The Bone Tree (Penn Cage #5) - Greg Iles Page 0,46

Nick Moore, our press operator, probably helped the kidnappers commit their crime.”

A murmur of consternation and anger rose at this confirmation of the rumor.

“The FBI is hunting Nick now. But I must tell you, I have reason to believe that Nick might not be the only one of our staff who took a bribe from the people we’re investigating.”

This time there were gasps of disbelief.

“Henry Sexton’s files and journals—the files that you spent so many hours painstakingly scanning into our computer system—have been deleted by someone working for Brody Royal.”

Many in the audience groaned as though in physical pain, and Caitlin saw more than a few reporters cursing under their breath.

“Worse yet, the physical files and journals have been stolen and destroyed. However, all may not be lost on that front. The FBI is going to lend us some computer experts who might be able to reconstruct those deleted files.”

Caitlin saw incredulity on Jamie Lewis’s face. He probably considered this sleeping with the enemy, but he would have to live with it.

“The truly upsetting thing is that the person who deleted those files might still be among us. He or she could be standing next to you right now.”

Total silence descended on the newsroom.

“I don’t want to create some kind of McCarthy atmosphere of paranoia, but we’d be fools not to take rational precautions until we get this sorted out. So—here’s what we’re going to do. Our stories are going to be written on three or four notebook computers in the conference room. We will restore limited Internet access out here for research, but that’s it. Everyone will take their instructions directly from Jamie or me, and you’ll work only on what you’re assigned. If you see something suspicious, or feel strange about anything, come to us. Again, I don’t want a bunch of tattletales running around. Use your common sense. But make no mistake—we’re in a war, folks. They burned the Concordia Beacon last night. Now, we’ll be looking after your physical safety; we’re going to have some serious security around this building going forward. But be smart and be safe. And remember: for those of you who became journalists because of a David-versus-Goliath fantasy, this is your chance.”

She saw a few grins at this.

“One thing: you may see Sheriff Byrd show up and arrest me. If you do, just keep on working—after you snap a few shots of the proceedings.”

A few more laughs broke the tension.

“As for the news stories, I don’t care who you have to roust out of bed for comments or confirmations, or what resources you have to commit—just do it. We will probably be sued over some of this, so try to get it right. But the final responsibility rests with me, so be fearless. Do what Henry Sexton would have done.”

Caitlin knew her last assertion was not quite true: final responsibility rested not with her but with her father, who owned the chain. But if he didn’t trust her instincts by now—and back her with the full resources of the company—then she needed to find work elsewhere anyway.

“That’s it,” she said. “Make me proud.”

The crowd dispersed slowly, but as a couple of computers were switched on, the newsroom slowly became the fully engaged hive that Caitlin so loved. She pulled Jamie’s sleeve until he was following her down the corridor to her private office.

“What now?” he asked. “Gather the conference room team?”

“In a minute,” she said, walking faster. “I’ve used this newspaper as a weapon before. A sort of artillery piece, I suppose. But tomorrow’s edition is going to detonate like a dam buster.”

“A what?”

Caitlin laughed low in her throat, thinking of her grandfather. “That’s a kind of bomb from World War Two. Tomorrow we’re going to crack the foundations of a dam that’s held back terrible truths for forty years. And once that tide is let loose, a lot of people and careers are going to be washed away.”

Her editor’s eyes narrowed. “Not ours, I hope?”

Caitlin didn’t answer. They’d reached her office door. In the awkward silence that followed, Jamie’s eyes filled with an unspoken question.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Did you have to kill anybody?” he asked softly. “You didn’t tell me when you dictated the lead story. Who killed who down in that basement?”

Caitlin looked into his hungry eyes for a few seconds, then shook her head. “No. Penn did, though.”

Jamie went pale. “Oh, man.”

“I’d just as soon forget it, but I know I never will.” She took a sharp breath,