urge to get angry because this inference pointed to Kelly, as well. He gestured to his screen, where he had filled out the preliminary information for the marriage license. “I’ve asked Kelly to marry me. She agreed. We’re going to announce that Matt is mine.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
Evan grinned. “Maybe.”
“How could her son be yours?”
“Matt? Come on, Steve. You know his name.”
“Answer me.”
“When I first met Kelly before heading overseas she was pregnant by the senator and didn’t know it. We’re going to say that I’m the guy from the one-night stand she always referred to when people asked about Matt’s father.”
Steve’s jaw dropped open. “That’s a lie.”
Evan shrugged. “How do you know?”
“We have the DNA results.”
“What DNA results?”
Eyes narrowing, Steve caught on. “Campbell said he will make the test disappear if you take the heat?”
“Yes. Me or anybody. I’m happy to take the spotlight. Hell, I like the kid and the mother’s not half-bad.”
Steve stood. “Not gonna fly, Evan. Not with me.”
“Why not?”
“Because we know the truth. Dean knows the truth. This is too big an issue about a man who wants to run our country to let it simply disappear. For goodness’ sake, which head are you thinking with, McKenna?”
Evan wasn’t going to answer such a stupid question. He picked up his favorite pen and clicked it a couple of times to control himself. “If you air anything about Kelly being tied to Buzz, he won’t back you. He’ll make you look ridiculous.”
Steve’s jaw hardened. “Buzz doesn’t have the only copy of the DNA test.”
Evan stood to meet his friend’s gaze. He had suspected that test was going to cause more trouble than Steve let on. “Look, Steve. That man will destroy Kelly if he can, then take her son. What happened to your moral code in protecting the innocent?”
“Then she shouldn’t have had an affair with him. We have an obligation to the American people.”
Biting back his response made the muscles in his neck ache. Steve didn’t know about the rape because Kelly had sworn Evan to silence. Keeping this information from Steve was the hardest secret he’d ever kept. Kelly was wrong, and Evan was trying to work with her to finally get her to reveal the truth. If Steve knew this information he’d support Evan. All he’d have to do is imagine some jerk assaulting his wife and he’d be on board.
“I really need you to trust me, man. You’ve always had my back before. This story runs deep and there’s more at stake here than meets the eye.”
Steve sucked in a harsh breath. “I’m getting pressure from upstairs, Evan. This is one time that you have to work with me. I need a story.”
Evan’s internal alarm sounded. Steve was skirting the truth. They’d both taken chances on stories before at the risk of catching hell from upstairs. It added excitement to their jobs and the resulting stories usually earned them bonuses. The television station owners liked their maverick attitudes even though they bellyached about reining them in. Either politics or Steve’s push for ratings was derailing him from the altruistic motives that used to drive them both. When did Steve change? The thought made Evan furious.
“Bullshit, Steve. I’m thinking you want a sleazy story to dress up into some vigilante piece because Campbell doesn’t belong to the political party that this station—or you for that matter—supports. Am I reading this right or are you flexing your political muscle to chase ratings?”
Steve looked like he took a punch. “Evan you’ve known me too long to...”
Evan interrupted. “Yes, and I’ve never known you to turn your back on an underdog. Aiding the oppressed is what made us such a great team. Improving lives is what elevated our reporting. What is our motto? Changing the world, one life at a time. Have you forgotten?”
Steve’s voice rose. “You’re in love with the woman and not thinking straight.”
“Maybe I am in love, but I am most certainly thinking straight. I know what really happened, Steve. I need your support. I’m working on Kelly. If I can get her to go on the air we’ll have a helluva story for the American people. But first, I want to take the heat off her. That bastard is capable of taking away her son! Do you understand that?”
Steve stared at Evan, digesting the information as if it was too early in the morning to be doing battle with his friend. “So what is your strategy?”
Evan released a sigh. “Marry Kelly. Claim Matt