Free Dead Air by Robin Caroll Page A

floating around. What’s the truth?”
    “Actually, Tonna,” Gabby said, “I need to know all the dirt you’ve heard about Robert and Amber Ellison’s marriage.”
    Perfectly tweezed brows arched as Tonna leaned over the table. “I thought you didn’t like grapevine gossip.”
    “This is important.” Gabby’s stomach knotted at the thought of actually asking for hearsay on her boss. Yet, with everything the article had said…
    Clark cleared his throat.
    “Jump in, Mr. McKay. We’re all here to help and Gabby told us on the phone that you’re with us. So speak freely.” Rayne flicked her hair over her shoulder.
    He smiled and focused on Tonna. “It seems likely the Ellisons were heading for divorce.”
    “Well,” Tonna leaned against the cheap vinyl covering the back of the chair, “since y’all asked…rumor has it that Robert thought Amber’s been steppin’ out on him. For years. And he ain’t none too happy about it.” She gave a curt nod to emphasize her point. “And talk today implied she was seen with Howard on more than one occasion.”
    Sheldon shook her head, loosening a few strawberry-blond tendrils from her librarian bun. “Well, shut my mouth! People really think Amber was having an affair with Howard? I just can’t see it.”
    Tonna shrugged. “I’m only repeating what I hear, sistah. Mary Sue was just a-gabbin’ about it to Ms. LouAnn not even a month ago in the shop.”
    “And they really think there was something between Amber and Howard?” Gabby traced the grooves in the tabletop with her fingernail.
    “Oh, great day in the morning, Gab, you can’t believe that ole biddy Mary Sue.” Imogene shifted in her seat to face Gabby. “Come on, what gives? Why do you even care what the Geritol set is talking about?” She stirred her iced tea. “What does Amber have to say about all of this?”
    “She isn’t saying much. In fact, she’s barely talking at all.” Gabby replied. “Just crying.”
    “I don’t want to believe it, either.” Rayne lifted a shoulder. “But with all the rumors, I have to wonder.”
    Gabby bit her bottom lip, praying the tears wouldn’t come. “But most of all in this whole travesty, I just think Robert’s innocent.”
    “Of course you do, honey. He’s treated you like a father ever since he hired you.” Sheldon tore open two sugar packets from the dispenser and dumped the contents into her iced tea. “We all know how much you think of him.”
    “It’s not just that. It’s…I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s just a feeling I’ve got. In my gut.”
    “Sure that ain’t hunger rumbling about?” Tonna laughed. Carol Ann hoisted a tray of bowls over their heads. Gabby smiled at the waitress whose eyes were weighted down with wrinkles.
    “How’s your momma and them, Rayne?” Carol Ann asked as she set steaming bowls of bisque in front of them.
    “They’re fine, Carol Ann.”
    The woman sashayed away from the booth, hollering out greetings as she passed tables.
    Imogene bowed her head, and the other girls followed suit. After the blessing, the shaker of cayenne pepper made its way around the table before Gabby spoke what drummed in her heart. “We aim to find out the truth.”
    A cloak of silence fell over the table as everyone ate.
    Finally, Clark’s gaze collided with Gabby’s. Chills fingered up her spine as he dipped his head. “We will find out the truth.”
    Gratitude gripped Gabby’s heart in a tight squeeze. She peeked at her watch, then finished off her iced tea. “I gotta run, or I’ll be late to work.”
    Clark eased to standing and offered his hand to Gabby.
    She took it and straightened. Her heart beat erratically. “I’ll call y’all tomorrow. Keep an ear out for anything about Amber or Robert, okay?” She turned and rushed to the door, thankful for the excuse of work to make a fast getaway.
    The man made her feel things, think things…Well, she didn’t want to analyze everything now.
    As she cranked