Free The Panic Zone by Rick Mofina

ready?”
    â€œIs Gannon there with you, Frank?” Wilson asked.
    â€œI’m here,” Gannon said.
    â€œNot for long,” Wilson shot back. “Frank, give Melody an update.”
    â€œWe no longer need Jack’s help. Sally, Hugh, the stringers and I have got this covered. We appreciate that Jack rushed down here, but we’re good.”
    â€œDon’t sugarcoat this, Frank,” Wilson said. “Mel, I don’t want to say I told you so, but Gannon’s screwed up royally.”
    â€œJack,” Lyon said, “I heard you got into trouble. What happened?”
    â€œThere was a misunderstanding with police and it’s been cleared. Now, I have a few leads on tracking down who might be behind this.”
    â€œOh, for Christ’s sake,” Wilson said. “Gannon, admit you messed up. You get yourself on Brazilian TV, get yourpicture in the papers, then you get arrested for tampering with evidence at the crime scene.”
    â€œI did not tamper with evidence. I was outside the scene. I just got back after talking to one of the detectives on the case. He’s fine, he let me go.”
    â€œYou’re embarrassing the WPA at a difficult time,” Wilson said. “Mel, I want him out of there.”
    â€œWait, George,” Lyon said. “Jack, how solid are your leads?”
    Gannon thought of the document in his back pocket, the diagram of where the café victims were seated at the time of the blast. Estralla agreed to share it with him in confidence.
    â€œThey’re good leads.”
    â€œMel, send him back to New York. He needs more experience on the national desk,” Wilson said. “This was a narco hit and our people were caught in the crossfire.”
    â€œGive me a few more days,” Gannon said.
    â€œFrank—” Melody came on the line “—are you, Sally and Porter attending any of the services? We hear the Rio Press Club has arranged something there?”
    â€œYes, we’re going to a memorial today. Then I’m flying to Miami tonight. John asked me to go with him. Sally and Porter are going to meet George for Marcelo’s service. The stringers are standing by and will file any breaking news to New York.”
    â€œOkay,” Lyon said. “Jack you’re staying in Brazil.”
    â€œThank you,” Gannon said.
    â€œFor now,” Lyon stressed. “You and Luiz will mind the bureau while we’re down for the next few days. And you will stay out of trouble and keep me up to speed, is that clear?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAfter that, we’ll see where the story is and decide your assignment,” Lyon said. “Are you good with that, George?”
    â€œIt’s your call, Mel. I have to go.”
    â€œThank you, everyone,” Lyon said.
    As he tightened his tie and slid on his jacket, Archer stared at Gannon.
    â€œI have to meet Sally and Hugh at the church in Copacabana for the memorial service. Luiz will give you the spare keys. Lock up if you go out.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Archer shook his head.
    â€œYou’re a piece of work, Gannon.”
    * * *
    Archer left, the tension in the office eased and Luiz went out for pastries, leaving Gannon alone. He exhaled slowly as he studied the seating diagram Estralla had given him.
    There had to be something more to this.
    Who was Gabriela’s source? According to Estralla, a woman appeared to have met Gabriela at the café but then disappeared. Maybe she went to the restroom?
    He grabbed the Jornal do Brasil and reviewed the faces and bios of the victims. The diagram allowed him to consider who they were and where they were situated at the time of the blast. He pondered it and the pictures until Luiz returned.
    Gannon had given little thought to the fact he was sitting at Marcelo’s desk until he absentmindedly gazed at all of the notes framing his computer’s monitor, then at some of the photo