he works for the magazine?”
“I did.” Her tone turned crisp. “What’s the problem, Detective?”
“I need the name of the person you spoke with when you cleared Lyle.”
“Just a minute.”
Emerson waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, the MR officer came back. “Sorry about that. I spoke with the publisher’s assistant.” She rattled off a phone number and hung up.
Emerson dialed.
“Mr. Lisson’s office,” answered a woman.
“This is Detective Easton with Arlington County Police. I want to verify employment for one of your journalists.”
“I’ll transfer you to HR.” The line went silent. Emerson waited and waited, but the call didn’t connect. She called the main number and asked for HR.
“This is Becky.”
Again, Emerson explained she was looking for information on one of their journalists.
“What’s his name?”
“Lyle Barnham.”
“Hold on.” Becky came back on the line. “What did you say his name is?” Emerson repeated herself. “He’s not on staff, but we have over twenty freelance journalists who pitch ideas and write stories for us. Some already have the finished product, others don’t. Let me transfer you to freelance.”
“Freelance,” answered a man.
After identifying herself, Emerson inquired if a Lyle Barnham was a freelancer.
“I’ll check.” The man hummed a tune while Emerson waited. “Yup, I’ve got a Lyle.”
“Lyle Barnham?” she confirmed.
“No last name. Just Lyle.”
“Is there a phone number or email address for him?”
“Nope. We get a lot of interested writers who want to contribute a story, but never surface with the finished product. We used to chase the leads, but we don’t have time. Our staff churns out the stories fast enough.”
“So, if you don’t have his contact info, does that mean he’s never published with the magazine before?”
“Not necessarily. The writer includes their contact info with their submission. Makes it easy if we have questions.”
“Thanks for your help.” As Emerson hung up, Captain Perry entered the bullpen, then headed in her direction.
