Sorry a meeting was changed. This business, everything rolls from one crisis to the next.

I understand.

She thumbed out a reply, then slipped the PDA back into her pocket as we passed a glass-walled conference room before entering her office. Several people were in the conference room shaking hands and smiling. Beyond her office were cubicles with men and women talking on phones or texting. Most appeared to be Debra's age. One might have been Debra's replacement.

Casey Stokes offered me a seat, then went behind her desk. She laced her fingers and maintained the professional smile.

Now, how can I help?

We have a few questions about some things that were brought up during the investigation.

We. The family and the ghost of Debra Repko were now in Casey Stokes's office. She seemed genuinely pained.

When I remember that evening and what happened only a few hours later it was awful.

Yes, ma'am. It was. I understand you were the last person to see her.

That's right. We attended a dinner honoring Councilman Wilts at the Bonaventure. The councilman is one of our clients.

So you spent the entire time together?

More or less. Debra's job was to make sure each reporter had their five minutes with the councilman before the dinner began. Debra and I. Actually, five of us from Leverage attended, but we all had different responsibilities. Debra and I had our own segment of the evening to handle, so we were together.

She was your assistant?

Debra was what we call a first-year. All our first-years work as floaters to experience the different aspects of what we do. I had Debra join me that night so she could gain experience with the media. Once the interviews were over, our job was finished. We walked out to our cars together.

Did Debra tell you her plans for the evening?

No, nothing like that.

Maybe mention she was going to meet friends or wanted to stop for a drink?

Ms. Stokes studied me, then cocked her head.

What does this have to do with a chance encounter with a maniac?

It has to do with her personal life.

Something that might have been sadness flickered in her eyes.

Now I understand. That rumor about her seeing a married man.

It's eating at her parents. Especially her mother.

Casey Stokes sighed, and something in her sigh made me feel bad for having said it.

Mr. Cole, I don't know what to tell you. If Debra was seeing someone, married or otherwise, she never mentioned it to me or anyone else here at Leverage. My understanding is that this rumor started with someone at Debra's apartment building.

Yes, ma'am, that's where it started.

Then perhaps you should be asking that person. Debra and I only spoke about politics. She was excited by politics. She wanted to work on a national level. She might have. She was serious about her career.