Free The Price of Fame - KJ1 by Lynn Ames Page B

can’t get anything more solid on the incendiary device. I doubt he’ll give me anything, but you never know.”
    A few more seconds of listening and then she hung up the phone.
    Looking at her friend, she said apologetically, “I’m sorry, I just need to make one more call. I want to make sure I’ve got everything there is to get on this story before someone asks me a question I can’t answer.”
    “No problem,” Jay smiled at her encouragingly. “You just do what you need to do.”
    Kate dialed another number from memory. “Good morning, Peter. I didn’t wake you, did I?” She knew perfectly well that Peter Enright had been up all night helping the state police department sort through the rubble of the capitol to determine exactly what kind of explosive had been used, how much, and by what method it had been smuggled in and detonated. This type of case was his bread and butter. He was an expert in explosives and security and was the man governments turned to when they needed answers and help. Very few people knew about Peter, but Kate had made his acquaintance when she had been working on a story on security at the governor’s mansion as a street reporter several years earlier, before she became the evening news anchor. She and Peter had become good friends.
    “Hi, gorgeous. Have I told you lately how great you look while crawling on all fours through piles of rubble?”
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    Lynn Ames

    “Very funny, Peter. Now give.”
    The technology expert gave a mock sigh. “I wish I had something for you. The best I can tell you is that whoever did this really knew what they were doing; they used a sophisticated remote detonator and enough material to take down the whole building. The fact that they set off two devices tells me that they weren’t leaving anything to chance. The problem is, it doesn’t look like anything local; it has an international flavor to it, and that doesn’t make any sense to me.”
    “Hmm. No prior intelligence, no warning?”
    “Not that I can find...yet.” Kate knew that her friend wouldn’t rest until he had every answer he could get. “Oh, and Kate?”
    “Yeah,” she sighed, knowing what was coming next.
    “You know you can’t use any of that on the air, right?”
    “Why do I like you again?”
    “It’s my charm and boyish good looks,” he shot back.
    “Oh yeah, remind me of that the next time I see you.”
    “Oh, don’t worry, I will.”
    “No doubt. And Peter, let me know as soon as you’ve got anything I can actually say?”
    “You got it, sweet thing.”
    “Bye, Peter, be careful out there.”
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    The Price of Fame

CHAPTER SIX

    knock at the door signaled the anchorwoman that it was time for Aher appearance. Kate reached out a hand to Jay, who remained sitting. “Come with me?” she questioned. “You can stand behind the camera and make faces at me if you want. I imagine that kind of torture might appeal to you.”
    “Why, Ms. Kyle, whatever would make you think I was that kind of girl?” Her friend smiled wickedly.
    The two women accompanied a program assistant to the set, standing silently just beyond the fake living room and out of sight of the cameras until the next commercial break. As the red light on the television camera clicked off, a woman easily recognizable to both Kate and Jay got up off the couch on the set and walked towards them. She extended her hand as she reached them. “Ms. Kyle, I’m Wanda Nelson, I’m guest hosting today.”
    As if she needed an introduction, Jay thought. She’s only one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood, and she has a fabulous mind.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Nelson,” Kate responded. Turning to her companion, she added, “This is a very dear friend of mine, Ms.
    Jamison Parker. I hope you don’t mind her standing in the wings?”
    “No, that’s just fine. It’s nice to meet you Ms. Parker. Haven’t I read your byline in Time magazine? My husband Ted and I love your writing.”
    The writer