CHAPTER 11

HANNAH’S EDITOR CALLS her into her office, which is unusual. Ashley Decker is a veteran journalist who worked at several metro papers before taking the editing job at the Gazette, and she believes in coming out into the newsroom to talk to her staff, not bringing them into her office. A call to the office usually means you are in trouble, which is something that happens to the other reporters every now and then, but never to Hannah.

“Sit,” Ashley says, gesturing to an uncomfortable chair with orange foam stuffing spilling from cracks in the vinyl.

Ashley is in her mid-forties and attractive, but tired-looking. A high-pressure job and the long hours that come with it have taken their toll on her. She has crow’s feet at the edges of her eyes, and filaments of silver have begun to highlight her silk-black hair.

She is someone who can command the respect of her staff and who can stand up to the publisher whenever they butt heads. She can do every job in the newsroom—reporter, photographer, copyeditor—better than the staff members paid to do them. And she can put on a dress, run a curling iron through her hair, and schmooze with Lake Tahoe’s elite at any high-society function.

Hannah has always had great admiration for her. And they’ve gotten along famously—Ashley recognizes a talented protégée when she sees one.

“So, what’s happening with the profile of Logan Bishop? You know, the hero.” Ashley adds this last part as if Hannah might have forgotten who he was.

“I don’t think I can do the story,” Hannah says. “He won’t cooperate.”

Ashley stares at her disapprovingly, a look Hannah has seen leveled at practically every other employee, but never herself.

“You can’t convince him?” Ashley says. “Come on, this is a good story.”

Hannah frowns and shakes her head. “Sorry, I think I’ve just about milked this one for all its worth.”

It’s been almost a week since she wrote the story about Logan saving the girl, and since then, Hannah has followed it up with an in-depth feature on the girl and her family; an article about the dangers of drowning; and even a day-in-the-life profile of what it’s like to drive a water taxi on the Echo Lakes, for which she interviewed the kid who’d been with them that day along with a handful of his coworkers.

The only thing missing from this collection is an article about Logan.

Ashley leafs absently through some paperwork on her desk. Every surface of the desk is covered with notes or old copies of the Gazette. She finds what she’s looking for—a copy of the front page with Logan’s photo—and considers it.

“What’s this guy afraid of?” she says.